The Convocation Refugee Grant Program (CRGP) is active in two projects supported by the Church of the Resurrection (CoE) in Bucharest, Romania—a program to support Ukrainian mothers and children and an emerging project for Palestinian children and refugee families in Romania.

MALVA began in September 2022 to support Ukrainian mothers and children with early development programs and psychosocial support. It is now a recognized NGO and has also begun working with Palestinian families. They provide:

• Early development programs for children aged 3 to 5, educational activities for children aged 4 to 16, and free programs for youth aged 16 and above
• Psychosocial support for women and children, with a strong emphasis on addressing trauma
• A social media marketing course for migrant adults, taught by a Ukrainian instructor and sponsored by UNHCR

There is a high prevalence of trauma among children that is often mistaken for developmental disorders but approximately 80 percent of the cases are trauma related. Moreover, many parents are reluctant to accept this, which hinders timely and appropriate intervention. Other challenges to the program are difficulty recruiting qualified volunteers and significant language barriers.

Impact and Success Stories

• MALVA serves around 60 children per week and is open seven days a week with one paid staff member and seven volunteers
• 45 students have graduated from the social media marketing course. Thirteen have started their own businesses and approximately five remain active
• MALVA marked its first year of formal partnership with the UNHCR

A second program to assist refugee children and their families from Gaza is in the beginning stages. Soranna, a psychotherapist, is establishing a hub to support Palestinian refugee families who have children with disabilities or injuries. Romania is expected to receive up to 800 Palestinian children and their families by the end of the year; the planning hub would have the capacity to support a maximum of 200 children. Under a current EU-support program, these families receive automatic asylum status and access to healthcare upon coming, but the children often need further care and must rely on costly private services.

Since February 2025, the program has assisted 12 people directly and an additional 100 indirectly.

The CRGP team also met with AIDRom (Ecumenical Association of Churches in Romania), an NGO established in the early 1990s. AIDRom operates in several cities and provides legal counseling, psychological support, vocational training, and integration assistance for refugees and migrants.  The Church of the Resurrection is currently evaluating a potential partnership with AidRom for upcoming projects.

(picture on the left): Giulia Bonoldi and Father Nevsky Everett standing in front of the Cafe Mingle.

(picture above): Father Nevsky Everett, Soranna Kapusta, Madeleine Cuckson and Giulia Bonoldi

(picture on the left): AIDRom poster promoting self-assessment skills to volunteers.

(picture above): Picture of a ‘Wish list’ board from young refugees. a powerful symbol of hope and resilience for refugee kids.