Teen from bombed Ukrainian uni gets UK scholarship

Dr Brendan Paddison and Mariana Kachun at the ceremony in York where she learned of her scholarship

A Ukrainian teenager who fled to Yorkshire after her university was bombed has spoken of her gratitude at being given a scholarship to continue her studies in the UK.

Mariana Kachun, 19, said she had built a new life in York with her mum after leaving her home city of Ternopil shortly after the Russian invasion.

While being presented an award last month for her work at a luxury hotel and spa in her adopted city, she was told she was also being given a scholarship in medicine at York St John University.

Ms Kachun said she felt "very emotional" at having the chance to continue her studies, adding that she felt it was a "good time" to be able to restart them.

The Ternopil region was one of the areas attacked by Russian forces early on in the War in Ukraine

Ms Kachun said before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, she had been studying to be a nurse at a medical college.

"I couldn’t finish my studying as the university got bombed because it was located close to a building that would create army stuff and they just started bombing it," she said.

As a result she and her mum fled Ternopil, in the west of Ukraine, in April of that year and ended up in North Yorkshire.

She said her aunt, who had lived in York for 30 years, had helped her find a job in hospitality at the Middlethorpe Hall and Spa on Bishopthorpe Road.

"Me and my mum now both live in York in the staff accommodation at the hotel and we feel really lucky as it is so peaceful," Ms Kachun said.

"Everything is getting better now and we’re getting used to England now as it was a culture shock at first.

"I now have friends from work who are Sri Lankan, Indian and even Ukrainian too."

'Big moment'

Ms Kachun discovered she had the chance to continue her nursing studies in York while being presented a Rising Star award at the Hospitality Association York (HAY) Awards on 5 September.

She said: “On the evening I found out I had the scholarship, I heard them call my name and asked me to go on stage.

"I felt quite nervous as I didn’t really understand what was going on.

“But when they announced it, it felt like such a big moment for me and I felt very emotional as it was so unexpected.

“Knowing they were going to help me with my future was emotional and I just saw my mum crying in the crowd.”

Ms Kachun said the scholarship at York St John University was "perfect timing" for her

Dr Brendan Paddison, interim dean of York Business School at York St John University, was one of the HAY Award judges and it was he who told Ms Kachun she was being gifted a scholarship.

He explained that Ms Kachun's manager at Middlethorpe Hall had sent a submission, asking for her to be considered for an award and he was so impressed with what he read that he asked the university to give her a scholarship.

Dr Paddison said: “As a judging panel, we were really moved by her story and the sacrifices she has made because of the war in Ukraine."

Everyone at the university was "delighted" Ms Kachun could continue her studies in York, Dr Paddison said.

Ms Kachun's story was "reflective of the university’s ethos of being a place committed to supporting refugees and asylum seekers, personal safety and where anyone can have the right to pursue education", he added.

Ms Kachun said the scholarship, which she planned to start next September, was “perfect timing”.

She said she had very much wanted to take up her studies again, but had struggled to find the time due to work commitments.

"I feel like it is a good time for me to continue my studying", she said.

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