A West Lothian woman whose grandad came to Scotland from Ukraine after World War Two and built a “good life” is hoping to give refugees fleeing the war the same chance.
Charis Cetnarsky has organised a ‘pop-up shop’ this weekend where Ukrainian families living in West Lothian can pick up any clothing and essentials they need for free, and also meet with others in the same situation.
Charis (33) from Dedridge, said she was moved to help after seeing the plight of so many refugees who have been forced to abandon their homes amid the conflict and said her thoughts turned to her grandad, Wasyl Cetnarskyj, who settled in West Lothian with his family.
He came from Ivano-Frankivsk and as a teenager was a partisan who fought against German and Russian soldiers during World War Two.
After the war he came to Scotland. He settled and married in Edinburgh, having three sons, and relocated to West Lothian with his job in Uniroyal.
He worked there for over 40 years up until retirement.
He returned to Ukraine to visit family and often sent money over to them, but settled and remained in Howden.
She said: “His values where built on integrity, hard work and generosity and he was a very patriotic man who was proud of his home country and family. He inspired me to help these people.”
Charis, who is a student nurse studying mental health nursing at the University of Stirling and has a young son, Tommy, has organised the event this Sunday at Crofthead Farm Centre in Dedridge.
Through social media and by speaking to volunteers at her local community centre and with help from West Lothian Council, Charis has spread the word to Ukrainian refugee families who can select items from the shop for free, and meet and mix with other families.
She has organised a piper to greet them with Scottish music and the Ukrainian national anthem and will also provide refreshments.
Charis continued: “When I was watching the news I felt really helpless and just wanted to help and also because my granddad came from Ukraine as well.
“He came over here for the same reasons and was fortunate enough that he managed to settle and build
a good life for himself. I wanted to provide somewhere for them to come and meet other Ukrainians.”
Charis said she has fond memories of her granddad, who passed away in 2007, and recalls going to the Ukrainian Club in Edinburgh.
She continued: “I’m really hoping to help them establish a community. A lot of them are still living in hotels, so I also got in touch with West Lothian Council, who have a Ukrainian settlement team, who are going to let people know.
“So it will also be good for them as they’ve just been stuck in their room and haven’t had the opportunity to go anywhere or meet anyone.”
Charis said she also wanted to thank members of her community who have been incredibly generous in donating items for the shop.
She continued: “I’ve had such an amazing response and people have been so generous.”
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