My Story – Ksenia Maiboroda
Hi, we are from Ukraine!
This slogan is now on the lips of millions of people who are defending the borders of our country and those who are saving their families and children from Russian aggression and bombing. More than 3 million of them have crossed the border in search of life protection and shelter. More than half of them are children, some are physically injured, and most have suffered psychologically. To date, most of them have remained in Poland.
My story is somewhat different from what immigrants who have had to go through in recent weeks to save their lives under fire in particularly dangerous areas of warfare. However, I have had to face the horrors of this war too.
My name is Ksenia. I come from Kiev. I left Kiev with my younger brother. We were lucky enough to get on the Intercity train that was going towards Lviv. The train was filled with people, children and even pets that had been rescued by their owners. Despite the squeeze, everyone tried to help each other – 4 people sat on 3 seats, held terrified children in their arms, changed seats from time to time so that people could rest from standing for 10 hours. Later, I spent the whole day in a bus stuffed with people standing in a long line in front of the border. My heart was breaking as I looked at all those heartbroken women. Hundreds of thousands of women had lost everything in a moment. They had to abandon their lives, leave their achievements… and most of all – their husbands, partners, brothers, fathers who fiercely defend their country. All men from the age of 18 to the age of 60 are not allowed to leave the borders of Ukraine. My husband also left there to fight against Russian aggression. I am very worried about him. I dream that this horror will end as soon as possible.
I don’t want to tell my story in detail, or the stories of the people who traveled with us. A person who has not gone through the horror of war and bombings is not able to feel what someone who has lost their home can feel. I will say one thing – it was very hard, but we are alive and have a shelter! From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all the volunteers, ordinary people, border guards who even at their own expense try to support the mothers, who buy diapers, make hot tea and food for all those people in need. I was immensely touched by the volunteers who brought warm food, blankets and toys for the little ones at one of the bus stops. You were like a ray of light for all of us!
I want to bow to all volunteers from Poland, who with their warm words, support, help, behavior and continuous action make our life better. I sincerely wish you good luck. I would like to thank my friends who gave us shelter in the city Jasło.
I want to thank all Polish people for what they have already done and are doing to do each subsequent minute! Now I would like to thank them for what they are doing in these difficult times.
I have already met many friends in Jasło, including people working in the NABU Foundation, who form a non-governmental organization whose goal is to help other people. Now we are jointly pursuing our goals, helping to assimilate to Ukrainians here, to create their community in the city, its vicinity and the entire region.
At present, we are implementing a program of assistance to Ukrainian refugees, including:
- Organizing Polish and English language courses for children, teenagers and adults;
- Help and psychological support for children and adults affected by the war in Ukraine;
- Meetings of local people with children and adults from Ukraine in order to facilitate their further adaptation in Poland;
- Legal assistance (registration of staying in Poland, all kinds of legal support on the spot, assistance in consular procedures in case of a decision to travel to another country);
- Meetings for the youngest children to arouse positive emotions in them through games and fun with their peers;
- Assistance in developing a CV in Polish or English for people that actively looking for a job;
- Organization of active recreation in the open air, which will allow children and their mothers to see the beauty of the nature of this region (thanks to cooperation with the partner BEAR foundation, we are already working on possible walking or cycling routes, organizing activities in a sports facility or playing football outdoors in the local sports fields, etc.,)
- Integration meetings for the Ukrainian community staying in our region.
I am asking you for all possible help for the NABU Foundation in this important issue for Ukrainians. Children are the future of the Nation. Now most of them are here and organizations like NABU enable them to live a normal life. Yes, most of them will go to Ukraine when the war ends, but some will stay here or go to other countries. Nevertheless, the honor and gratitude they will keep in their hearts until the last minutes of their lives.
And perhaps among them will be the next Arnold Schwarzenehher, Einstein, Chopin, Fernando Alonso, Michael Jordan, Mozart or the parents of the next Abraham Lincoln.
Volunteer, Ksenia Maiboroda
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