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Strabane woman helping to brighten lives affected by war

THE effects of war in Ukraine are being felt all over the world, no place more so than in neighbouring countries shouldering the burden of the increasing refugee crisis.

In the fog of war, birthdays are understandably forgotten but one woman, a member of Strabane’s burgeoning Polish community, is doing her bit from almost 2,000 miles away to ensure that children’s special days aren’t forgotten amongst the carnage

Holy Cross College classroom assistant Monika Polchylska, who has lived in the town since 2007, is a member of an online network called Pogotowie Urodzinowe dla dzieci z Ukrainy that assists in carving a chink of light in these dark times.

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As Monika explains, “This is an offshoot of a larger group which assists refugees by giving them free accommodation, food and if they can manage to, help them find a job, travelling to refugee centres and picking people up. This last part can be difficult as most Ukrainians understandably flee without the relevant papers which allow them to work, not to mention the language barrier, but everyone tries their best. We’ve helped so many people in the six weeks that war has been raging.

“Children can feel the effects of war harder than others and when they reach a safe haven, they do so with nothing except the clothes on their back. People post on this forum about a child who has a birthday coming up and members band together to try and make the child’s birthday special, whether it be by baking them a cake, sending money or cards, taking them out for a meal or buying a few presents. Anything to assist in brightening their day.”

Monika says the work going on in the larger group, called Help For Ukraine, has assisted in rehoming many refugees, many of whom are hopeful of going home soon.

“The group has Russian, Ukrainian and Polish speakers who have helped refugees settle in the different countries which border Ukraine, while some have even gone as far as Croatia and Italy. However, most prefer to stay in countries which border Ukraine as they have left sons, fathers, brothers behind who have been conscripted to fight and want to return to them once the war is over. While some people are hopeful of going home by summer, unfortunately I can’t see that happening.”

A native of Ostrowiec, Monika says that most refugees obviously want to go to the bigger cities like Warsaw and Krakow but there are some who prefer a quieter life, with her town currently housing eight Ukrainians. There has been something of a backlash though, with many Polish feeling that their government has been too generous to the influx of foreigners at the expense of the native population, something Monika doesn’t want to get drawn on.

“I am sure there are some who feel that way but anyone who assists in our group does so out of their own pocket, so I can’t say much about it really.

“The generosity shown has been spectacular and I’m so proud to be a member of both these groups. I would hope that the relationship between Ukraine and Poland is strengthened by these tragic events. We feel as if we’re family already and I hope it continues once the war is over.”

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Finally, closer to (her adopted) home, Monika was instrumental in a recent fundraiser held in the Smugglers Inn which raised £1,550, helping a total of 98 children and 12 carers with another on the way to assist the drivers which ferry refugees to safety.

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