Some Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion six months ago felt like they had their lives back after finding refuge in the UK. “future in front of (them)”They embark on their dreams courses.
August 24th is Ukraine Independence Day. It also marks six months since Russia invaded Ukraine without any respite from heavy fighting.
One day there was an explosion near our house, and our house began shaking. We could see the light of the explosion. We were able to see the light from the explosion. I wasn’t sure if our town would still be there in a few days so we decided that we would leave.
Kateryna Chebizhak
Kateryna Cherbakhak, 33, arrived in the UK after fleeing Kyiv together with her seven-year-old son Kolya. She had also spent short periods in Poland, Germany, and Poland.
“I was staying in Ukraine for a while, but it was very, very frightening,”She told the PA news agency.
“We didn’t feel safe in the Kyiv region. The noise and information I was hearing were awful.
Kateryna escaped from Ukraine with her son and now works as an admin assistant (Montana Gerry/Beam/PA)
“One day, there was a big explosion not far from our house and the house was shaking. We could see the light from the explosion. I didn’t know if our town would be occupied in a day or two, so we decided to leave.”
Ms. Chebizhak worked as an English teacher in Ukraine. She hoped to change her career and become a translator. Social enterprise Beam is helping to make that dream a reality. It raises funds and provides case workers and support for those looking for work. Enfield council recommended Beam to her.
Beam helped her fundraise to pay for an interpreter course. She also found her a job as an administrator at a central London medical centre to make money while she studies.
I am excited to take the interpreting course, as I had planned to go to Ukraine this summer. Although I prefer to be independent, I was impressed by the kindness and generosity of those who helped me.
Kateryna Chebizhak
“I’m in the office every day and I’m doing training for the next six weeks. It’s really interesting and I’m working with a nice team,”She spoke.
“I’m excited to undergo the interpreting course because I planned to undergo a similar course in Ukraine over the summer.”
“I like to live a very independent life, but I was still very touched and impressed with people who assisted me.”
Some £1,683 was raised in 52 days by more than 60 members of the public and was used to pay for Ms Chebizhak’s Level 7 Diploma in Translation Exam plus Preparation Course with a language tutor, as well as travel costs for the first couple of months in work and work clothes.
Kateryna said that she was touched by the kindness of strangers (Montana Gerry/Beam/PA).
Ms. Chebizhak presently resides in Enfield (London) with her host family. She also has a son who she claims loves the UK. “impressive”Despite not wanting to flee his family, he did.
She said: “He likes the kids as they are very friendly here… he is very successful at school. He likes to learn.”
She added that he is looking forward to participating in his school’s football club.
“This club organised a camp, so he went to the camp and he said he loved it because he played football all day,”Ms. Chebizhak.
She stated that she had settled into her new life and realized her dream of becoming an interpreter, but it was difficult. “not the way I wanted”Her parents are still in Ukraine, which serves as a reminder about the things she had left behind after the invasion.
The situation in Ukraine is making me very nervous, especially after March’s middle march when certain cities were already under attack and people were being hurt. It was horrible. It was horrible.
Diana Severyn
She claimed that she is in constant contact with her parents. “did not want to leave”.
“They have jobs there, they have a house there, they have lots of cats and they do not want to leave their house. It is difficult for people who are in their 50s and 60s,”She spoke.
Diana Severyn, 19, who now lives in Wanstead in east London, also had to flee her home in Poltava, western Ukraine, and travelled to Poland alone in March of this year, which she described as a “difficult”Time because of repeated bombings.
“I actually feel really nervous about the situation in Ukraine, especially after the middle of March when some cities were under attack already and people and children were getting hurt. It was awful,”She spoke to PA.
“I just try not to think too deeply about it or I get too emotional.”
Diana hopes to be a marketer in the future (Montana Gery/Beam/PA).
After being referred by Haringey council to them, she eventually arrived in the UK on April 7. Beam has established a crowdfunder to help her become an admin assistant as well as pursue a course in digital marketing.
“I have previous experience in social media management. I really liked it and wanted to develop my skills further in digital marketing and strategy,”She spoke.
Her crowdfunder was set up on August 1 and her £2,200 total has been reached through the help of 68 people.
She said: “I’ve already received a laptop and Oyster card from Beam. I’m really happy and I didn’t expect that it would happen so fast.
“Before this, I didn’t know what to do. I now have a straight path to my future thanks to Beam and I feel really motivated.
I feel like every road is opening for me and I am guaranteed a good future. When I came here, I felt a bit scared, but now I feel like I have my future in front of me
Diana Severyn
“I feel like every road is opening for me and I am guaranteed a good future.
“When I came here, I felt a bit scared, but now I feel like I have my future in front of me.”
Seb Barker is co-founder and chief operational officer of Beam. “Beam is supporting refugees like Kateryna and Diana to resettle in the UK, by giving them an online support network and all the tools they need to accelerate their journey into stable work and housing. If you work in local government and are worried about the refugee crisis, please get in touch.”
More information about Ms Chebizhak’s crowdfunder can be found here: https://beam.org/campaigns/kateryna-admin-assistant-training
More information about Ms Severyn’s crowdfunder can be found here: https://beam.org/campaigns/Diana