Just 21 years old, Andreea is on the frontlines of the Ukraine crisis offering practical help, a listening ear, and hope to the refugees streaming into the Romanian city of Husi. More than 14 million people are estimated to have already fled their homes in Ukraine since the conflict began in February, and more than 6 million have fled the country.

Andreea is one of hundreds of World Vision volunteers working on rotation day and night to support people fleeing Ukraine. The decision to help was a deeply personal one – she knows first-hand how life-changing it can be to receive help when you need it the most. Andreea grew up in a small rural area in eastern Romania. When she was young, many children did not have the chance to go to school. Their parents did not have money to buy basic school supplies, so they spent their days in the fields caring for animals instead. Then, when she was in sixth grade, World Vision began working in their community. It was the opening of a whole new world of opportunity for Andreea and her classmates. With the support of child sponsors, Andreea and the other children in her village could join in many different activities like they had never seen before – workshops, games, and classes designed to help kids build confidence and self-worth, dream big and learn to use their voice to lead the change they wanted to see in their community. In the seventh and eighth grade, she even joined the student council, where she learned to overcome her fears of being in front of a crowd.

For Andreea, the child sponsorship programme and support from leaders made all the difference. 

Determined to help others also transform their lives, Andreea is now studying social work at university, and when the Ukrainian crisis broke out, she made her way to Husi, another border crossing, to join World Vision’s response. Andreea wishes now more than ever to live a life that helps other children build a better future.