LUBLIN, Poland–Five Ukrainian refugee women, all of whom are receiving housing assistance from the credit union-supported Via Stella Fund, said that without the help their lives would be much more difficult in Poland, and they each shared their stories of what has happened to them and where they are now.
They related journeys that include in one case the destruction of a former home in the war with Russia.
The women spoke with CUToday.info and representatives of the Via Stella Foundation during a video conference set up by Poland’s national CU trade association inside the offices of Skok Chmielewskiego in Lublin, Poland.
The Via Stella Foundation is the joint effort by Polish and U.S. credit unions to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees in Poland, and to assist Ukrainians themselves, such as purchasing ambulances. Credit unions in the country act as distribution points for the funds but CU membership is not required.
The Stories
Here’s a look at each of their stories.
‘The Children Need Their Father’
Anna fled from Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, right after the war began with her two daughters, 16 and 11. After enrolling her children in a fencing club in Poland, she met Malgorzata Gatz, who works for the country’s credit union trade association and who informed her of the housing assistance program. She began receiving assistance from Via Stella in November 2022.
In Ukraine, Anna had worked as a fashion buyer, but she has since lost her business as a result of the war.
“The program has helped me a lot,” said Anna, whose husband has remained behind in Ukraine in part to take care of her parents.
She has not yet joined a credit union.
Anna said she plans to stay in the Via Stella program and then to return to Kyiv in the Autumn.
“The children need their father,” she said.
Five People, One Room
Katya fled Ukraine with her mother and three children, all of whom live in a single room apartment. She said she has been looking for a bigger place to stay and has found work. Katya also added she has opened her first credit union account and has gotten a debit card.
According to Katya, after coming to Poland she learned of the Via Stella assistance from a friend.
“At the beginning it was hard, but now we feel secure,” she said. “The children are doing well.”
Originally Lived With Polish Family
Victoria came to Poland in March of 2022 along with her 13-year-old son. She initially lived with a Polish family that had offered refuge in their home. In December of 2022 she was able to move into an apartment via the assistance from the credit union fund. She has also found work in a restaurant.
The Hope is to Return Home
Another woman named Victoria came to Poland a year ago with her mother, who had a broken leg at the time. She initially worked at a restaurant and now works in what is known in Poland as a “physical job” in an auto parts plant. She has yet to open an account with a credit union.
Victoria said she does wish to return home and is hopeful she will be able to do so in 2024.
No Home to Return To
Helena arrived in Poland in March of 2022 with her three children, a 17-year-old and two 12-year-old twins. She learned of the housing assistance program from Via Stella from a friend, and began receiving help in June of 2023.
She said the program has been “very important,” as it has helped her to get a bigger apartment and to pay for electricity and water.
Helena said it was very hard at the beginning, but the family has adjusted. But it’s also unlikely they will be returning to Ukraine, as she used to live in the Donetsk region in the east that has been home to much of the fighting.
“Our home was destroyed and we have no home to go home to,” she said. “All I can do is say thank you.”
It’s Called Fresh for a Reason. And We Offer Home Delivery. For Free!
The biggest, best and freshest news reporting in credit unions remains free in ’23! Each morning CUToday.info delivers its daily Fresh Today news update offering the latest headlines and breaking news right to your email, with the easy-to-read headlines format allowing you to click on the stories that interest you most in order to learn more.
If you haven’t yet signed up for the new email solution on which CUToday.info has partnered with ResponseGenius, you can do so here. Signing up requires less than one minute of your time—and it’s free!
Please note that after signing up you may need to go to your Spam/Junk folder and mark the morning headlines email as safe. CUToday.info does not provide its list of readers and emails to outside parties, and we will not be contacting you to sell you an extended warranty or sending you any links so you may cash in on an inheritance you didn’t know was coming.
And did we mention it’s free?
Please note and/or make your IT department or email administrator aware the emails will be coming from the domains CUTodayinfo.com and CUTodayinfoReply.com