Finding strength in community: the story of Anna

As we navigate the complexities of refugee integration in the European Union, it's the personal stories of resilience and hope that often provide the most valuable insights. Anna's journey, from fleeing her hometown of Kharkiv, Ukraine, to finding a new sense of purpose in Germany, is one such story.

Anna's story began in Kharkiv, Ukraine, where she was forced to flee due to the ongoing conflict. She found solace in Germany, where she was welcomed by distant relatives and eventually joined the Welcome Circles initiative and the Jewish Community "haKochaw." Her personal experience with displacement motivated her to help others, and she now volunteers to support refugees in navigating the complexities of their new environment. Her journey is one of loss, resilience, and the everyday pursuit of hope.

“My name is Anna. I am from Ukraine, from the best city in the world Kharkiv. Two weeks before this bloody full scale war in February 2022 I went on vacation and never came back home.”

After spending a year and a half with friends, Anna eventually relocated to Germany, where distant relatives welcomed her.

When asked about the biggest challenges she faced upon arriving in Germany, Anna cited language barriers, cultural adjustments, and bureaucratic hurdles. However, she also highlighted the emotional strain of starting over in a new country, saying, "I literally cannot figure out what I should do with my life." Despite these challenges, Anna found support in the Jewish community, which made a significant difference in her integration process. She noted, "Small gestures, like invitations to community events, made me feel more connected."

Anna believes that state programs offering language courses and community projects like Welcome Circle provide essential social and practical support, making integration easier. However, she also emphasized the need for expanded mental health resources, saying, "There is constant pressure on what we, refugees, must do according to the laws of the country, but nobody takes into consideration our psychological state. War is not an action movie which is going on somewhere far, it's my every day, even though I am not there physically."

“Language barriers, cultural adjustments, and navigating the bureaucracy were significant challenges for me. The emotional strain of starting over in a new country also weighed heavily on me and still does. I literally cannot figure out what I should do with my life.”

The Call to Volunteer

Volunteering has become a central part of Anna’s life. Her personal experience with displacement inspired her to join community support initiatives. "I wanted to give back to those who supported me and help others find stability and hope in a new environment." As a volunteer with Welcome Circles- a community-led initiative that brings together groups of 5-10 people to support newly arrived refugees- Anna assists with housing, language support, and navigating government services. She highlighted the importance of community engagement events, which help reduce isolation and foster a sense of belonging.

Her team, a blend of both locals and refugees promoting mutual understanding and collaboration, currently assists over 500 people, with a focus on 25 families and 52 individuals directly through Welcome Circles. She outlines the dual nature of the support systems: "Welcome Circle focuses on immediate refugee support, while 'haKochaw' offers long-term community integration within the Jewish network, creating a broader sense of belonging."

When asked about the most common issues refugees face, Anna cited housing shortages, language barriers, and mental health struggles. Her team addresses these issues by connecting refugees with available resources, offering mental health support, and advocating for housing solutions.

Despite these obstacles, she finds inspiration in the resilience of the people she helps: "When I meet families who lost everything, even their towns, and they find the strength to pull themselves together and stay absolutely confident that everything will be ok, that deeply influences me every single time I see the flame of hope in their eyes."

Anna's experience as a volunteer has changed her perspective on refugee support and community building. She emphasized the power of community support in transforming lives, saying, "Small acts of kindness and solidarity may create lasting impacts." Her hopes for the future include empowering refugees to thrive independently and creating a support system that allows them to make choices based on their desires, not just necessity.

To decision-makers, Anna emphasizes the importance of investing in long-term integration programs that prioritize employment and mental health support. She believes Ukrainian refugees have much to offer. Anna stresses that it would be far more beneficial if refugees had opportunities to work in their fields of expertise, prior recognition of their diplomas and qualifications, allowing them to feel that their lives and careers are not at a standstill.

“We are grateful for financial support but it would be much better if we had a chance to work (what I mean, is to work according to my diploma and expertise) and feel that our life is not terminated.”

Looking to the Future

Anna’s hope for the future is simple yet profound: "I do hope that all people who struggle will find their way to success as soon as possible. I am more than sure that support systems should empower refugees to thrive independently. We are people with our background, history, culture, freedoms, and rights but we, refugees, don’t want to be in a controlled mode for the rest of our lives."

She advises fellow refugees to consider volunteering as a way to build personal resilience and community solidarity: "Your personal experience can inspire and support others but also strengthens your own resilience."

As Anna so eloquently put it, "We all have a role to play in making a difference in current times. I want every single person to have a peaceful home, and family and friends, and neighbors who are alive. I want every person to make choices not because it is compulsory, but because it is a wish or a desire or a dream." And she has made it her mission to help others achieve that.