My Story: Finding New Life — and a New Career — in Romania

Before the war began, my life was closely tied to my city, Zaporizhzhia, in Ukraine. I built a career as a lawyer there. I managed my own legal practice and held the position of Deputy General Director at a large metallurgical company. But the war changed everything.

We made the hard decision to leave everything behind and move to Romania. This had to be done quickly, but with it came hope for a safe future for my family.

When I arrived in Bucharest, there were a new set of challenges: the high cost of living, a foreign language, and searching for a job in a new field. The first few months in Romania were trying. My education and professional experience were closely linked to the Ukrainian legal system, making my skills practically inapplicable in Romania. The language barrier only exacerbated the situation, making the job search even more difficult.

Working remotely, I dedicated myself to learning Romanian and looked for opportunities for professional training. I heard about HIAS and their refugee support programs, and that gave me hope. I participated in various seminars and trainings organized by HIAS Romania, which helped me better understand how I could apply my skills and knowledge in a new country.

What I found particularly valuable was the training on building a business in Romania and studying labor law, which gave me an understanding of the basics of entrepreneurship and labor relations in Romania. Thanks to language courses, educational programs, and job placement assistance from HIAS, I was not only able to adapt to a new life, but also to change my profession.

HIAS was a pillar for me, offering informational support and concrete integration programs. The training program offered by HIAS included studying Romanian and obtaining an official language proficiency certificate from the Romanian Ministry of Education, which was an important step in the process. I completed the program and got a diploma.

HIAS not only assisted me with the training but also actively supported my job search. Thanks to HIAS, I am now employed as an office manager at Tempus Trans Romania SRL, marking the beginning of my new professional path in Romania.

My experience with HIAS proves that with support and access to the right resources, it’s possible to successfully overcome employment challenges and start a new life. Here’s what I would say to other refugee women at the beginning of their journey: Don’t be afraid of new challenges. Remember, change opens up new opportunities for growth. With support from organizations like HIAS, you will find a new path and gain the strength to move forward.