"Making a difference was as simple as the ability to make cake for a child"

In a small village in Moldova, 24-year-old Anisia turned her lifelong practice of helping others into a focused, compassionate response to the war in Ukraine. A medical graduate, she was already involved in community work during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the war began, she knew she had to act again.

As refugees crossed into Moldova, many of them women and children, Anisia and her parents started visiting Ukrainian families who had settled in their community: “We went door to door, listening to their stories and asking what they needed most. It was emotional to see people in such vulnerable states.”

One of the moments that stayed with her involved a 7-year-old boy who had fled with his mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. “He asked his grandma to bake his favourite cake, but she couldn’t because they didn’t have sugar or butter. We immediately went to the shop and bought everything they needed—including the ingredients for the cake. The family was so appreciative. That simple act made me realise that making a difference could be as small as enabling a child to have his cake.”

Scaling up the approach

This personalised approach became a model. With support from UNICEF, Moldovan Scouts began conducting home visits, compiling lists of urgent needs, and delivering customised aid packages.

These included food, hygiene items, winter clothing and bedsheets and blankets. “At the start, the priority was food and cooking items. Now, with the cold weather, it’s jackets, boots, and warm clothes.” To ensure quality, Anisia and her mother often drove to the city to purchase items themselves.

Community activities and the peace light

Anisia also helped organise Scout camps and educationalactivities for Ukrainian children. Her Russian language skills helped her build trust with the families. “We have weekly programmes now that focus on learning and building friendships. We also run craft workshops that many children joined.”

In December, Anisia travelled with a group of Scouts from Moldova to Vienna, where they took part in the annual Peace Light celebration. They brought the light back and shared it with Ukrainian families in their village. “It was our first time joining the celebration. We brought lanterns home and shared them with the community as a symbol of peace and hope to come.”