17-year-old Krystyna Cybulska was completely surprised when she was the first resident of the municipality of Bergen to receive a youth ribbon today. She gets the Ukrainian origin because she set up a large fundraising campaign for people who have been displaced by the war. “I sometimes feel a bit powerless and do what I can,” she tells NH Nieuws.
The atmosphere in the Egmond Hotel Zuiderduin is festive and a little embarrassed: in the room are 16 people from Bergen, Egmonders and Schoorlaars who ‘absolutely did not see’ coming that they would receive a royal award for their volunteer work and commitment to society.
So is Krystyna, who upon arrival has ‘not the faintest idea’ why she is in the hotel. “I only knew that I had to keep April 26 free and that I had to put on something neat,” she says. “I thought: maybe I’ll go to a wedding, or funeral. Or maybe something for Easter. As Orthodox Christians we celebrate that later than in the Netherlands.”
Text continues under ‘read also’:
But all that turns out not to be the case; Children’s mayor Thomas Meereboer awarded her the very first youth ribbon in Bergen – appropriately in the shape of a shell. “I think that’s very special,” says the modest Krystyna.
Buses full of stuff
After the Russians invade Ukraine in February, Krystyna wants to do something for her motherland. “My grandmother is now happily with us in the Netherlands, but then still lived near Lviv, where it was very dangerous,” she says. “Other relatives and friends still live in Ukraine, so I find it very difficult to see what happens to them.”
“I can’t imagine how terrifying the war is for people who live in a really dangerous place”
On the website of the Ukrainian Embassy she finds a list of things that people in Ukraine need at that moment and together with her school, the Adriaan Roland Holstschool, she starts a fundraising campaign. “In no time we had three-quarters of a truck and five vans full of stuff,” says Krystyna.
“What makes me especially sad is that my friends, family, people are having a hard time and don’t know what to expect tomorrow,” says the brand new ribbon owner. “My family is in a relatively safe place, but they too hear air raid sirens for hours at night. I can’t imagine how terrifying the war is for people who live in a really dangerous place.”
Final exam
Krystyna’s school now also includes a number of students who have fled Ukraine. She helps them with translation, for example. “I like to do that,” she says. “Maybe it’s all a little less intense for them if they know there’s someone in the class who speaks the same language.”
But at the moment she’s not allowed to help that much, because in two weeks Krystyna – who is in 6 vwo – will take her final exam. “I have to focus completely on that. And that is quite difficult.” Especially when she receives ‘nasty messages’ from acquaintances from Ukraine, she says. “I’m very concerned about that.”
? Don’t you want to miss anything from Alkmaar and surroundings?
Seen a typo? Let us know at [email protected]