A West Lothian man said he is more than glad to be making “a difference” to the lives of two Ukrainian sisters who are living with him after fleeing their homes after the invasion by Russia.
Thomas Anderson (60) has had sisters Kate and Hanna Donina staying with him at his Dedridge home for the last four weeks after they had to leave their parents behind in Kyiv.
He said it’s the second time their family has had to flee their home as they were forced out of Eastern Ukraine after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
But Thomas said the girls are settling in well in West Lothian and are being well supported by his family and the local community.
We spoke to Thomas following a special event held for refugees at Crofthead Community Centre in Dedridge organised by local woman Charis Cetnarskyj, where around 60 families got together to meet one another and pick up essential items for free.
Thomas, who works at a tourist shop in Edinburgh, said he had matched with the girls through Homes for Ukraine and the Opora website and had been able to speak to each other over the phone and by video call during the Visa process.
He said: “They’re settling in now. It was a bit like walking on eggshells at first.
“This is the second time their family has had to flee. They were from Eastern Ukraine originally and fled to Kyiv in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea.
“Their mum and dad are both still in Kyiv. Their mum was doing volunteering work but might want to come over here now and their dad is doing his military training.”
Kate (21) was working as a music and gymnastics teacher back in Ukraine and plays the cello, while Hanna (19) was studying management and business.
Kate played cello at the event on Sunday and has since been asked to play at a fundraising concert for Dnipro orphans later this month.
Thomas said the first few weeks were spent making arrangements for the sisters.
He continued: “We’ve spent the last three or four weeks getting everything set up. It’s been appointments after appointments, setting up Universal Credit, National Entitlement cards, simple things like phone sims and getting them registered at the health centre. It really took up a lot of time.
“We’ve had interviews at the Job Centre, all they’re really asking them to do just now is improve their English. Kate’s English is very good, Hanna’s English is pretty basic.”
Thomas said his sister Jane has also been helping the girls find their feet and joined them at Crofthead Community Centre on Sunday.
He explained the reason he wanted to become a sponsor: “I visited Kyiv in 2011 and went back 2013 and visited Odessa and I was going to go back the following year and visit Crimea but that was when Russia annexed Crimea.
“I’ve got some friends from Ukraine who live in America now, because I’d been there and had some acquaintances there, I just felt making donations to charities and things is fine, but I thought I could make a little bit of a difference.”
Kate said she and her sister are extremely grateful to Thomas and the West Lothian community, saying they had received a warm welcome.
She told The Courier she had enjoyed Sunday’s event, adding: “It was good to meet other Ukrainians, who had met before.
“I want to support our people, it was nice to play some Ukrainian songs for the people.
“I also want to continue studying and be able to work.”
Charis said she was delighted with how Sunday’s event had gone and said she had received some wonderful feedback from Ukrainians who had attended, along with sponsors.
She said: “Sunday was fantastic, albeit emotional at times.
“There was around 60 families in attendance spread throughout the day, one family I chatted to travelled all the way from Kippen to join us.
“I’ve not heard of anything like this being organised before but hopefully it will catch on to help these people.”
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