Olga, Sabrina and Carolina lived alone for three years. During that time, their mother worked as caregiver for the elderly and lived with an Italian family, where she slept on a folding cot in the hallway. In the photo series 'Country without Parents,' photographer Andrea Diefenbach tells the story about Moldovan children and parents living in long-distance relationships.

The oldest sister Olga "took over the role of the mother, made cheese, baked bread and made sure that her younger sisters went to school," remembered Diefenbach. The situation, born of necessity, touched the photographer from Wiesbaden deeply.

Olga's younger sister uses this phrase almost every time she speaks with her mother on the phone. "Superficially, the children seem to be dealing well with the situation," said Diefenbach. "But the families are torn apart. The consequences will probably only be seen in 20 years, when the children are grown."

Catalina's parents also work abroad, but she's lucky: her grandmother moved from another village to be with her. Many families have been torn apart in the former Soviet Republic. According to the World Bank, nearly a quarter of the Moldovan population works abroad. Many of the migrant workers don't have legal residence status.

The parents regularly send packages to their children. Sometimes, they include popcorn - or an apple from an Italian supermarket. "They probably aren't as tasty as the fresh apples in Moldova," said Diefenbach, "but the packages are the only possibility for the parents to show their love."

Ludmilla, who works as a cleaner in six different locations in Italy, has lived apart from her son Slavek for seven years. Since they are living abroad illegally, many parents aren't able to visit their children: at the border, they would be asked for valid ID papers. Today, Ludmilla has a residence permit and has brought her son to live with her.

Diefenbach also documented the fate of the parents. Aljona and Vanja earn enough to support their two children working on an Italian melon farm. They make daily phone calls home. When it rains, there's no work - and the already meager daily wage is lost.

"I hope my photos inspire people in Western Europe to think about whether their foreign cleaning woman has children and what kind of life she leads," said Diefenbach. "Anyone can empathize with a parent's love for their children."

The photo on the night table is a reminder of children back at home. Economic hardship has forced these parents to work abroad. "They didn't know how they would be able to buy school supplies for their children," said Diefenbach. Moldova is seen as Europe's poorhouse - the average wage is less than 200 euros ($260) a month.

For her project, "Country without Parents," Diefenbach was awarded the 2012 Reportage Award from the Network for Reporting on Eastern Europe (n-ost). "These photos don't rely on false pathos, and are that much more impressive in their portrayal of Europe's economic divergence," said Lars Bauernschmitt, a jury member and professor of photojournalism and documentary photography in Hanover.

Diefenbach has also presented her book in Moldova. "Many people there were surprised by the difficult circumstances of the lives of their relatives abroad - all they knew was the packages of food and clothes," she said.

Olga, Sabrina and Carolina lived alone for three years. During that time, their mother worked as caregiver for the elderly and lived with an Italian family, where she slept on a folding cot in the hallway. In the photo series 'Country without Parents,' photographer Andrea Diefenbach tells the story about Moldovan children and parents living in long-distance relationships.

The oldest sister Olga "took over the role of the mother, made cheese, baked bread and made sure that her younger sisters went to school," remembered Diefenbach. The situation, born of necessity, touched the photographer from Wiesbaden deeply.

Olga's younger sister uses this phrase almost every time she speaks with her mother on the phone. "Superficially, the children seem to be dealing well with the situation," said Diefenbach. "But the families are torn apart. The consequences will probably only be seen in 20 years, when the children are grown."

Catalina's parents also work abroad, but she's lucky: her grandmother moved from another village to be with her. Many families have been torn apart in the former Soviet Republic. According to the World Bank, nearly a quarter of the Moldovan population works abroad. Many of the migrant workers don't have legal residence status.

The parents regularly send packages to their children. Sometimes, they include popcorn - or an apple from an Italian supermarket. "They probably aren't as tasty as the fresh apples in Moldova," said Diefenbach, "but the packages are the only possibility for the parents to show their love."

Ludmilla, who works as a cleaner in six different locations in Italy, has lived apart from her son Slavek for seven years. Since they are living abroad illegally, many parents aren't able to visit their children: at the border, they would be asked for valid ID papers. Today, Ludmilla has a residence permit and has brought her son to live with her.

Diefenbach also documented the fate of the parents. Aljona and Vanja earn enough to support their two children working on an Italian melon farm. They make daily phone calls home. When it rains, there's no work - and the already meager daily wage is lost.

"I hope my photos inspire people in Western Europe to think about whether their foreign cleaning woman has children and what kind of life she leads," said Diefenbach. "Anyone can empathize with a parent's love for their children."

The photo on the night table is a reminder of children back at home. Economic hardship has forced these parents to work abroad. "They didn't know how they would be able to buy school supplies for their children," said Diefenbach. Moldova is seen as Europe's poorhouse - the average wage is less than 200 euros ($260) a month.

For her project, "Country without Parents," Diefenbach was awarded the 2012 Reportage Award from the Network for Reporting on Eastern Europe (n-ost). "These photos don't rely on false pathos, and are that much more impressive in their portrayal of Europe's economic divergence," said Lars Bauernschmitt, a jury member and professor of photojournalism and documentary photography in Hanover.

Diefenbach has also presented her book in Moldova. "Many people there were surprised by the difficult circumstances of the lives of their relatives abroad - all they knew was the packages of food and clothes," she said.