May 22, 2024
News
Nataliia Storgalova from Kharkiv was forced to leave her hometown on the very first day of the war, February 24, 2022. She grabbed her children and drove away from the Russian border, eventually finding herself in the safer city of Uzhhorod in western Ukraine. The Kharkiv region is still being attacked daily by the Russian army.
In the initial days of the war, Nataliia recalls unimaginable traffic jams forming on the roads and disruptions in fuel supplies. The family managed to reach Poltava, where they decided to take an evacuation train to Uzhhorod.
"In Uzhhorod, the city authorities met us and offered to stay in a dormitory. That's how I found myself here and became the first resident of this dormitory among the displaced people. I live with my daughter; my son is studying in Poltava," shared Nataliia.
At first, none of the displaced people paid attention to the living conditions - the main thing was to have a peaceful sleep and a roof over their heads. But over time, the need for repairs became more and more evident. There was one stove and one washing machine for all of the residents, showers were lacking, there was no place for drying clothes, and there were no faucets with hot and cold water in the kitchen. Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine came to help resolve all these issues.
Nataliia Storgalova participated in the renovation of her dormitory under our Cash for Work programme. Before the war, she was not engaged in physical labor - she was a lecturer of electrical engineering disciplines at a college - but quickly mastered new skills.
"Our team was highly organised, they provided us with tools and gave us clear instructions. Each of us values cleanliness and approaches the work with respect. Thanks to Caritas Czech Republic, we now have a wonderful laundry room with washing machines and clothes dryers - it's very convenient. The kitchen has extractors, beautiful tables, sinks with faucets, and there is space for everyone," Nataliia rejoices.
In Uzhhorod, Nataliia found a job as a postal operator. She had to resign from the college in Kharkiv, as she feared returning home with her school-aged daughter. But Nataliia does not complain about life - she says she likes her current job and team. At the same time, her relatives - father and sister - remain in Kharkiv, which worries her a lot.
Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine
During 2023, Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine conducted renovations in 8 dormitories in Zakarpattia where displaced people from the combat zone reside. This year, we will continue to improve living conditions for internally displaced persons and expand this project to 2 more regions in Western Ukraine - Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk. Currently, documentation and procurement procedures are being prepared to start renovations in the selected buildings.
