After Three Years, They Could Finally Spend an Evening in Silence
After three years of uncertainty, temporary walls, and a lack of privacy, they could finally say: “We have a home!”
Volodymyr and Amelia, both wheelchair users, had spent a long time moving from place to place, searching for a corner of space where they could feel stability and hear silence. The war forced them to flee their hometown of Baranivka in the Zhytomyr region. Today, life looks brighter: “Thanks to the PCPM Foundation, we finally have a stable roof over our heads and can start planning a new life. We can hear silence—and our own thoughts.”
A Door Opens – Support for Moving Out
Baranivka is a small town in the Zhytomyr region, once famous for its porcelain factory. There, Volodymyr and Amelia could count on their neighbors and felt safe. They had to leave suddenly, like thousands of other families. Both in wheelchairs, they sought shelter wherever they could. For them, such a situation was especially overwhelming.
Like many of their compatriots, they ended up in a so-called collective accommodation center—set up in a hostel in Konin. Crowds, constant noise, and a complete lack of privacy or comfort made life there extremely difficult.
“Try to imagine it—it’s a very hard life, especially for people in wheelchairs,” they explain. “In the hostel it was noisy, and we had no privacy or peace.”
They learned about the project “Together Towards Independence”, which helps Ukrainian refugees move out of temporary centers and begin independent life in Poland, from neighbors handing out cards with information.
“I thought to myself: I’ve tried everywhere else, maybe I’ll try this too,” recalls Amelia.
At first, they had to figure everything out on their own, but the application process turned out to be simple, and soon all the formalities were done.
A New Beginning
That was the turning point. “Together Towards Independence”, implemented by the PCPM Foundation with support from the Ministry of the Interior and the EU, helped them take their first steps towards independence. Thanks to the program, they were able to rent a flat, receive financial support, and take part in language courses, vocational training, and counseling.
“On the very first day, we heard something we had missed so much—silence. After years of constant noise, it was an incredible experience. In the new place, we could finally adapt the space to our needs, which is so important for people using wheelchairs. At last, we can live on our own terms,” says Volodymyr.
Stability and Plans for the Future
No one knows how their story would have unfolded without the PCPM program. For a short time, they even tried to return to Ukraine. They wanted to start again there, but soon a new Russian offensive began in their region.
“We came back to Poland and started looking for a flat again,” Amelia recalls.
Now, they are planning to open their own business to become more independent and contribute to society by paying taxes. As they emphasize, the project gave them not only a roof over their heads, but also a powerful impulse for change and the strength to move forward.
