Today is World Refugee Day, the international day honouring people who have been forced to flee. We talk to Ukrainian refugee Vira Niskoromnykh (pictured below), who had to leave her home in 2022.
Vira was a delegate on Curo’s Power Up course, run by Work Wise, our employability and skills service. She was pivotal in Power Up engaging the Ukrainian community in Bath, and is now employed by Curo as an Employability and Skills Coach for the service.
“Refugees are brave people as they have left their comfort zone,” says Vira. “It’s a courageous decision to leave because then you need to start something new.”
Vira first had to leave her home in Donetsk, Ukraine, in 2014 when Russian troops tried to take control of the city. Her family returned in 2017, but she decided to leave with her then 13-year old daughter in February 2022, when it became clear that the Russian invasion was imminent.
“For me, the war started 10 years ago when I first left Donetsk,” she says. “My family and I fled to Kiev but we returned and rebuilt our home and life. I was mentally prepared when we had to leave again in 2022. This meant I was able to help people who were experiencing it for the first time. I could support them to build their resilience and survive.
“I did the Power Up course when I first came to the UK. Then I volunteered for the course and translated for other Ukrainians. Curo’s values of caring, respect, openness, fairness and trust mirror my own. I don’t like to make empty promises, and I always listen to others and treat them with respect.
“I now help refugees learn numeracy and English skills on Work Wise courses. I’m a good example for them because I show that anything is possible. That’s good motivation for them.
“I want people to find their life’s purpose – I can open the door for people, but they need to go through it themselves.”