Sometimes a request for support begins with one specific question: how to organise a trip, where to find temporary accommodation, how to access basic assistance, or what to do next. But behind such a request, there is often much more — emotional exhaustion, language barriers, lack of resources, uncertainty, and the need for someone to help turn a difficult situation into clear steps.

In Lithuania, during free and anonymous testing organised by the association Demetra, the team met a young woman from Ukraine who had arrived in Lithuania with her child after fleeing the war.

At the time of the referral, the woman was in a difficult emotional and financial situation. She was struggling to adapt to life in a new country, including because of the language barrier, and did not have enough resources to cover basic needs. The family later decided to return to Ukraine and asked for support in organising the journey.

Within RefAid BaltHUB, comprehensive support was provided to the woman and her child. The team helped identify a safe and convenient route, purchased bus tickets from Vilnius to Lviv, provided a Maxima food voucher worth 50 euros, and covered hostel accommodation for several nights before the departure date.

Information support, ongoing communication, and emotional support were also an important part of the assistance. In situations where decisions need to be made quickly and a person is under stress, accompaniment helps ensure that they are not left alone with systems, routes, conditions, documents, and organisational questions.

Thanks to the support provided, the family was able to prepare safely for the journey and return to Ukraine without additional financial and organisational difficulties.

This story shows that sometimes a person does not need one isolated solution, but step-by-step support: to understand the situation, identify priorities, find a safe route, cover basic needs, and move through a difficult period one step at a time.

If you are stuck at one stage or do not know where to begin, you can reach out for navigation support. A difficult situation does not mean there is no way forward.

This story has been anonymised to protect the confidentiality of the person who received support.