Stories of impact
In this section, you will find real stories of the people we accompany every day: refugees, children, parents and grandparents who were forced to leave everything behind and start again. These are not perfect stories, but difficult journeys marked by fear and uncertainty, as well as moments of hope and small victories.
We invite you to discover these testimonies, to share the ones that move you, and, if you wish, to become part of these stories yourself – as a volunteer, supporter, or donor.
A Ukrainian refugee who learned Romanian: a step toward integration
Olena: “After I finished the Romanian language course, I realised I can speak easily when I need to.” The moment Olena felt that something had changed was very surprising to her, and very simple. A courier was arguing with her about a delivery, and she answered him in Romanian, calmly, and was able to stand her ground. She was understood easily, and the problem was solved. “I left there thinking: now I really can speak Romanian, and that feeling was very important for me, it was like a...
Intensive English course at JRS Romania: How Nadiia found her voice
“I used to be afraid to speak English. Now I can — and it’s opening new doors” Nadiia Horovenko arrived in Bucharest from Odesa on March 7, 2022. Like many Ukrainians in the early days of the war, she was searching for support, safety, and a sense of clarity in a new environment. “Through acquaintances, I found out about JRS Romania. At first, I joined psychological support sessions, which were exactly what we needed at that time: the stress, the fear, the uncertainty… Later, I started...
Integration Through Language: Dmytro’s Story
„I learned Romanian by myself, but for the tricky parts I needed a proper course.” Dmytro Burlachenko is a Ukrainian seafarer from Odesa. He has been living in Romania for more than three years, but only recently joined the intensive Romanian language course run by JRS Romania in Constanța. „I started learning the language from my first days in Romania. It wasn’t hard for me, it came quite naturally. I had a plan, I read a lot, I listened a lot. But at some point I got stuck. I wanted to...