A day in the life...

We now set up stall in the afternoon in the food tent, next to the leftover soups, with our handwritten poster. We give information on the UK sponsorship scheme and, if people want to go forward, make appointments to match them with a host family and complete the visa applications. We have appointments every day next week. Yesterday we had a Ukrainian translator from the UK, which was very helpful.

We have had an unintended day off. We were invited for Easter breakfast by a Polish volunteer, Joanna, who lives with her husband and 4 children in a leafy suburban area of Krakow. At least we thought it was for breakfast - turned out that we were invited for the whole day!  - mostly sitting round a table and eating - a feast of meat as it's the end of Lent, various egg dishes (eggs symbolising new life) and lots of delicious cakes. At various points, the family went off to do their own things and we got on with a bit of admin, which felt very relaxed. It was lovely to be with such a welcoming family (4 generations) and in a spacious house, rather than a 5 X 4 metre room!

Easter is an important religious holiday in Poland and was celebrated in the food tent today (photo below). It's a major event for Ukrainians, too, but is actually celebrated a week later so we didn't miss it!

This morning we had a message from Sofiia to say that she and her children had arrived safely in Ukraine. She had managed to see her husband and he is OK.

Yesterday we were sent a wonderful photo of a little Ukrainian girl at the top of Boulsworth Hill, which overlooks Trawden. The sponsor said that she has seen a  change from a traumatised family to 'smiling individuals full of hope,' who have been welcomed by her friends and neighbours, and made to feel they belong. 

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