Ukrainians look to the future even as the war continues

24 February 2023 marks one year since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. There is still no end to the war in sight and in many parts of the country the need for emergency aid is greater than ever. But the Ukrainian partners of the Deaconess Foundation are also trying to see positive developments and are looking to the future. International attention has brought visibility to issues facing the Roma population.

According to the UN, 18 million Ukrainians are dependent on humanitarian aid within the country’s borders. One part of the emergency aid provided by the Deaconess Foundation and the Roma Women Fund Chiricli is the distribution of food to families in a difficult situation.

Solidarity from the rest of the world brings hope to Ukrainians

“So much happened this year. Many people have lost their homes, jobs and loved ones. Family members are forced to live apart from each other. But Ukrainians have also received a huge amount of assistance and solidarity from all over the world,” says Zola Kondur, one of the founding members of Roma Women Fund Chiricli, a partner organisation of the Deaconess Foundation.

Together with Chiricli, the foundation has been promoting the rights of the discriminated Roma minority in Ukraine since 2019, with the support of a development cooperation grant from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The work with Chiricli has helped promote Roma livelihoods, participation in society and equal access to services. The work has continued even during the war, in addition to the Deaconess Foundation’s channelling of emergency aid through Chiricli since February 2022.

“Throughout the year, with cooperation with the Deaconess Foundation we have helped more than 50,000 of the most vulnerable Ukrainians, including disabled and elderly people, minorities and single parents,” explains Kondur. “Chiricli has provided food aid and distributed hygiene supplies, helped with evacuations and provided counselling. At the same time, we have defended those refugees who have faced discrimination.”

Lack of electricity and heating makes life hard for everyone

The need for emergency aid has been further increased by winter weather, lack of electricity and heating and the millions of jobs that have been lost due to the war. Power cuts and electricity shortages caused by Russian bombing of power plants also hamper the work of staff at Roma Women Fund Chiricli.

“Every day starts with finding out where to go to access electricity. At the office, the situation is better in terms of access to electricity than in the homes of the staff. Because the office is in central Kyiv, it gets electricity for about two-thirds of the day. Staff have to go to the office to use electricity, but that’s not always possible when there is bombing in Kyiv,” says Kondur with a sigh.

Ukrainians do not give up on the front line, in everyday life or at work

Day after day, constant uncertainty about the future weighs heavily on people. Many are trying to work through their traumatic experiences.

“People are stressed and need psychosocial support. But at the same time, we all understand that we cannot just stop and turn inwards to work through our traumas, we have to work on our future now. That is why most people try to stay positive and work hard for the future of their children, their families and their country, to adapt to new situations and move on,” explains Kondur.

Greater international visibility for Roma issues

Although the war has made the basic work of the Roma Women Fund Chiricli to promote Roma women’s rights far harder, it has also led to some progress.

“Small Ukrainian minority organisations have received support from large international organisations, and this has boosted their activities. It has also given us the chance to speak up about the situation of Roma in Ukraine in international fora,” says Kondur. “The application to join the EU has prompted the authorities and policy-makers to make more minority-friendly strategies and changes to the law.”

Although there is no quick end to the war in sight, the staff at Roma Women Fund Chiricli and other Ukrainians are not giving up.

“Despite the war, our country is developing and we are involved in building the Ukraine of the future.”