Svitlana’s New Life in New Plymouth

Hello, I’m Svitlana and I’m so excited to be in New Plymouth! I lived in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, in a home built by my granddad, with my cat and dog and a big hazelnut tree. My mum lived across the road with my sister and I worked as admin support at a local dental clinic. It was hard leaving my home, family and pets, but I am so grateful I could come somewhere safe.

When President Zelensky ordered Kramatorsk be evacuated, I packed a bag and fled to Poland. When I arrived at a refugee centre in Warsaw, with hundreds or thousands of people in a great big open space, I burst into tears. I have heard of Ukranians who have spent weeks in places like this, in strange countries with no networks, and like me not knowing if they will ever go home. It makes me so sad and also so grateful that my daughter could arrange for me to live with her and my son-in-law. On arriving in New Plymouth I had a glass of prosecco to celebrate. It tasted so good! While the rockets were falling in my neighbourhood I feared I would never drink prosecco again.

Each day I am learning English and exploring the city. I am excited to build connections here and become part of the community. At the moment I am reliant on my daughter and son-in-law who have very limited resources. Any outside support, including with language learning and connecting me with the community and work opportunities, will make a huge difference for the three of us and immediate family supporting us.

(Text translated)