Lefter Natalia
Main achievement
Major. Participated in peacekeeping missions in Africa
About
Major Natalia Lefter is one of the eight female military personnel from the Republic of Moldova who have participated in peacekeeping missions under the UN aegis in the last 16 years, being noted for her first experience in Africa, in South Sudan. She served as a UN observer for a year, conducting patrols to monitor the situation on the ground, reporting on the problems of the local population, and providing direct support to the locals facing severe economic hardships, such as limited access to medicine, schools, and food. Her experience included difficult moments, such as explosions and violence, but also emotional interactions with hundreds of children and locals, who offered her traditional gifts, strengthening her conviction that difficulties strengthen courage and motivation, regardless of gender. With a career of over 11 years in the National Army of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Lefter works within the General Staff and at the Ministry of Defense, where she trains other soldiers in physical fitness. She is a multiple international champion and a double world vice-champion in sambo, a master of sport in judo and sambo, as well as a doctor of pedagogical sciences and a university lecturer. She intensively studied the theoretical and practical aspects to participate in UN missions, overcoming initial skepticism regarding her specialization in physical fitness, and contributes to the tradition of Moldovan soldiers involved in peacekeeping operations in areas such as Georgia, Sudan, Liberia, the Central African Republic, and Kosovo. Natalia Lefter successfully balances the roles of soldier and mother. Her son, Veaceslav, who was 17 years old at the time of the African mission, was impressed by her punctuality and determination, aspiring himself to become a lawyer or judge. Upon returning from the mission, she views the realities in her country with different eyes, appreciating the resources available at home, and promotes the idea that women can excel in the army, urging perseverance on the chosen path.
