Stories of IDPs

It so happened that in March 2022 an evacuation was announced in the Donetsk region. This is a scary, foreign and cold word. It evoked the same feelings when, due to "Russian" aggression, we were forced to leave our native home and become displaced persons. Endless tears, sadness, despair - life has stopped. Dnipro also encountered certain household problems. It was like that for two or three months - I don't remember exactly, because that emotional pain prevented me from feeling reality.But it could not last that long, and I was lucky enough to meet with an incredible team of representatives of the public organization "Force of the Future". Communicating with these guys and girls literally brought life back to life. And a lot of useful information, new acquaintances, discoveries, support.
I attended meetings, workshops, excursions with pleasure and enjoyed the time spent together with immigrants like me.The "Contakt2U" community is real, active, indomitable, strong-spirited people, communication with whom has healing power and gives confidence. Over the past eight months, I have received support and assistance in adapting to a foreign, unfamiliar city. If it weren't for these meetings, being under stress could have unpredictable consequences. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful community.

Oksana, Dobropilya

How did we become immigrants?In July 2014, I and my family left our hometown of Donetsk for the Donetsk region, which wasn`t occupied.My daughters had to go to the first grade, so we thought we'd be back soon.But it was not destined.Closer to September, we realized thatwe had to decide, how to proceed and began to look for a dangerous place in another city.Literally trusting the universe, we went to the city of Pavlograd.We very quickly found housing and work there.Later I found out that I was pregnant.She worked as a pharmacy manager for up to 9 months. Every morning I traveled by bus to the city of Ternivka.The fear of being left without means of livelihood gave more than strength.My husband also mastered a new direction of activity. Began to work at height.We both gained new experience and new opportunities.When the son was born, they moved toDnipro, because my husband had the prospect of expanding his activities in this city.And it was the right decision.New connections, a new circle of acquaintances, a new way of building our life.Playback appeared in my life, which later became a favorite thing and even changed my professional activity, which now brings not only income, but also satisfaction from my duties.And all this is thanks to the people who met on my way.Most of them are now the team of the "Contakt2u" project, where I perform the duties of an accountant, and sometimes a playback actress of the "FarbaFabra" community.I am very glad to be involved in such a creative and working process with creative, goal-oriented people. Who, in dark times for all of us, do important things, inspiring with their energy and giving support and support with their actions.I don't know this from hearsay, at one time I was lucky, thanks to them I changed my life for the better.

Natalya, Donetsk

We have been immigrants since 2014. When Girkin's gang entered our native Donetsk, it became clear that this was the end. My son and my mother were taken away at the beginning of summer. They left in August. Strange city, strange people, everything from scratch. There was no desire, no strength, no money to go somewhere and communicate with someone. I even stopped wearing makeup. Why? I don't know these people on the streets, what does it matter what I look like? Work, home, social networks, series. Communication was sorely lacking. Ordinary people couldn`t understand what we were going through. I subscribed to a group of the same immigrants. I read posts, commented on something, learned some news. That's all. And then there was a charity fair. And I went there. Met the girls. An idea arose to do something for people like us. This is how the NGO "Power of the Future" appeared. I did not organize events, but I am always happy to visit them. These people gave me strength to move on. Just live. Here and now. When the full-scale invasion began, I can't even begin to describe how I felt. Is this happening again? How happy I was when these meetings began. Sometimes we don't need material things. We need support, a change of scenery, meeting and communicating with people who understand. And here at "Contakt2U" they understand. You are really cool. Thank you!

Kateryna, Donetsk

A community that gives strength

The danger was felt in Sloviansk from the very beginning of the full-scale invasion. The city was constantly under fire, but Sofia Maksymivna and her family did not want to leave their home. “We stayed until the last moment and prayed that it would be over soon,” she says. The family with two daughters had a small business - a hardware store - that they did not want to leave to fend for themselves. But the children were worried, and the younger 12-year-old daughter became very withdrawn, stuttering and stopped communicating with her peers. Taking into account all the circumstances, the family packed the necessary things and 2.5 years ago they decided to move to Kamianske, Dnipro region.

Of course, they met with social workers who helped them find housing; they turned to psychologists and consulted with legal experts to arrange their new life as best they could. However, every person has an invaluable asset that can only be developed over time: social ties, like-minded people, and community.

Like many IDPs, the family had to start from scratch. Sofia Maksymivna went to work in a store, and her husband got a job in construction. The eldest daughter went abroad, and the youngest went to a local school. “One day, a teacher from the school called me and invited me and my daughter to attend an event organized by the Contact2U project,” the narrator shares with us.

At the meetings, she attended workshops and met people who were in the same difficult living conditions or even worse. But the experience of other participants somehow turned into support. Sofia recalls how during one of the art practices she felt that she had the strength to build her future right here in this community. She was very impressed by the welcoming atmosphere and warm, trusting communication, as well as the opportunity to share experiences and be useful to others.

“I started to feel like a part of the community, I made friends,” Sofia says with a smile. - “Ksenia has also made friends: they share their experiences and learn from each other. We have created a new life. It turned out that there is no shame in asking for support when you are in trouble. Over time, we were able to find strength and feel faith in the Future.”

The story of 46-year-old Sofia is not the only one among the stories we hear from Contact2U project participants, but it is a vivid example of how important it is not to be afraid to seek support and never lose hope for the best.

The magic of a transformational game

The first 8 months of the war in Mykolaiv were extremely disturbing and difficult: the city was heavily shelled, there were dozens of arrivals every day, and more than half of the population left. Kateryna Kuznetsova, a resident of the city, recalls that she and her family hardly slept because the shelling took place both at night and during the day. The city, the people in the city - everyone was devastated. “But my family and I - me, my husband and three children - did not leave, because this is our home and my mother, whom I cannot leave,” says Kateryna. It was a difficult period in our heroine's life: all her friends and family left the city, she lacked communication and support, and her nervousness and anxiety due to the shelling grew exponentially. After the liberation of Kherson, Mykolaiv became calmer, but people were in no hurry to return, and Kateryna's family seemed to be in a small bubble, as communication was not increasing. She was constantly watching some announcements or events because she was not used to it and did not want to stay in this bubble.

Kateryna came to the events of the Contact2U project by accident, her friends told her, and she decided to join out of curiosity, but also hoped to make new friends. “My husband and I first came to a couples' bodywork class at the end of November,” Kateryna recalls. - “It was quite an interesting but unusual experience. We had to interact not only with each other, but also with other participants we didn't know, but it helped us open up a bit and I felt that I could speak frankly, albeit with restraint, about my feelings and emotions because the atmosphere was quite calm and warm.” However, the transformational game made an even greater impression on the heroine. When she was preparing questions at the beginning, she seemed to be expecting an answer from the outside, although in the end it turned out that all the answers were inside her. During the game, Kateryna first came to feel and understand her inner support. She recalls that it was living in her body, not in her head, a new perspective on her life, a sense of her strength and capabilities. “The main thing is that I realized what level of responsibility I can take in order to move on with my life in a harmonious way,” she summarizes. Kateryna expresses special gratitude for the hint cards she received during the game, as they strengthened her faith in herself and her intuition. Also, during the conversation, she sincerely thanked coach Daria and everyone who created the energy field during the game.

Of course, life is busy, so the heroine does not always have the opportunity to join and not all the project events can be attended, but she tries to find time for it, because it is incredibly valuable to be among people who are just as eager to communicate, and among whom you can feel part of something bigger, find answers to your questions. The activities of the Contact2U project gave Kateryna the opportunity to find answers to her questions, understand her needs, share experiences and receive support, make new contacts, and be energized.

Nowadays, it is extremely important to know that you are not alone and that there are people around you who are ready to hear you, share your feelings and experiences. Thanks to our project, Kateryna felt this and realized that she was ready to help others, and she is very grateful for that.

Created by yulia_ondesign

All rights Reserved

Created by yulia_ondesign

All rights Reserved