Exhibition highlights experiences of Ukrainians

Featured in the exhibition is former solicitor Iryna Oliinyk who now works with North Yorkshire Council's health and adult services team

Ukrainians who sought refuge in the UK following the invasion of their country have used a photo exhibition to show how they have adapted to their new lives.

The exhibition is touring libraries across North Yorkshire and features families who have found sanctuary in the county.

It was the idea of Roman Pronyszyn, the Ukrainian community co-ordinator in Richmondshire, who had seen a similar project at the University of York.

"We believe the more people know, the better they understand and the more welcoming they become," Mr Pronyszyn said.

The display, funded by North Yorkshire Council, has been produced in partnership with Helping Hearts North Yorkshire and the Richmondshire Refugee Support Group.

Mr Pronyszyn said: "This project explains to people what has happened and why these people are here.

"Since arriving, many have now got jobs and some have started their own businesses – we have a café owner and a consultant at the Friarage Hospital, for example – and all are settling in and making their mark."

Roman Pronyszyn (left), the Ukrainian community co-ordinator in Richmondshire, had the idea for the exhibition

Featured in the exhibition is former solicitor Iryna Oliinyk who now works as a customer response assistant with the council's health and adult services team.

"I had a nice life in Ukraine with my husband and daughter," Ms Oliinyk recalled.

"Everything has changed. We had to move abroad to keep my daughter safe."

Ms Oliinyk said she was really grateful to her sponsor, Angela, who met her online before allowing her family to stay at her home as part of the UK-wide Homes for Ukraine programme.

She said she would like to return to Ukraine at some point but knows life would not be the same.

"I understand I cannot have the same life as I had before.

"I will need to start from the beginning. I lost my job, I lost my friends who are all abroad. Except for my husband, I have nothing, so it will be another challenge, but it is how it is."

Yana Drapak, from Donetsk, left Ukraine in 2023

Yana Drapak, from Donetsk, left Ukraine in 2023 and is now an English teacher for the council.

Her family lived under Russian occupation before moving to Kyiv but left the country for North Yorkshire when the "constant bombardment" became too much.

"It was a really hard decision to leave, especially when you did not know what your life was going to be like," she said.

"It was great to discover there was a range of possibilities here, not only for me but also for my husband who is a photographer.

"We have made friends and live in a lovely community, so it has been great."

The exhibition is touring libraries across North Yorkshire

The council's executive member for arts and culture Simon Myers said it was important for libraries to host exhibitions such as this one.

"We see the war in Ukraine on our televisions, but this exhibition, through its powerful words and photographs, gives us a chance to stand and think about the impact it has on the population.

"It is only right that we play our part in helping the victims of conflict, so it was a privilege to meet those who are now calling North Yorkshire their home and to hear how they have been welcomed by our residents."

Fellow councillor Caroline Dickinson visited the exhibition when it was in Northallerton and said it was "wonderful" to see how refugees had been welcomed into towns and villages across the county.

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