We had to leave everything behind… — The story of a refugee family

Elena and her daughters Polina and Oleksandra came from Kharkiv, one of the most ruined dormitories in Rohan. Unfortunately, the children and Elena had to understand what the war was not from the news. Due to massive artillery shelling, they were forced to hide in a cold and unequipped basement.

Realizing that the fighting in the city does not subside, Elena’s family decided to leave. I had to leave everything … my own home, girls’ favorite toys, school and dance supplies, memories of a carefree past. We began to consider this past to be carefree with the war. The importance of the decision was added by the fact that the husband’s elderly parents remained in Kharkiv on Rohan, and his mother with Elena’s younger sister and nieces left for Lyubotyn, Kharkiv region.

“We have no relatives in Ukraine. We went nowhere and to no one. The road took us 4 days … we drove, stopping only for the night in different cities of Ukraine and at the same time looking for a safe place. Thank God, my colleagues advised the sanatorium “Spring”, — Elena shares.

So, since the beginning of March, a mother and her two daughters, aged 9 and 14, have been trying to rebuild their lives. The older daughter, Oleksandra, works remotely with her class, as a private lyceum in Kharkiv has been able to organise the learning process. The youngest, Polina, studies remotely at a local school in Boryslav.

Elena also works remotely and supports her daughter whenever possible. The girls will soon resume English classes with a tutor from Kharkiv, who also had to move to Poland.

“I thank the management and staff of the sanatorium for the shelter every day. The least I can do is help with daily worries, take part in the duty and volunteer for those residents who need to go to the city. food, clothes, household items. Our people are the strength of Ukraine! Today I am sure of that,” — says Elena.