The Taste of Home: Yulia’s 16th-Century Recipe for a New Life

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the strength, perseverance, and creativity of women like Yulia—a mother, entrepreneur, and refugee who transformed challenges into opportunities.

In the autumn of 2022, Yulia and her family—her husband and five children, all under the age of 18—fled their home in Dnepropetrovsk region, Ukraine, seeking refuge in Belarus. Their journey led them to the town of Ivanovo in the Brest region, where Yulia’s relatives had been living for many years.

On the very first day Yulia’s family arrived in Belarus, they applied for asylum. The process went smoothly, and they received a very warm welcome. Soon after, both Yulia and her husband found employment at a local farm, which not only provided them with work but also accommodation. However, Yulia’s true passion had always been baking. For 17 years in Ukraine, she had been making homemade bread, and for the past 10 years, she had perfected baking with sourdough. She also crafted fruit pastilles and cheese-pressed butter for over nine years. What initially began as a health-conscious choice for her children—removing white flour from their diet due to children health issues—soon blossomed into a small home business, growing organically through word of mouth.

Settling into life in Belarus, Yulia naturally returned to baking, initially just for her family. A chance meeting with a woman in the local executive committee led her to a source of homemade sourdough, and before long, word spread. Orders started coming in, and her kitchen once again filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread.

“I now bake around 10–20 kilos of bread per week,” Yulia shares. “I use a traditional 16th-century technique that I have refined into my own recipe. The challenge here is that the flour differs from what I used in Ukraine, as different grains produce different textures.

“But when my children say, ‘Mom, you make the best bread,’ I know all the effort is worth it. That is my greatest reward.”

Yulia’s children enjoy assisting her, turning the baking process into a shared family activity filled with joy and laughter.

Yulia actively participates in exhibitions in Brest, Minsk, Soligorsk, Ivanovo, Drogichin, seeing them as the best way to introduce people to her products. Additionally, she has begun exploring social media to expand her reach.

Demonstrating her commitment to continuous personal growth, Yulia attended an employment seminar, UNHCR set up with HR specialist in September 2023, titled “From CV to Employment.”

 “That was truly a ‘wow’ experience!” she exclaims.  “HR specialist Tatsiana, who led the seminar, was so inspiring. Even my husband, who never takes notes, wrote down a lot! Tatsiana was incredibly supportive and provided us with so much new knowledge. The seminar provided us with valuable insights on enhancing our skills and effectively presenting our services. It had a positive impact on our presentation abilities, which in turn improved our family income.”

In 2024, UNHCR expanded its efforts by organizing five similar seminars across the country, led by an HR specialist and attended by more than 80 Ukrainian refugees. These workshops covered essential topics such as navigating the Belarusian job market, CV writing, interview techniques, and managing job-seeking anxiety—all designed to improve employment prospects.

Tatsiana, the HR expert who led the session, was particularly impressed by Yulia and her husband. “They were eager to learn, actively engaged, and absorbed every bit of information,” she says. “Yulia asked insightful questions, and her enthusiasm was contagious. Her determination and openness to new knowledge were truly remarkable.”

Looking ahead, Yulia dreams of expanding her business. She has already mastered the process of making herbal ointments and is deepening her knowledge in phytotherapy to create new products with more pronounced preventive and health-improving effects. With gratitude in her heart, she expresses deep appreciation for everyone who has helped her along the way. This Women’s Day, Yulia’s story reminds us of the power of passion, and the incredible women shaping their futures with courage and determination.