A club for Ukrainians in the Zaan region is taking shape. The initiative was set up by Bogdana Postrygan, a Ukrainian who lived in the Netherlands before the war. Every Saturday people come together to learn English and Dutch, there are workshops and just conversations. Bogdana is now looking for a place where people can get together more often.
Many Ukrainian refugees have shelter, but no place to meet. And that was the wish of Bogdana, who has been busy with this initiative for months. Now that it’s running, it’s often very busy.
Expansion?
Bogdana’s goal now is to expand and do more for the Ukrainians who are now on the boats at Havenstraat in Zaandam. She prefers to have a spot available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “I already have a lot of people who want to help and a lot of ideas. But we only have limited time at this location and it is a bit far from the Havenstraat.”
For the time being, it is still very busy in community center De Lobelia in Poelenburg. Language lessons are given, children play table football and a few women are busy making beautiful gifts. They are given to people who bring things for refugees to the former Miss Etamwinkel in the Rozenhof.
From near and far
Olga Andrushchenko came from The Hague especially for this club, where she lives with her husband and three children. She fled from Kharkov, where the Russians are now scary close. She looks sad when she talks about it. Here in the Zaanstreek she was first taken care of and she made friends. That’s why she doesn’t mind traveling a bit.
We also hear from other people that it is nice to be able to talk in their own language. “There are children and adults who still want some company. That way they don’t have to solve their problems alone,” says Anastasiia Shumeiko. Olga concludes: “I miss my country and city, but it feels like home here.”