Christmas Appeal: Will you help the most vulnerable people in Moldova?

Moldova is the poorest country in Europe. One person leaves Moldova every 20 minutes, to find work and hope elsewhere. Children and elderly people are often left behind, without the love and care they need.  

When their neighbour, Ukraine, was invaded by Russia, Moldova welcomed more than 1 million refugees – the highest per capita of any country in the world (source: United Nations).   

The Christmas story reminds us of the importance of making room for vulnerable people – there was no room when Jesus was born. Today, Christian leaders in Moldova are making room for those who need it most: children, elderly people, and refugees. 

• Aneta is offering a brighter future to vulnerable children, 

• Marina is making sure isolated elderly people are cared for, 

• Slavic is holding out the hope of Jesus to Ukrainian refugees.  

These leaders are doing all they can with the little they have. Innovista comes alongside Christian leaders like these, equipping them to bring the hope of Jesus to their communities.  

But we can’t do it without your help. 
 
All gifts up to a total of £10,000 will be matched, meaning you can have DOUBLE THE IMPACT! 

Meet Aneta, making room for... vulnerable children

Imagine caring for your family on less than $2 a day, or leaving your children behind to find work. This is the choice facing many parents in Moldova. 

Poverty in Moldova leaves many children vulnerable.  They can’t be sure of a hot meal or a stable home.  But at her day centre in Telenești,  Aneta is making room for them.  

Aneta provides vulnerable children and teens with hot meals, homework help and a safe space.  

But she wants to do more than just meet basic needs—Aneta wants to inspire hope.  

When Eva first came to the centre, Aneta recognised her potential, when no one else ever had.  Eva is now training to be a chef- something she never would have tried without Aneta’s encouragement and support.  

Through mentoring and providing practical skills for employment, Aneta is giving hope to every young person who comes to her day centre. Innovista is giving Aneta the practical support she needs.  

Will you help leaders like Aneta, who are making room for vulnerable children in Moldova? 

A gift of £40 (doubled to £80!)  could help a leader like Aneta offer a brighter future to vulnerable children in Moldova.  

Meet Marina, making room for... isolated elderly people

Marina (centre) and her husband, Sergiu, lead a small church in the town of Orhei. They were overwhelmed by all the need they saw around them.  

In their town, many elderly people are without the care they desperately need. They can no longer clean or cook, but they’re also lonely. They miss their family members who have left Orhei to find work.  

Marina feels deeply that she is called to care for these vulnerable elderly people.

Innovista helped Marina to turn her vision into a plan for her church. With help from Raisa, another church member, Marina now visits dozens of vulnerable elderly people every week.  

Sveta receives weekly visits. In addition to bringing food and cleaning her small apartment, Marina and Raisa take the time to sit with Sveta and sing. At first, Sveta just listens, but Marina says that she always joins in.  

“The church is Sveta’s family”, Marina says. For isolated and housebound elderly people like Sveta, Marina’s care is a lifeline.  

Will you help leaders like Marina, who are making room for isolated elderly people? 

A gift of £75 (doubled to £150!) could help a leader like Marina to make sure elderly people in Moldova are cared for.

Meet Slavic, making room for... Ukrainian refugees

Innovista is helping the Church in Moldova to offer a warm welcome to Ukrainian refugees. More than one million Ukrainians have sought refuge in Moldova, since the full-scale invasion in February 2022.   

Slavic has been a trainer for Innovista since 2003. He is a Ukrainian himself, and is living with his family alongside 6 Ukrainian families, who arrived at the House of Hope. It offers a safe place for families fleeing the war.  

At the House of Hope, Slavic met Ivan and Irene. Back in Ukraine, they didn’t want anything to do with Christianity.

But they received such a warm welcome from Christians in Moldova, and they wanted to know why.  

This warm welcome has created opportunities. Slavic is now leading outreach amongst other Ukrainian refugees. Twice a month, a group of almost 40 refugees gather to talk about the Bible. Many of them are completely new to faith.  

Through Slavic, Innovista is supporting other Christian leaders to bring the hope of Jesus to Ukrainians in their communities.  

Will you help leaders like Slavic, who are making room for Ukrainian refugees? 

A gift of £125 (doubled to £250!) could help a leader like Slavic hold out the hope of Jesus to Ukrainian refugees in Moldova.  

Together, we can help Christian leaders who are making room for vulnerable children, isolated elderly people and Ukrainian refugees in Moldova. Please give what you can this Christmas, to help vulnerable people in Moldova to see a brighter future, and know that Jesus comes to Moldova too.