Sunflowers

There could not have been more of a juxtaposition of two realities today:
- devastating news from Kharkiv, where some of our families/friends come from. After two weeks of life starting to return to normal, following Russian troops being pushed back, Kharkiv was.pounded by artillery fire, during which at least 7 people were killed and 17 injured.

- an uplifting message from O in Shaftesbury. She lived near Bucha and had never left Ukraine before fleeing with her daughter to Poland. She was terrified just of getting on the plane to England:
"I had never been to Britain before and did not know how beautiful it is here. Big green fields, lots of flowers, very cute houses, like from the pictures I saw on the Internet. Sometimes I can’t even believe that this is all real, and I can see it with my own eyes...(Sponsor) took us to a drawing class where everyone drew sunflowers.
 It's just incredible, in Britain they draw a symbol of Ukraine. For us it was a huge moral support.
And today V went to a dance lesson, I haven't seen her so happy for a long time. She is an emotional girl, so on the way back she jumped like a small child..
Very soon I will have English lessons, and V will go to school.
 I rejoice in this, I rejoice every day here."

Also, this week we learned that another V, from our first family in Trawden, has an interview as an interpreter for Lancashire County Council on Monday. Her husband is working as a slaughterer for a local Colne firm and V mentioned to the HR lady that another Ukrainian gentleman with butcher's experience may be interested in a job. V (another one!) is aged 71 but very fit and will just not accept being on a pension. To her credit, the HR lady said his age was not an issue, it was his ability to do the job, and so he has an interview next Thursday!

And so we carry on talking to refugees in the shopping centre in Krakow in the few days we have left here. One woman said that she has been there for 3 months (500 people, sleeping in rooms of 50 on camp beds) with her 6 year old son. She was crying tears of desparatiion. She wants to be near her friends who have already moved to the north of England, and so we did a quick 'shout out' for potential sponsors in the area she wants to go to. This is what we feel is important and there doesn't seem to be anyone else doing it.

Comments

  1. sally27 May 2022 at 06:48

    Hiya, I'm with a charity called Ambulance Aid. One of our cohorts met Fiona and Bob at the beginning of May. We have a bunch of supplies for you - please can you let me know how to get them to you? Ambulance Aid on facebook, or Sally Hesketh - Thanks

    ReplyDelete

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