Irina Road: From escape to new beginning in Lithuania
a group of people standing on a sidewalk holding flags
Irina Road: From escape to new beginning in Lithuania
2025-02-21
At the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Irina, with two teens, was immediately forced to leave her hometown in Chmelnycki, as there was a military airfield in the city. The trip to a safe place was extremely difficult - long hours in congestion, a 10 km walk without water and food. Finally, the evacuation bus reached Lithuania.
Although the family settled in Kuršėnai, where they received free housing, they expected to return home after a few months. But the war dragged on, and Irina began to look for work. At first, she worked as a teacher's assistant, then as a head of a children's tourism group. Unfortunately, when the funding for this activity ran out, the gathered children did not want to part, so Irina decided to take on a new challenge.
After settling in Šiauliai, Irina made friends with the local scouts, who provided great inspiration and support. Seeing the importance of community and youth education, the woman decided to found "Plast", a Ukrainian youth organization, of which she was also the head in her hometown.
"Plast" is a patriotic scouting organization that pays special attention to the history, culture and national identity of Ukraine. This organization helps young people develop endurance, responsibility, leadership skills and prepare for various life challenges. Plast also teaches self-reliance and community, which are extremely important in today's world. This activity requires a lot of time and effort, but Irina believes that it is especially important in the current situation.
Unfortunately, despite her dedication and hard work, the family is still in need of financial assistance. Irina is a professional photographer, but she can't find a job in her specialty, so she takes any opportunity to earn money. However, this alone is not enough.
We thank Swedbank that we can give her at least some financial support. Swedbank in Lithuania
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