From Ukraine to Devon
Since April, Ukrainian families have been welcomed to Tavistock and surrounding villages in West Devon to live with host families. A Facebook page set up by Tavistock residents Julia Law and Michelle Davis, has been instrumental in helping to put host families in touch with Ukrainians who want to come to the UK as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Julia was inspired to set up the Facebook page after reading about Darren Tait’s deliveries to Ukraine (see Cornwall & Devon – sending love to Ukraine). She felt that a central point of information would signpost people to the many different ways they could help Ukrainian people affected by the atrocities of the war. The Facebook page, Tavistock and Ukrainian Friends, has also become a valuable communication platform for the community to share anything from useful advice about official procedures to language classes, welcome packs, activities for Ukrainian guests, and local fundraising efforts. Tatiana Lytvynenko found an offer of accommodation with Julia and her husband Gary, through the Facebook page, and she and her 15-year-old son Yurii have been living with them in Tavistock since the end of April. When I met up with Tatiana, she told me about her recent experiences.
Tatiana used to live in Kyiv, where she was head of HR for an international company. She showed me a photo of her team, explaining that they are now living in various places across the world, as the business had to close its operation at the outbreak of the war. Right up to 24 February when Russia started its offensive against her country, Tatiana couldn’t believe it would really happen or that beautiful Kyiv would be targeted with such destruction. As airstrikes commenced though, she quickly realised she and her son were not safe in an apartment on the 18th floor. They spent the first night in a nearby metro station with other Kyiv citizens, taking it in turns to sleep, in fear of lowering their guard in this strange and unpredictable environment. In the early hours of the morning, a bomb hit the metro station. Fortunately, they were not injured but they urgently needed to find another refuge. Tatiana described how a three-day curfew was then declared by the government to keep the streets clear while defences were erected and the military rooted out agents involved in covert activities for Russia. The city became a ghost town, as shops and businesses closed, and normal life ceased. Tatiana and Yurii moved to a bomb shelter near their home, glad of thermal jackets provided by their landlord - snow was falling outside as they tried to sleep on a cold floor in the bleak conditions.
Yurii persuaded his mother that they should leave Kyiv, but this meant reaching the train station on the opposite bank of the River Dnieper. Managing to get there, they squeezed onto a train leaving for Lviv. It was standing room only for most of the 10-hour journey on the tightly packed train, as a multitude of people fled the capital. Arriving homeless in a new city, Tatiana called on her good network of friends for help. A friend in Manchester who had worked for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), found them a place to stay in an apartment, turned into a hostel by its American owners. Another friend advised Tatiana to head for Poland as soon as possible; she had previously helped him escape from Donetsk when the 2014 conflict started. So with the help of a cousin who was involved in bringing in humanitarian aid, Tatiana and Yurii reached Opole in Poland, where her friend, a hairdresser, arranged for them to stay in an apartment belonging to one of his clients. Tatiana’s plan at this point was to make her way to an English-speaking country as both she and her son could speak the language. She had become friends with a Russian lady when she spent a year working in the Emirates, and this friend now lived in Tavistock. She put Tatiana in touch with a new Facebook group, Tavistock and Ukrainian Friends. Tatiana made contact with Julia and then passed on the Facebook details to a couple more of her friends who also managed to arrange to live in Tavistock.
Ever since Tatiana and her son arrived here, she has been touched by the welcome they have received from the local community. Tatiana said that she and her compatriots appreciate every show of support, from the generosity of their hosts, gifts and invitations, to simple words of kindness. Despite being forced to leave her country and close relatives whom she worries about constantly, she has a very positive attitude to her new life here, and was delighted to start a new role as Homes for Ukraine: Project Support Officer in July. It is very important to her and her fellow Ukrainians to find employment and they would be keen to hear from local businesses with vacancies.
By Rosemary Best
If you can help with employment or know of businesses looking to recruit, or would like to host a family or help in some other way, please let the group know at Facebook: Tavistock and Ukrainian Friends.
Cornwall & Devon – sending love to Ukraine
Our volunteers took the fifth aid convoy to Ukraine at the end of July. Despite already delivering more than 75 tonnes of humanitarian aid, we still receive direct requests for urgently needed medical and sanitation items from charities and hospitals working on the front line. Darren Tait, who leads the trips said: “We are totally reliant on the generosity of the people of Cornwall and Devon to fill the vans. They have been amazing since day 1. We have drop-off points all over the two counties, and if you can donate just one item, it will make a difference. And, I can assure you this aid goes directly to the people who need it, sometimes within 24 hours of delivery.” The volunteers have seen how desperate the situation is, which is why they keep doing the 2,500-mile round trip - financial support as well as aid donations make that possible. If you can help, please visit www.sendinglovetoukraine.org