By Sara Orlos Fernandes
Vadym (38), Maryna (37), Danylo (18) and Daria (11) from Donetsk in eastern Ukraine built a life for themselves in Brandenburg in just a few weeks despite their handicap. As a deaf family, they have already been able to overcome many obstacles with the help of their hosts. However, they fail to find an apartment.
The parents, son and daughter had a particularly difficult time during the war. They could not hear the warning bomb sirens. In an extremely dangerous situation in the embattled area, they set off by car to a new life in Berlin at the beginning of March. Their journey took 30 hours – they drove non-stop.
You will meet your host family in the arrival center. Guest father Philipp was learning sign language at the time and has been at their side since March 5th: “There were many challenges,” he says, “the Amazon messenger went crazy when he saw them in the house, but no one opened the door.”
Things don’t go well with the authorities at first. Initially, no one wants to recognize your disability status. The refugee family fights for him – as well as a school place for daughter Daria in the only school for the deaf in Brandenburg.
Brother Danylo will soon start a voluntary social year at the same facility in order to be there as a contact person for Ukrainian children. Mother Maryna will work as a confectioner from June, father Vadym as a janitor.
This is where the family lived before fleeing to Germany. The house was destroyed in the war Photo: private
However, the family lacks a home of their own for the new phase of life. Maryna: “We would love to have our own apartment because that’s the last open point to be able to cope with our everyday life independently again in the best possible way.”
Her host family supports her in this. But so far the search for a 2.5 to 3 room apartment (up to 1100 euros warm) in the Potsdam area has been unsuccessful.
Guest father Philipp: “We asked all housing companies for help. But no landlord feels like dealing with disabled refugees.”