London, Ont. a home for Ukrainians one year after war began | 24CA News

One 12 months in the past, on Feb. 24, 2022, Marta Kosar woke as much as her mom saying warfare had damaged out as Russia invaded their nation.

After one week of not going exterior and journeys to a basement when air-raid sirens went off in her house metropolis of Lviv on the western fringe of Ukraine, the 16-year-old Kosar started the arduous journey away from her house, her household, her mates and her nation.

After leaving Ukraine on March 2, Kosar made her option to Hungary for one week. After Hungary, Kosar made stops in Austria, Spain for one month and Montreal for just a few days earlier than planting herself in London on April 27.

“It was a long way here,” Kosar tells Global News on the eve of the warfare turning one 12 months outdated.

Rather less than 5 months later, Kosar’s first cousin, 15-year-old Bozehena Melnychuk, arrived from Ukraine on Sept. 24, 2022, leaving her house and household for a brief secure place along with her cousin and aunt Sofiya.

During their time in Ukraine, after the warfare started, the pair say air-raid sirens had been a each day prevalence, although fortunately, the dropping of bombs was not as frequent.

Kosar and Melnychuk are simply two of the greater than 150,000 Ukrainians which have made their option to Canada because the battle broke out a 12 months in the past.

The youngsters attend St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School in London’s west finish. Both in Grade 10, the pair say their lecturers and classmates have been “amazing” in making them really feel snug.

“They are very kind and they want to help me get better,” Kosar mentioned of her lecturers.

Kosar and Melnychuk mentioned the adjustment to Canadian highschool has gone nicely, with Kosar saying she is excelling in math now in contrast with again house.

Melnychuk, including that math is one thing she finds simpler as nicely, says she generally struggles with speaking in English, as she has solely been in London for 5 months.

“I understand the information, but speaking is harder,” says Melnychuk, although she provides with confidence that it’s going to enhance.

Melnychuk and Kosar expressed gratitude to individuals in London and Canada who supported Ukrainians, together with their host household.

“They have helped us with everything and gave to us a place to call home,” mentioned Melnychuk.

While adjusting to high school and dwelling in Canada has been good, there’s one factor they weren’t ready for: the climate.

“It’s freezing here, and the winds are very strong,” Kosar says with a chuckle.

But as a lot as their lecturers and new mates have labored to assist Kosar and Melnychuk really feel welcome and modify to the chilly climate, London remains to be not their house, nor the place their household and mates are. The youngsters communicate with household nearly however say it’s not like being in individual.

“I miss family, friends, my home, my room,” says Kosar, including that she misses the straightforward pleasure of simply strolling down her house road with neighbours.

Melnychuk says she misses her mother and older sister, who’s attending college.

Unlike among the 150,000 Ukrainians in Canada displaced by the warfare, Kosar and Melnychuk say coming to Canada was a part of their life plans. It simply got here just a few years forward of schedule.

Both say earlier than the warfare, Western University was already circled as a spot to proceed their research after highschool. Melnychuk says she needs to review engineering, whereas Kosar desires to review cosmetology or dermatology.

Kosar says she is wanting ahead to the day she sees her household once more. Still, she reiterates that she plans for Canada to be part of her life to return.

“I’m starting a new life and I want to finish my studies here,” Kosar says.

“Hopefully I can go home in the summer for one month to see family and friends.”

The London chapter of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress is internet hosting a candlelight vigil at metropolis corridor on Friday at 6 p.m.

Daria Hryckiw, the president of the London chapter, says there will probably be prayers led by native Catholic, Orthodox and Pentecostal leaders, in addition to remarks from Mayor Josh Morgan and native Ukrainians.

“We will be lighting candles, praying and supporting Ukraine and Ukrainian people,” mentioned Hryckiw.

— with information from The Canadian Press.

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