This Friday, February 24, will mark the first recognised anniversary of the start of the Russian war on Ukraine, seeing some 70,000 Ukrainian refugees come to Ireland.
As the conflict continues in towns and cities in Ukraine, Galway's Ukrainian population have planned a day full of activities for the first anniversary including comedy shows, films and art installations. Galway City Council have also recently announced The Community Response Forum for refugees coming from Ukraine will be rolling out new initiatives to help support their health and wellbeing.
For Olena Domina and Tetiana Horobets, both Ukrainian Support Workers for Volunteer Galway, the last 12 months has seen their world turned on its axis with them leaving their family, community and culture behind to come to Galway. Though they could be forgiven to taking some time to themselves and to wallow in what has changed, both women have established support structures like empathy groups and English classes which allow fellow Ukrainian refugees in Galway to prosper
“Our main goal is to help Ukrainians to integrate with the Irish community and to help the Ukrainians see themselves as part of this community. We are helping ourselves, but we are also helping Irish people as well to better understand Ukrainian people because we are different.”
Aided by fellow Ukrainian Support Worker, Horobets, the two help Ukrainian refugees with their English, and provide freelance translations for Governmental organisations. Both women have helped to organise some of the events for the first anniversary, with Domina’s Facebook group sharing the different events happening on Friday. The day will be marked with a range of events beginning with “prayerful tributes” in Holy Family Church, Mervue beginning at 09:30 until 10:00 with a memorial mass taking place in the chapel at University of Galway at 12:30 until 1:30. Secular tribute events are taking place concurrently in Galway City Museum beginning at 10am with an exhibition entitled, ‘Ukraine-War’ by Ukrainian correspondent Igor Zaharenko. At 11am an installation of pictures of Ukrainian children entitled, ‘War with the eyes of children, Ukraine-Ireland’ will be displayed in the Galway Museum courtyard as well as a ‘Country of the border’ exhibition organised by Galway Museum together with vídmo fotogrine and Karen Cox, who specifically visited Ukraine to take these photos. A ‘peaceful rally’ will end the day time events, beginning at 3:30 the hour long event will see figures from both the Irish and Ukrainian communities share their reflections on the past year and share their experiences.
At 7pm, an immersive stand-up event will take place in Silent Cinema & Film Studio on Dominick Street Lower. Called ‘Ukrainians about the War’, it will see guests and artists interacting with each other and share their stories and experiences about the day, they describe as, “having changed our lives forever.” Hosted by Bodgan Samoylenko, Eugene Babkov and Dimirty Polishchuk, spaces are limited so reserve your spot on www.allevents.in For those unable to attend the events on Friday, Domina, Horobets and their colleages at Galway Volunteer centre will be planting three memorial trees in Terryland on March 8. Named after three figures in the Orthodox religion’s tradition, faith, hope and love, they will be planted alongside trees planted last year to mark the beginning of the war.
Galway City Council have kicked off a new initiative supporting the health and wellbeing of Ukrainian refugees. The support will enable Galway City Council and partners with the integration of Ukrainian people in Galway by offering projects based on the local needs of individuals and families displaced as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Featuring a broad range of projects being rolled out, including physical, creative, social and cultural activities available to both Ukrainians and local residents.
A series of activities are planned for children, adults and number of projects also offer therapeutic interventions to provide support in coping with the trauma of war and displacement, including trauma-informed workshops, music and art therapy courses.
Galway City Council is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI ) from Ukrainian persons living in Galway city who have been displaced due to the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis. Those interested in attending any of these activities or events should complete the EOI from by visiting www.GalwayCity.ie/UkrainianWellbeing For people like Domina and Horobets, what the future holds for them is still a mystery. While both are extremely grateful and thankful for the help they have received in Ireland, to the point that Domina hopes that when the conflict does end that those who will go back to Ukraine will bring some of the Irish “warmth and attitude with them”. Being here was not driven out of a optimism and aspiration, it was driven out of desperation and fear. This may be the only anniversary Galway’s new Ukrainian population shares with us, or it might be one of many.
When asked if she still felt like she was waiting for the war to end, Horobets said that the feeling of waiting never went away, but it has changed.
“If it ended, and everything is over, who will give proof that it’s not going to happen again tomorrow, or again. For me to come back, I would need to know it isn’t going to happen again.
“It will never be the same again, my life will never be the same, but I hope that we can build a new one. A better one.”
