Olga, 47, came with her 15-year-old daughter from Zaporizhia to Greece in March 2022, a month after the Russian invasion of Ukraine
She left her home, her husband and her homeland. With a suitcase in one hand and her teenage daughter in the other, Olga from Ukraine made it all the way to Thessaloniki, for a better future, away from the bombings and the horrors of war.
The war in Ukraine forced her and many other women and children from their homeland to leave their homes and loved ones to live in a place of peace and safety.
Olga is 47 years old and came with her 15-year-old daughter from Zaporizhia to Thessaloniki in March 2022, along with the “wave” of Ukrainian refugees in European countries, a month after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Anxiety, terrible anxiety” is what dominates Olga every day, as she explains speaking to Thestival, as – although she speaks Greek very well and has a rich resume – she cannot find a job and is fighting a daily battle to support herself and her daughter her.
With little money in her pocket and renting a small apartment in western Thessaloniki, Olga explains that her first concern is to have food at home every day for herself and her daughter, while paying bills and rent.
“I want a Christmas miracle”
“The “Irida” organization helped us a lot in the beginning because we came to a city we knew nothing about, but now we are struggling financially” Olga emphasizes as she no longer has any income.
“Christmas has come, my daughter is waiting for presents, she wants to experience Christmas, but I can’t offer her anything anymore” says Olga, unable to hold back the tears from her eyes, since this year’s holidays are very different from the ones she lived every year: with her husband and daughter in their home in Zaporizhia.
Despite this, Olga and her daughter do not give up. They are smiling and in a good mood, they have entered the Christmas mood, trying to be happy. “A Greek neighbor gave us a tree, which we decorated. There is a festive atmosphere at home and we have hope for something better. After all, how will we live without hope?’ he said characteristically.
The present that Olga asks for for Christmas is none other than to find a job. That would qualify as a miracle. “We lack nothing else. I want a Christmas miracle: to get a job.”
Life in Thessaloniki and… the beach
After almost a year in the city, Olga has very positive impressions of Thessaloniki, as she enjoys its beauties and forgets her worries for a while.
“Everything is very good and pleasant. Thessaloniki is beautiful and even better in summer. My daughter and I are always walking on the beach, which we really like, we never get bored and it’s… free. This is our fun,” emphasizes Olga and adds that she always wanted to live in a city by the sea, but she didn’t think she would be able to do it, let alone under these conditions.
“All I want and what remains is to find a job in Thessaloniki and to live with my child calmly and with dignity,” Olga concluded.
Anxiety about the situation in Ukraine
Despite her own “calvary” in Thessaloniki, Olga is also worried about Ukraine, as the war continues to this day. “No one knows what can happen. Every day the Russians bomb Ukraine. I am worried about my compatriots, in the next 10 minutes someone I know may be dead” she explains and is shocked, having her husband in the “line of fire” and with little communication with him.
“I don’t see the war ending any time soon,” says Olga, reading what is happening every day in her country.
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I have worked as a journalist for over 10 years, and my work has been featured on many different news websites. I am also an author, and my work has been published in several books. I specialize in opinion writing, and I often write about current events and controversial topics. I am a very well-rounded writer, and I have a lot of experience in different areas of journalism. I am a very hard worker, and I am always willing to put in the extra effort to get the job done.
