"You start counting your blessings when you meet people who’ve lost everything." That’s what hit Sára Sívková the moment she began working with refugees in the Republic of Moldova. She didn’t come in with a cape. She came in with curiosity, grit, and a UN Volunteer assignment that was initially funded by her home country, Czechia, in 2023. Two years later and to date, she is still working as a frontline humanitarian, an Associate Protection Officer, coordinating protection efforts across UN agencies, NGOs, and government offices with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to support refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Sára's real work happens far from meeting rooms. She’s in Chișinău. Listening to refugees. She is part of protection working groups advocating for people who’ve been uprooted, broken, and forgotten.
“I help organizations speak up for refugees. I make sure help gets where it’s needed—fast.”
She consistently captures and conveys the experiences of refugees through detailed reports and policy briefs, ensuring their voices are heard by those in positions to shape policy. Over the past two and a half years, she has organized and facilitated approximately 14 training sessions, covering critical topics such as protection principles that safeguard individuals during crises and how to break down data by age, gender, disability, and other factors.
"These sessions reached more than 300 participants from local public institutions, civil society, international NGOs, and other UN agencies," Sára points to a the real wins that aren’t in numbers. They’re in moments—a referral that gets a family shelter, a conversation that brings someone peace. “It’s not about big gestures. It’s about showing up when it matters.”
The job isn’t easy. Budgets are shrinking. Needs are growing. And Sára’s biggest fear? Not being able to help. “We’re stretched thin. But quitting isn’t an option. We adapt. We keep going. Our job is transforming from humanitarian emergency towards long-term solutions for refugees and stateless persons,” she describes how her role is contributing to the UN's pillars of peace, security, human rights, and development.
Her motivation? The people. The stories. The strength she sees in those who’ve lost everything.
Sára recalls how landing in the Republic of Moldova was scary. "A new country with new cultural traditions, sometimes even a language you don't know," As a Czech speaker, her Slavic roots helped her connect with locals and other beneficiaries in ways that surprised her. "Even if we didn't have the same words, we found a way. At the end of the day, it's more about empathy, patience, and willingness to meet halfway."
Sára’s work spans child protection, gender-based violence, disability inclusion, and mental health. It’s complex. It’s real. And she’s got advice for anyone who wants to help: “You don’t need a title. Start with kindness. Listen. Learn. Be there.”
Sára understands why people feel disconnected from institutions like the United Nations. The scale is massive, the systems complex. But for her, change doesn’t start with policy—it starts with people. She’s learned that listening can be more powerful than speaking. That asking someone what they need can matter a lot when coming up with solutions. That learning a few words in a new language can open doors that official channels never will.
Her work has taught her to slow down, to notice the small shifts—a child who smiles again, a mother who sleeps through the night, a family that finds safety. These aren’t headlines. They’re moments. And they’re enough.
And when the world feels too big to fix, she reminds herself: showing up is the first step. Everything else follows.
This story was originally published by the UN Department of Global Communications Peace and Security.
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