The story of a refugee - marking Refugee Week

Wokingham Borough Council are marking Refugee Week by sharing the story of Nina, who came to the borough from the Ukraine, to help residents understand the challenges faced by refugees and the resilience they show.

Refugee Week (19 to 25 June) is a world-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

My name is Nina. This is my story.

“I am from a small town of Borodianka of Bucha district of Kyiv region in Ukraine. My hometown is 60 km from Kyiv, our capital.

“My family is small. I have got a son. My husband died of cancer in 2012.  I was an English teacher at the Academic Lyceum of Borodianka.

“When the war started on the 24 of February 2022, my son and I were hiding with my relatives and neighbours in the cellar because it was dangerous to stay in our apartment. It was on the 6th floor of a nine-storey building, so we spent a week hiding in the cellar.

“We heard the noise of the movement of Russian military vehicles in the central street and shots of the shells. It was scary for all ten people who were with us (seven adults and three kids aged six, two and six months).

“After air bombing in one of residential areas we heard massive explosions. As the result the blocks of flats were destroyed, and many civil people were killed.”

Leaving our hometown

“After that we made a decision to leave our hometown. My son and I left just with a bag of documents nothing more. It happened at 7am on the 2 March. On that day later the town of Borodianka was occupied by Russian military men.

“We went to the west of Ukraine by van with our neighbour and his family. On our way we stopped at block-posts. The Ukrainian military men checked the documents there and we continued our trip.

"My friend invited me and my son to stay with her in her apartment. At 10 pm we arrived to the border town in Lviv region. My friend welcomed us and gave us everything we needed. We were happy to stay in the safe place.

“On 3 March my son went to military office and he was taken to the army. In two weeks after short trainings my son was sent to the east of Ukraine to defend our homeland.

“I stayed with my friend for two weeks and then I went to Poland to work with an American Humanitarian Organisation. I helped the Ukrainian refugees with the international team.”

They took what they wanted

“At the beginning of June 2022, I came back to my hometown. I found out there that my apartment had broken windows and doors. Everything was upside down inside and it wasn't my sweet home. Many things were stolen as Russian soldiers lived on the 4th floor of our block of flats.

“From the apartments they took what they wanted. The feeling was horrible. So I got another stress then.

"But I had to do the procedure for the people whose property was damaged and asked the specialists to fix the doors and windows. I couldn't sleep very well because of the sirens. I had some health problems.

“That's why I decided to visit my friends' family in the UK according to their invitation. So I went to the town of Wokingham to stay with my sponsors' family (P and S). I thought I would visit them and stay with them for a couple of months. I didn't expect my visit to be so long.”

A new home

“But I am grateful to P and S for being very special people - caring, loving, warm-hearted, generous, supportive, friendly, honest, and understanding. They helped me in everything. They supported me and taught me to do the first steps in my new life in the UK. Their assistance was really very helpful.

“So with their help I did the procedure of the Ukrainian refugee and found a job. I felt a huge help and support in everyday life. I was safe and happy.

“I work as a Learning Support Assistant at a local School helping the Ukrainian and the English students. The school is absolutely amazing. I am really happy. I enjoy working there.

"The teachers and learning support assistants are friendly and supportive in everything. They work like a united team. I like it very much."

Making my life brighter and happier

“My hosts took me to different interesting places and distracted me from bad thoughts. They helped me to get rid of stress and heal my injuries inside. P and S made my life brighter and happier. They returned me to life and brought lots of positive things into it. Millions of thanks for that.

“I will always keep happy memories about their sweet home, wonderful children, and grandchildren. P and S are an absolutely amazing couple. I felt I was a part of their fantastic family. I value greatly the times spent together.

“I am also thankful to Ukraine support case council worker Elena for great support and help. On behalf of the Ukrainians staying in Wokingham now, I want to express huge gratitude and great love to Wokingham Borough Council for fantastic assistance of the Ukrainian refugees and their families with children.”

Supporting new residents

The council and their partners have welcomed hundreds of refugees from countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine and support new residents in many ways, including with housing, benefits, healthcare, employment, education, language skills and building social connections.

This includes:

• Welcoming over 400 refugees to the borough as part of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme
• Working with charity First Days to put on Christmas events for families and children
• Delivering more than 50 Christmas parcels from First Days and Cowshed to refugee children
• Helping nearly 50 families move into private rental housing in the borough
• Finding places for more than 100 children in local schools
• Organising holiday activity programmes for school children during the holidays

The Voluntary Community Sector have provided a huge amount of support within the local community, including providing food, car seats, bikes and accessories, school uniforms, school supplies, clothes and furniture.

They have provided space for the community to meet, held events such as commemorative events and religious celebrations, and hosted English language classes.

Powerful and heartbreaking

Councillor Stephen Conway, leader of the council executive member for housing, said: “I am so grateful to Nina for sharing her story to mark Refugee Week.

"It is nearly impossible for us to imagine what refugees have experienced to lead them to flee home, on their journey and settling into new communities, so the insight from Nina is both powerful and heartbreaking.

“I want to thank my colleagues at the council for their work settling refugees into their new communities, as well as the Voluntary Community Sector for their vital support and the people of Wokingham Borough for opening up their hearts and homes.

“We all hope for a day when there is no need for people to become refugees, but until that day comes, we shall continue to welcome and support them.”

Events in Berkshire

The Refugee Support Group is running a series of events across Berkshire to mark Refugees Week 2023.

The programme of events has been created to inspire, educate, and raise awareness of the situation refugees face. You can find out more information on the Refugee Support Group website.