Five Insights with Refugees

A Monthly Conversation on Inclusion, Solution and Aspiration 

Natalia Chaika, Refugee from Ukraine 

Natalia, 43, is a refugee from Ukraine who arrived in Romania in March 2022. She is a psychologist and provides services at Zi de Bine, a local community centre based in Bucharest.  

More than 3,000 refugees from Ukraine have visited the organization to receive support related to access to education, mental health, and legal advice, among other things. 

In this series, we meet with different refugees to hear about some of the thoughts, insights, and recommendations they want to share about their experience of being a refugee in Romania. 

Here are five insights from Natalia: 

1. On early challenges 

The first six months after arriving in Bucharest were challenging and unstable due to so much uncertainty about the future. It felt as though the whole world had turned upside down. Some relationships were broken, families were separated, and it was difficult to come to terms with. The most difficult decision was to leave Ukraine when the war broke out. After moving to Romania, exploring housing options and signing a one-year apartment contract after five months of living there, it became apparent that I wouldn’t be able to return home for a long time. Only now, in a calmer state, I have realised how scared, confused, and vulnerable I was then. 

2. On daily motivation and inspiration 

No matter how difficult it has been for me as a refugee, the war has strangely brought me a lot of strength and energy to be able to make positive changes in life. I believe this would not have been possible during times of peace. The contrast between war and peace and what they offered in our lives amazed me. And I certainly made the most of it. Despite the brutality, the enormous anxiety, and the fatigue, I managed to move forward, create, and improve the quality of my life. As for my daily motivation, I recite myself a daily phrase, which goes “If I give up, no one else will make it better.” This phrase provides me with a sense of security, and I rely on it. Building self-reliance and supporting each other keeps me motivated every day. Together we can rise above these uncertain and tough times. 

 3. On inclusion 

I believe that inclusion means being recognized and valued as a human being and as a professional within your community and society, especially in a new environment. Along with the displacement of being a refugee, I lost a part of myself that was socially integrated. I want to restore that sense of belonging here in Romania and feel involved in the life, where I am. This is why I provide psychological support to refugees at Zi de Bine in Bucharest.  

4. On aspirations, hopes for the future 

Hope was relevant to me in the first months of the war. Now I focus on having confidence and aspirations to move forward based on the present. I feel stable enough now to adapt and choose more appropriate pathways for myself, to create my own projects, to express myself more freely as I did before the war. This is so uplifting that it has become possible for me during this year of living in Romania. My big goal is to establish a trauma rehabilitation centre to treat any kind of distress, where people can begin to recover their lives. This is, of course, an ambitious goal, but it inspires me to pursue it. 

5. On opportunities

Reflecting on my experience of living abroad, I see it as an opportunity to discover myself and find the qualities that will help me realise my dreams. This is the time when I acknowledge my strength, my limitations, and my ability to heal under any circumstances. 

NOTE: The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity by June Kim.  

 

This story is also available in Romanian language here.

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