Back in 2013-2015 I was invited to help a group of advocates form a national coalition of women’s organizations in the Republic of Moldova.  Admittedly, I had to look at a map to understand the location of Moldova and the implications of its location in its history an current situation.  Moldova, a former Soviet republic, is situated between Romania and Ukraine, and is held on three sides by Ukraine.  Having studied the Russian language and traveled to Russia many times, I thought I had a sense of the culture of Moldova before my first visit.

I couldn’t have been more wrong in my assumptions.  Instead of a grim former Soviet society, I found myself immersed in a joyful, friendly and sophisticated European county actively pivoting to the west despite experiencing many of the uncertainties that have characterized post-Soviet republic governments.  In the advocates, I found so much similarity to advocates in America that I felt right at home.  I was able to offer support for these incredible women and men who were striving to decrease the frequency and severity of domestic violence and child abuse across Moldova.  They had a vision for cooperation across disciplines so that women and children could live lives free from violence.

So now here we are in 2022.  The Russian army has invaded Ukraine and Moldova sits in a position of great risk if Ukraine falls.  Moldova is both strategically located and blessed with the right combination of soil and climate for growing massive amounts of fruits, vegetables, wheat and grapes (for their wonderful wines).  One might expect that Moldovans are nervous, worried about the implications of the attack on their next-door neighbor. But that is not who the Moldovan people are.  Our colleagues who are members of the National Coalition Against Family Violence have mobilized along with their fellow citizens.  Over 36,000 Ukrainians have fled to Moldova, a country the size of Vermont.  Coalition members are gathering and distributing food and materials to refugees, opening shelter space and their very homes to them and doing the things that advocates naturally do.  Helping and through this help, healing.

These courageous Moldovans are reminding me of the bonds that exist across the global movement to end violence against women.  They, like advocates in all corners of the world, including here in Vermont, endeavor to tend to the immediate, physical needs of survivors as well as the longer term physical, emotional, and legal needs.

As a citizen of Vermont and of the world, I feel so grateful for advocates here in Vermont who have weathered these two years of the pandemic with creativity and determination as well as our family in Moldova who are stepping up to help Ukrainians who have been uprooted and displaced by war. Find out more about how you can support the Ukraine relief effort here.

Karen Tronsgard-Scott

Executive Director