A letter straight from the heart.
Refugee Pen Pal is your opportunity to write to a Ukrainian refugee.
This digital initiative connects you with Anna, a courageous mother who fled the war and is now living in Moldova with her four children.
To kick things off, Anna has written a letter to our community of supporters, generously sharing her experiences of war. From the chaotic first days of the full-scale invasion, to the challenges of starting over in a new country – Anna's letter gives you a snapshot of life as a refugee.
Get to know Anna through her moving words and precious family photos – read her letter.
Now it’s your turn! Share your message for Anna now and we’ll send a letter back to her, signed with your name.
About Anna.
Anna is a single mother of four children, aged 8 - 19. Her family was forced to flee Odesa in the first few days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. They now live in a small riverside town in Moldova.
Anna previously worked as the coordinator of UNHCR’s Community Centre in Rybnita and remains committed to supporting and uplifting her fellow refugees.
Like many of you, Anna is a loving parent, a dedicated member of her community, and a skilled professional who spent years building a career in Ukraine. She found her whole life turned upside down in a moment.
Anna dreams of a safe future in Ukraine for her family – but it seems a long way away.
ABOUT AUSTRALIA FOR UNHCR
Australia for UNHCR unites caring Australians in support of refugees and others forced to flee conflict, disaster and persecution.
We advocate and fundraise for refugee protection, emergency aid, and long-term support and solutions, helping the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reach millions of vulnerable people each year.
Australian donations provide life-saving aid to civilians fleeing the frontlines of conflict. They also support longer-term projects in healthcare, education and livelihoods.
Nobody chooses to be a refugee, but we can all choose to stand with refugees in their time of need.
Find out more on our website: https://www.unrefugees.org.au
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Refugee Pen Pal is a special opportunity for you to connect with the refugee families you’re supporting.
The project was designed to help you get to know an individual, the circumstances that forced them to flee, and the challenges they’ve faced on their journey.
We hope the project will also give you some of the old-fashioned thrill of receiving a letter from a pen pal! Letter writing is a special art and a very unique kind of connection. Even though we’re using this digital platform to share letters and messages, we believe the pen pal spirit lives on! Plus, it helps us connect Anna with so many more people.
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We are receiving so many messages for Anna that it would be impossible to include them all in a single letter. We will therefore summarise your responses into a single, handwritten letter, signed with all your names, and send this back to Anna in Moldova.
Your responses on the message board are also visible to Anna, so she can read them and take strength from them whenever she has the time.
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Yes, we moderate all messages to ensure content and language are appropriate, not just for Anna but for everyone viewing them.
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Yes! Anna very generously sat down and wrote this letter to you by hand in English.
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We hope that Anna will write again, letting us know she got our letter and how it made her feel.
However, life as a refugee can be precarious, difficult and overwhelming. We have our fingers crossed, but there’s no guarantee she’ll be in a position to write back.
We’ll email you to let you know if we hear from Anna again. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X to stay up-to-date with the project.
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For now, Refugee Pen Pal is a one-off initiative and only Anna is involved. If you appreciate this project and would like to connect with more pen pals in Ukraine or around the world, please share your feedback here.
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Anna is a registered refugee and formerly worked with UNHCR. She is one of the 5.9 million Ukrainian refugees who have fled the war and are still unable to return home safely.
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Visit our website to learn more or donate:
https://www.unrefugees.org.au/emergency-response/ukraine-emergency/
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We respect the privacy and security of your personal information. Your data will be handled in accordance with Australia for UNHCR’s Privacy Policy:
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No. The primary aim of this initiative is to help you build a deeper connection with someone you’re supporting through your generous donations.
Of course, donations are always gratefully received. If you’d like to give, you can support UNHCR’s work in Ukraine here:
https://www.unrefugees.org.au/emergency-response/ukraine-emergency/
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Unfortunately we are unable to accept donations specifically for Anna, however, you can donate to our Ukraine Appeal to support UNHCR’s work with refugee families like hers on our website:
https://www.unrefugees.org.au/emergency-response/ukraine-emergency/
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Refugee Pen Pal is a new initiative inviting you to connect with a refugee family. As a valuable supporter, you are welcome to read Anna’s letter and write a response, but there is absolutely no obligation to do so. Thank you for your support.