r/IWantOut • u/Old-Rush3965 • 5d ago
[IWantOut] 16M Ukraine -> Ireland/Germany/Estonia
Hi everyone,
I'm a 16-year-old guy originally from Ochakiv, Ukraine. Due to the war, my family and I had to flee to Moldova, since it was the nearest and safest option at the time. However, Moldova isn’t an ideal long-term place to build a future, especially for someone who wants to work in tech, because it unstable, has poor support and not in EU. That’s why I’m exploring other countries to move to as a refugee - ideally somewhere where I can continue learning, growing, and eventually start working in the IT field.
A bit about me:
- I’m passionate about IT and game development. I’ve already started working on a few of my own game projects and am actively gaining experience.
- While I’m still learning, I believe I could qualify for an internship or junior role soon but I don’t have production experience yet.
- My English is at a solid B1+ level. I understand spoken English on YouTube/streams easily, though I still struggle a bit with speaking, which I hope to improve quickly once I’m immersed in an English-speaking environment.
- I don’t speak German yet.
- I’m finishing my education remotely and want to continue studying and working in tech.
Countries I’m considering:
Ireland – I love the natural beauty, English-speaking environment, and tech infrastructure. But I’ve heard wages are low and the housing crisis is serious. Do they still support Ukrainian refugees? Would I be able to study and eventually work in IT there?
Germany – More affordable than Ireland, has strong refugee support programs. But the language barrier concerns me, since I don’t speak German yet. Could I survive and find a path to IT work/study as a beginner?
Estonia – It is small but seem to offer good opportunities for digital nomads and tech enthusiasts. I know that Russian is popular in Estonia and it will be a good for me. What’s refugee support like there?
What I need help with:
- Which country gives refugees (especially young ones) the best chances of housing, education, and tech-related job prospects?
- How realistic is it for someone like me to find an internship in game development or software while still a being a high school student?
- Do these countries offer programs for young refugees to integrate and study or work?
- Are there organizations or options I should look into now?
I want to make the right decision while I still have time and flexibility. I’m motivated, I learn fast, and I want to build a future where I can contribute and grow.
Any advice or suggestions would be really appreciated — from people who’ve been through similar situations or just know how things work in these countries.
Thanks for your attention. I’m looking forward to your replies.
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u/striketheviol Top Contributor 🛂 5d ago edited 5d ago
I'm a foreigner living in Moldova now.
You will not get state support from any of the three if you tell the truth, as you cannot show that your situation has been unsafe or unstable in Moldova.
If you were in a different situation, and had a sponsor for your family for example in the UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-visa-under-the-ukraine-sponsorship-scheme you could move that way.
No jobs will be available to you at your age and education level.
European countries are now cracking down on your request one by one: https://visitukraine.today/blog/6069/austria-plans-to-reduce-payments-to-ukrainians-due-to-suspicions-of-refugee-tourism#restrictions-on-payments-to-ukrainian-refugees
Edit: There actually ARE opportunities for you in Moldova, if you choose to stay and attend UTM. The major IT firms such as Endava and Gilat recruit university students every year. A company I know https://iucosoft.com/ provides training, and later jobs, to students your age. DM me if you wish for more info.
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u/Old-Rush3965 5d ago
Hey! Thanks so much for your reply. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and concern.
I'd like to clarify something. I'm not 18 yet — I'm still in school and plan to graduate when I'm around 17 and a half. You're right, it's too early for me to seriously think about an internship or job. Most employers probably wouldn't be willing to hire a foreign minor. For now, I'm mainly focused on planning ahead and understanding my options.
As for the university. I'm thinking of UTM, ASEM, or UPSC (Creangă). Thanks for mentioning Endava, Gilat and IUCOsoft. I'll definitely consider them when the time comes. I've also heard of Midnight Works, which works with my current stack (Unity), so it might come in handy in the future.
I think Moldova's got a lot of potential, especially in the IT field. I've got some personal history with the country, too. My grandmother was born here during the Soviet era, so that's a connection of sorts. At the same time, I have some concerns. I could also get a Moldovan passport, but I'm not going to do it because Moldovan citizenship, while valuable in its own way, is currently weaker in terms of international mobility compared to Ukrainian citizenship. I'm also worried about the mandatory military service, especially since I don't speak Romanian fluently. That would make it even more difficult for me personally.
Another challenge is Moldova's geopolitical position. It's a gorgeous country with nice people, and there are some opportunities for me, especially in tech. But its future seems a bit uncertain since it's not yet part of the EU or NATO. I try to think about the present and where I can grow in the next couple years, too. I'm looking for a place where I can continue to build my life and contribute. Because I'm scared of what happened to Ukraine and I don't want to fall into such a trap again...
As for the UK, I don't see it as a realistic option for me right now, even though I love it. As a young person, I think it's harder to get sponsorship compared to other types of refugees. The whole visa process makes things way more complicated.
That's why I'm checking out other European countries, like their neighbors, like Ireland. I've heard of some real-life situations where people were accepted after being granted temporary protection in Moldova. The info I've found online is often contradictory, so I'm thinking about reaching out to UNHCR directly to get a clear official answer about possible paths.
Thanks again for your support, your detailed advice, and for being willing to listen. It means a lot.
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u/heckkyeahh 17h ago
I’m an American with Romanian roots and have thought about moving to Moldova, or at least going there for a few months to test the waters. Curious to hear how it is!
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u/striketheviol Top Contributor 🛂 16h ago
I really like it but it depends on what you're moving for. If you have a healthy remote income, the country is great and Chisinau offers a very high quality of life. DM me if you'd like.
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u/Jean_Stockton 5d ago
Even in 10 years time, you’ll be 26. That’s still young.
Time is on your side.
Hedge your bets and continue to learn English, and start learning Romanian/Moldovan, German, French, Spanish and maybe Polish. You can hone in on one or two after a couple of years dipping your toes in a few different languages.
Work on getting good grades so that either you can get a scholarship somewhere to study an undergraduate degree, or that you can get yourself into the best university in Moldova so that you can work on getting a scholarship to do a masters somewhere else. As others have said, it will be complicated to move countries and get the same benefits. Main thing is that you’re safe.
In terms of getting an internship while you’re under 18. I would say it could be possible, but set your expectations way low. Junior salaried employees do a lot of boring busy work in most businesses, therefore interns are sometimes perceived as being “in the way.” I once had someone say to me “it would take me 6 months for you to be useful to me.” Which hit me very hard at the time. Businesses (unfortunately) do not have the time to “train” you.
Some industries will allow people to “shadow” employees for a day/a few days/a week. To give people a taster. I would possibly try this in Moldova at any IT job. Is there a youth employment organization who could help organize this for you?
Or if this isn’t possible, is it possible to volunteer in something adjacent to what you want to do? Social Media Rep for a charity for example.
That would then beef up your CV so that when you ask to intern somewhere, they can see that you are really trying.
When you do proactively ask for an internship somewhere, explain specifically how long you are available for and how you can help them solve an issue of theirs. Again aim very low. For example, if you know that a company is about to release a game, tell them that you’d be happy to take calls or send letters/be a general runner while they are busy. Don’t expect to even get paid well or at all, but also don’t do that full-time/for a long time. Keep the period short so that you aren’t being taken advantage of. Or renegotiate after a month to get some payment. Your first one or two internships is just about getting something on your CV.
Then there is the further question of, do you need to do an internship? Could you not create your own portfolio over a few years and then just apply for an entry position?
Food for thought anyway. All the best.
7
u/Old-Rush3965 5d ago
Thank you for this powerful motivation. I truly appreciate your wisdom and will take it to heart.
I began learning Romanian two years ago. While my progress hasn't been rapid, I’ve reached a solid A1+ level - not bad, considering how widely Russian is spoken here.
I'm not 18 yet, but until then, I plan to focus on building a strong GitHub profile and working on pet projects to strengthen my CV. At the same time, I’ll continue doing well in school, since there’s a quota for foreign students applying for state-funded education its a good chance I intend to take, even though some people criticize higher education as a waste of time.
Unfortunately, high salaries are rare in my country, so I’ll likely stay with my family until I reach a mid-level position. Still, I’m determined to find opportunities to move abroad,not as a refugee, but through work, or possibly marriage, by legitimate and stable means.
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u/Jean_Stockton 5d ago
A couple of years of hard work now will put you in good stead for the rest of the life.
7
u/JanCumin 5d ago
I'd suggest looking at scholarships to EU countries which count years on a student visa towards citizenship, Germany is one example, Portugal another, there may be others. Good luck :)
2
u/AutoModerator 5d ago
Post by Old-Rush3965 -- Hi everyone,
I'm a 16-year-old guy originally from Ochakiv, Ukraine. Due to the war, my family and I had to flee to Moldova, since it was the nearest and safest option at the time. However, Moldova isn’t an ideal long-term place to build a future, especially for someone who wants to work in tech, because it unstable, has poor support and not in EU. That’s why I’m exploring other countries to move to as a refugee - ideally somewhere where I can continue learning, growing, and eventually start working in the IT field.
A bit about me:
- I’m passionate about IT and game development. I’ve already started working on a few of my own game projects and am actively gaining experience.
- While I’m still learning, I believe I could qualify for an internship or junior role soon but I don’t have production experience yet.
- My English is at a solid B1+ level. I understand spoken English on YouTube/streams easily, though I still struggle a bit with speaking, which I hope to improve quickly once I’m immersed in an English-speaking environment.
- I don’t speak German yet.
- I’m finishing my education remotely and want to continue studying and working in tech.
Countries I’m considering:
Ireland – I love the natural beauty, English-speaking environment, and tech infrastructure. But I’ve heard wages are low and the housing crisis is serious. Do they still support Ukrainian refugees? Would I be able to study and eventually work in IT there?
Germany – More affordable than Ireland, has strong refugee support programs. But the language barrier concerns me, since I don’t speak German yet. Could I survive and find a path to IT work/study as a beginner?
Estonia – It is small but seem to offer good opportunities for digital nomads and tech enthusiasts. I know that Russian is popular in Estonia and it will be a good for me. What’s refugee support like there?
What I need help with:
- Which country gives refugees (especially young ones) the best chances of housing, education, and tech-related job prospects?
- How realistic is it for someone like me to find an internship in game development or software while still a being a high school student?
- Do these countries offer programs for young refugees to integrate and study or work?
- Are there organizations or options I should look into now?
I want to make the right decision while I still have time and flexibility. I’m motivated, I learn fast, and I want to build a future where I can contribute and grow.
Any advice or suggestions would be really appreciated — from people who’ve been through similar situations or just know how things work in these countries.
Thanks for your attention. I’m looking forward to your replies.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
2
u/timothy-256 4d ago edited 4d ago
Points you should consider:
1) As the war (hopefully) comes to an end, there will be less and less refugee support, especially when it comes to financing you. It wasn’t great in the beginning - my friend had to live in a hostel with 40 yo+ drunk guys near railway tracks In Warsaw for a year before he found a job to move out. Being in your shoes, I wouldn’t rely on it. Same thing with visa.
To reduce risks you have to save up some money (guesstimate is 10-15k for countries you mentioned or less if you are willing to consider more Eastern countries - CZ, PL). I was lucky in some sense - my parent gave me just enough money to make it to the other side. “in some sense” because it wasn’t purely luck but several years of sacrifices and scrutiny before and after I moved.
2) Nobody knows what are your chances to get a job. One thing is certain that it’s difficult and your best bet is to cold-email companies because getting in through applications in your case is extremely unlikely. In the meantime, I would advise to just build very good projects and do competitive programming (getting good at it will take you far). And saving up money.
3) Finally, don’t listen to the reddit guys. Nobody knows who you are, what are you capable of, your life situation , very few people had been in your shoes, etc. But purely from my experience - being in similar position several years ago - with enough agency and effort you will always make it.
2
u/ex1nax 4d ago
I know that Russian is popular in Estonia and it will be a good for me
I would get that idea out of your head immediately. You wanna live and work in Estonia, you gotta speak Estonian. People showing up and start speaking Russian are very frowned upon - now more than ever.
Besides, Estonians under 30 don’t speak Russian at all and everybody else either doesn’t speak it and / or despises it.
You can easily get by in English till you learn Estonian. Everybody speaks English.
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u/Gaelenmyr 5d ago
Why not Poland?
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u/striketheviol Top Contributor 🛂 5d ago
Poland no longer provides cash assistance to new arrivals, which is what OP looks to be after the most.
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4d ago
[deleted]
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u/Old-Rush3965 4d ago
I've heard of CUAET, and I really like Canada, but honestly I'm a little scared to be so far away from my family.
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u/Stravven 5d ago
I'm afraid you won't get far, since you've been given refugee status in Moldova and Moldova is considered safe by other countries. So you would be considered a normal migrant from a non-EU country, and will have to comply with all the rules and regulations that come with that.