We continue sharing the stories of Ukrainians who, like so many others, were forced to leave their homes, their jobs, and everything that made up their daily lives, in search of safety in a foreign country.
Today, we want to tell you about little Demyd
Nataliia arrived in Bucharest some time ago with her two sons, and the youngest, the baby of the family, Demyd, is only three and a half years old. Unfortunately, Demyd is facing difficulties that require psychological support and, especially, specialized therapy.
The family’s big struggle was finding specialists who speak Ukrainian — something that turned out to be almost impossible. Without communication in his mother tongue, the little boy could not connect with the therapists – he withdrew into himself, cried, and seemed completely lost.
“I was ready to work anywhere,” says Nataliia. “But it’s hard when your child has special needs and needs all your attention, every single day.”
Things took a positive turn in December 2024, when little Demyd was accepted into the JRS Romania kindergarten group. There, he began working with speech and behavioral therapists who speak his language. And then, exactly what Nataliia had been hoping for finally happened: her son started to speak.
“That moment was pure happiness,” she smiles. “And more than that – I managed to find a job. Now I work for a pastry company. And at last I feel that we are not alone anymore.”
Many people think about integration only in technical terms: Romanian language, rules… But more important than all of that is having someone by your side from the very beginning – someone who supports you, understands you, and shows you that you can keep going.
This is the mission of JRS Romania – to create a space where a new beginning becomes possible, even after you have lost the life you once knew. Changes like this are only possible thanks to people who choose to stand close to families like Nataliia’s. One month of therapy for a child can change not only their present, but also the future of the whole family.
Every month, more and more parents ask us for help for their children with special needs. If you want to be part of these transformations, we invite you to support the work of JRS Romania with a
DONATION
We have been standing by refugees for 25 years, and we will continue to be there for them