“TOI still have a hard time believing that I was able to save myself with my children “ he claims Natalia, 38 years old from Ukraine, while trying to quell the crying of her little Andri, only 15 months old, alternating bottles and cartoons. Anna and Antonina, the other two daughters, respectively 10 and 8 years old, meanwhile, play while enjoying a bar of chocolate. It is the flavor of the new everyday life of this one mother fled with her three children from the city of Ivano-Frankivsk, bombed by the Russians, to find refuge in Calabria, in Crotone.
The landing in social housing
I meet her in the dining room of DaMe, social housing created by a couple of young people from Crotone to offer a home that welcomes and protects as well as a safe placemainly to women who are victims of violence or social hardship. “But when the emergency broke out due to the war in Ukraine, we did not hesitate for a moment to open the doors of our structure to women, especially mothers who had escaped from the bombs with their children»Intervenes Francesca Zimatoreresponsible for housing together with his partner Luca Greco, explaining how an announcement on social media was enough to make the echo of their humanity reach Ukrainethanks to the support of a cultural mediator.
The infinite journey
Following a five-day long journey, Natalia landed here, bewildered by the scorching sun of Calabria and the unexpected welcome of the guests of the structure, who promptly set up her room making the common areas available.
“We traveled on a bus full of mothers with small children, there was even a three-month-old baby. There was a lot of queue at the border, but we also made many stops because our children were impatient, it was not even easy to change their diapers or give them a bottle. It was very tiringwe were so afraid of meeting the enemy on the street, but I felt I had to be strong to protect my children»Says Natalia who still bears the signs of fatigue on her swollen legs which, as soon as she arrived, made it difficult even to climb the stairs to reach the room assigned to her.
Natalia with her little ones Anna, Antonina and Andri
Crotone is not a casual destination, but the city where, for years, he has lived and worked as a caregiver the mother, architect of this safe harbor.
“As soon as we learned that mothers and children could leave Ukraine – he explains – it was the mother who sent me the number of some Italians who were organizing a bus to escape to Italy. And she always made contact with Luca and Francesca, ready to welcome us. In bad luck, thanks to this escape, we reunited: we hadn’t seen each other for 7 years“.
Natalia hints at a smile, as she confides in her desire to find a job as a caregiver or maid in the city that welcomed her, hoping that employers can also host her children.
The need for stability
«I know very well that we will not be able to return to Ukraine soon, so I have to find stable accommodation here in Calabria. I feel like crying at the thought that I might never see our little house that we built with so many sacrifices again»Says the young mother, turning her thoughts to husband, who remained in Ukraine to fight alongside many other civilians.
The separation was not easy at all, especially for the children who still cannot understand why they had to leave their dad in the war. Fortunately, thanks to the help of the operators of From me and of the entire Crotone community, in addition to basic necessities, clothing and lots of affection, Natalia now has a cell phone with which she makes video calls that reduce the distance with her husband.
The memory of the war
The news from the Ukrainian front is never reassuring and, whenever her husband tells her about the intensifying bombings, she thinks back to the terror of the night the war began: “We were sleeping, when suddenly the house started shaking, Andri was screaming in the bed and we had the impression that everything was about to collapse. Then a message from a teacher of our daughters confirmed that what we feared most was happening “ he continues recalling the worry of those constipated days in the small cellar, between jars of provisions and freezing cold.
To give a glimpse of hope, in fact, was the opportunity to escape with a bag made in a hurry, with the documents and the bare essentials.
Today she feels as fortunate as she is bitter, thinking of the relatives left in Ukraine, especially her brother with his 7-month pregnant wife, who did not feel like making the journey.
Natalia plays with her children in housing From me
The warmth of humanity
“In these difficult moments, we feel warmed by the solidarity of the Crotone community, but also of the countries we crossed by bus and, along the way, they gave us water, milk and food to cheer us upNatalia concludes, trusting the hope that this conflict will stop jeopardizing the lives of Ukrainians and the whole world as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the housing operators From me, flanked by a promptly established network of volunteers, they are always ready to offer support. “There is another bed available – says Francesca – and, in the meantime, many families are making themselves available to welcome other refugee mothers. Because humanity crosses every obstacle, always “.
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