A UKRAINIAN refugee is hoping to use her catering skills to establish a new life for her family during their time in Teesdale. Mother-of-two Oksana Chorna fled her home town of Irpin, near Kiev, after her house was destroyed during a bombing raid.
Oksana, daughter Anna 8, and five-year-old son Misha, initially moved to a relatively safe area in western Ukraine, where they were among seven people sharing a room, before making it to a refugee centre in Poland.
They connected with Barnard Castle town councillor Laura Drew and her husband, who have three young children, and just under two months ago moved in.
Back home in Ukraine, Ms Chorna, 30, ran an events and catering business and she is hoping to put her baking skills to good use to find a job for the duration of her family’s stay in the UK. She organised an event at the Parish Hall last weekend to showcase her skills and say thank-you for the welcome they received since arriving in the town.
“My town was occupied and my house was destroyed,” she said. “We went to western Ukraine, rented a room and I tried to bake, but everyone is in a really difficult situation.
“Western Ukraine is not as dangerous as other parts of the country, but in general it is not safe. With kids, you are always thinking of the kids.”
Having reached Poland and made contact with the Drews via a Facebook group called Sunflower Sisters, Ms Chorna faced a frustrating wait.
“It was two months waiting for the visa – just waiting, day after day. There were no places for children at school there, it was really difficult.”
The wait was compounded by constantly having to move accommodation.
“We changed places five times before finally, a family supported us. Thank God we are here now,” she said.
Oksana, Anna and Misha arrived in Barnard Castle on November 30 under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which grants a three-year visa and allows the right for refugees to work during their time in the UK.
Anna and Misha are now settled at Bowes Hutchinson’s Primary School and learning to speak English, while Oksana is trying to put her baking skills to good use.
“I had run a business in Irpin for eight years planning events and providing catering. It was doing well.
“Then in western Ukraine, I tried baking, but with seven people sharing a room it was not possible.
“I am now so happy to be here and everybody I have met has been so supportive. I hope to find work in a kitchen – it’s what I can do.”
Eventually, she wants to return home to Ukraine with her children.
“I love my country. I am so happy that the whole world understands what’s going on. When it [the war] is finished, we will invite you all and show off our country.”
Having already hosted one Ukrainian family who are now in the US, Ms Drew said it was not a difficult decision to welcome Oksana and her children, having imagined what life would be like if the roles were reversed.
“If the boot was on the other foot and I was needing to flee Europe with three young kids, I would not be a massively attractive prospect.
“Both my husband and I felt we had to help.”
