August 7, 2025 • 25 mins
In this episode, Iryna Bakaliar, Head Librarian, and Peter Andrijeczko, Chair, of the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre. They discuss how the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre adds value to the local area by supporting the Ukrainian community, particularly the displaced Ukrainians who have arrived since the 2022 invasion.
The discussion covers the centre's role in preserving Ukrainian culture through its library, highlighting the importance of the Ukrainian language for children. They also explore various aspects of Ukrainian culture, including food, music, and notable figures in science, art, and sports. Iryna and Peter share the challenges faced by displaced Ukrainians, such as the loss of home and status, and the uncertainty of their visas. Finally, they discuss the support received from the British community and the ongoing need for job opportunities for Ukrainians. The episode concludes with reflections on appreciating life and the kindness shown by the UK.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Importance of Community and Support Systems: The Reading Ukrainian Community Centre serves as a vital safe space for other Ukrainians to come and pick up books, but also talk about life. This illustrates the fundamental human need for community, belonging, and a strong support network, especially during times of crisis. It's a reminder that even small acts of kindness can have a profound impact.
Resilience and Appreciation in Adversity: Despite immense loss and challenges, Ukrainians like Irina express gratitude for their safety and appreciate the simple things.
Adaptability and Reframing Life's Priorities: Ukrainians, forced to leave their established lives, are learning to "accept the reality" and "start from the beginning" while being grateful for the safety the UK provides. This demonstrates incredible adaptability in the face of involuntary change and a powerful reframing of what truly matters.
TIME CODES
00:00 Greeting
00:49 Introduction to Peter
01:29 Introduction to Iryna
03:17 Why it’s important to preserve Ukrainian culture
04:22 Ukrainian words
06:05 Key differences between English and Ukrainian languages
07:15 Learning a foreign language
07:36 Ukrainian culture highlights
11:29 Some of the challenges in moving to the UK (1968)
13:23 Support for Ukrainians in Reading
14:58 Some of the challenges in moving to the UK (Iryna’s recent experience)
17:57 How to support the Ukrainian community
20:10 What war has taught Iryna
21:42 Reading diversity and number of charities- sign of a good society
23:28 Appreciate what you have
24:18 Peter’s final thoughts
24:42 Visit the Ukrainian centre
25:13 Extract from Iryna’s favourite poem to end (Contra Spem Spero! By Lesya Ukrainka).
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello everyone and welcome to the My Local Marketer podcast.
I'm Maria and today I'm speaking with Irina Bakalia, Head Librarian at Reading UkrainianCommunity Centre and Peter Andriechko, Chair of Reading Ukrainian Community Centre.
Hello both and thank you for coming on.
How are you?
very well thank you and thank you for inviting us today.
(00:21):
My pleasure.
I can't believe it.
It's taken me what, 56 episodes to get here.
This place is lovely.
And I don't think many people would realize it's so central in Reading.
That is such a busy road, Sidmouth Street.
Yeah, mean there's constantly traffic down at the weekends.
mean, you roughly want to know where we are, we're kind of halfway between the Oracle andRoyal Barks Hospital.
(00:42):
It's a great location, but obviously I'm sure everyone in the Ukrainian community willknow exactly where you are, which is the main thing.
Could you please just introduce yourselves and what your roles are?
So I'm Peter Andriatchuk, so I'm the current elected chair.
Our job here is just to keep the centre open to support the local Ukrainian community.
(01:05):
obviously, even though the centre's been open since 1968, there's been a new influx sincePutin's illegal invasion of Ukraine.
And obviously, we've uh supported the displaced Ukrainians who have been here, you know,for that reason.
Irina, do you have anything to add on your role?
Head Librarian, think it's, the job is in the title.
(01:27):
Though how have you found it?
How did you come here?
I arrived here at the end of 2022 and when you arrive in a new place, you always look foryour own first.
So I Googled and saw this building and just showed up.
At first when I arrived, there were lots of cultural events like stuff for kids.
(01:50):
So I just came with my child and met everybody.
And we used to have a school here, so it was a very active place to come to just
to feel safe and meet Ukrainians.
And um that's how I met Peter and everybody else.
we now have a library.
So I managed the library.
(02:10):
The library was done through the efforts of our committee and an organization calledReading Studios, which is a charity that promotes reading literature.
So it was a joint effort that got this library together.
And I signed up to manage it.
and now I manage the library and we have uh seven other displaced Ukrainian women whovolunteer in this project as well.
(02:33):
So it started as a library, but it turned out to be a beautiful thing where displacedwomen come together, make friends and create events for people, know, create a safe space
for other Ukrainians to come and pick up books, but also talk about life, you know.
We're very grateful to have this space because it's nice to have a place to come to.
(02:54):
I think you touched on a really important point there that a library is not just for bookswhere you can borrow books.
There's so much more around it involving the community and getting to know people andhaving hobbies and we can really connect to people on a personal level, which yeah, I
don't think people really consider that, but it is very important.
One of the main things with the libraries, like you said, it was a joint effort.
(03:16):
Why is it important, especially given what's happened in Ukraine, for Ukrainian childrento continue learning Ukrainian?
Children don't choose war, but they are usually the most affected by it because war stealstheir childhood essentially and takes them away from everything they know, know, culture,
their friends, their environment, their school, their structure.
(03:39):
So when you move to a new place for safety, you are grateful for the safety that itprovides, but you do miss the comfort of books and your language.
Sadly, Russia bombs printing houses, schools, libraries, museums and things like that.
So for us, this library is very much about resisting that and preserving the culture.
(04:03):
That's one of the aspects we have to save.
So this library is essentially Ukrainian saying you can't destroy the culture, the people,the language, because by reading Ukrainian, speaking Ukrainian, we continue living.
The language is such an important part of a culture.
It really is.
Do you have any Ukrainian words that you can share today?
(04:25):
We've got a lot!
Hello is ПривИт.
Yes is Так.
And No is Ни.
One thing you need to know is like Слава Украине, which I'm sure you've heard in manyspeeches, which means Glory to Ukraine.
It's sort of a symbol of the fight.
So Glory to Ukraine is Слава Украине.
(04:47):
So if you meet Ukrainians and you say Слава Украине to them, they'll be very pleased.
It's a hit.
Слава.
One of my favorite ones is actually sonychko, which is the little sun, know, like sun,sunshine.
So if you love somebody or like your child, you call them sonychko.
Peter, do you have any favourite Ukrainian words?
(05:09):
Well, there's jiaquia which is thank you.
Pivo, that's beer, so that's a favourite of mine.
And the other nice one that doesn't really have a direct translation but if someone iseating and they're clearly enjoying it you'd say to them, smaach noho.
I guess the best way of describing it is, is that going down well?
(05:32):
Bon app...
yeah, bon appétit.
Here's another one, one of my favorite words in Ukrainian.
If you actually ever look at the Ukrainian flag, you'll see a symbol that's like atrident.
I'm sure you've seen it.
It has a meaning.
In Ukrainian, it's called Volya, which has two meanings, freedom and willpower.
So we have the same word for freedom and willpower.
(05:53):
And that symbol keeps all the Ukrainians going through the hard times because you have thewillpower for your freedom.
So Volya.
I really like that word, that is a really nice one.
What are some of the key differences then would you say between English and Ukrainian?
Well, the alphabet is the main difference, I'd say.
(06:14):
Ukrainian has got Cyrillic alphabet and 33 letters and English has got a Latin one with26.
Also, order of the sentences that's not fixed.
So our words in the sentence can change and the meaning does not really change where inEnglish you kind of have a fixed word order.
(06:35):
need the subject, the verb, the object, all of that.
So the Ukrainian's a bit more loose that way.
We do have the same words, like international words, think uh bank is bank in Ukrainian,office is office.
So a punctuation mark like comma is comma.
So we kind of have some of the words are the same, but generally it's different.
(06:57):
good to know that there are some similarities, when you're learning, especially if you'reUkrainian trying to learn English, mean, just like I if it's a totally different alphabet,
that's intimidating.
Yeah, yeah, but we feel supported by the communities here.
I can just say that the British people are probably some of the most patient people whenyou're trying to speak their language.
(07:19):
I've never heard from Ukrainians um saying that, because they didn't speak a language,people were rude to them or anything.
British people usually are patient and they understand that you're trying to speak aforeign language and they try to speak in a simpler English with others, you know, and
accommodate them.
Beyond the language which you said is very important for Ukrainian culture, are there anyother cultural aspects that you think are really nice and people should know about?
(07:44):
I mean, food is something instantly comes to mind.
Yeah, well, borscht is a Ukrainian soup that's made of beetroot and cabbage.
So that's something totally Ukrainian that you have to try.
In a lot of books, it's going to be labeled as Russian, it's because of the Soviet Union,basically anything was labeled Russian, but it's a Ukrainian soup that everybody must try.
(08:07):
In terms of culture, if you think of Christmas and Carol of the Bells,
Yeah, that was written by a Ukrainian composer, Mikola Leontovich.
Yeah, so it's based on a Ukrainian folk song that then became a Christmas song.
So if you are listening to it, think of Ukrainians because it was written by a beautifulUkrainian composer.
(08:28):
That's one of my favourite Christmas songs, that's really good to know.
It's called Shedrick in Ukraine and one of my favorites is actually a heavy metal versionof it as well.
It's actually very good.
You'll have to tell me that later so I can go listen to that one too.
Even this podcast, I don't think would be possible without a satellite.
And everybody knows the first satellite that was launched at the end of 1950s, Sputnik bythe Soviet Union.
(08:54):
But very few people know that it was actually launched by a Ukrainian engineer calledSerhiy Korolev.
So he was behind the launch of the first satellite and he identified as Ukrainian and wasactually sent to Gulag for six years because he identified as Ukrainian.
And he was also behind sending the first man into space, Yuri Gagarin, 1961.
(09:16):
So, Serhii Korolev, that name, he's called like the father of the Soviet space program,but people don't know that he was Ukrainian.
So he is responsible for wonderful inventions.
It's amazing.
I said most of these things, they just come under the Russian umbrella.
So that's really important.
Thank you for clarifying that because I think it's really important for people to knowthese things.
(09:37):
And also an artist, if you are into art, probably know Kazimir Malevich, who was asuprematist and he's got this iconic uh abstract painting, The Black Square.
So people also used to be branded as Russian, but he he identified as Ukrainian.
He was born on the territory of Ukraine and now lots of art galleries are changing himfrom Russian to Ukrainian.
(09:57):
So he's a Ukrainian artist.
um Some sportsmen, if you're into tennis, you probably know Elina Svitolina.
She's like,
I think number 14 in the world now.
And if you're into boxing, we've had many heavyweight champions.
So Alexander Usyk is the heavyweight champion now.
I will have to include all of these references on the podcast landing page because that isamazing.
(10:19):
So much has come out of Ukraine.
And also one thing about the food, think Ukraine does have some of the most fertile soilin the world.
And we used to export grain to half the world, you know, and we are actually verystrategic land when it comes to preventing world hunger.
(10:40):
And so we were the top exporters of grain and sunflower oil.
So that's what Ukraine is famous for.
So if you're ever in Ukraine,
I think because of the fertile soil and you're invited for a cup of coffee to somebody'shouse, it's never going to be just a cup of coffee.
It will be a three course meal with food to go.
(11:01):
You know, just in case.
So we are brought up as Ukrainians to feed our guests and to make sure they don't leavehungry and to give them food to go.
So yeah, Ukrainians are foodies very much so.
You know, hopefully when it's safe, you get to visit.
Oh, get ready.
There's going to be lots of food, lots of restaurants and people will try to feed you evenif you are against it.
(11:25):
It's just such a wonderful culture and what such a wonderful country.
What has it been like coming to UK?
What some of the challenges that the Ukrainian community has encountered?
So I'm Reading, born and bred anyway, but my dad came here after World War II and settledhere.
And ultimately it was a community of about 150 families in Reading that were able tojointly purchase this building back in 1968.
(11:53):
And at that time they called it the Diaspora, which was the idea of being displaced awayfrom your homeland.
And to be honest with you, the Putin's invasion has in effect mirrored that once again.
And so this was an important center for that generation.
But we had a Ukrainian school here, which I mean, when the center opened, I was eightyears old and running around in shorts and being a naughty boy.
(12:21):
And we had a Ukrainian school up here.
So on a Saturday, we would, you know, come to the school between about two and fiveo'clock and learn Ukrainian language and culture.
And it did disappear for a while, but then
The Ukrainian school started again 2019 with Alex Selvka, who's the headmistress.
(12:42):
And it essentially outgrew this place because originally they had about 20, 25 kids acrossthe two floors here.
And then, of course, with the displaced Ukrainians coming over, that suddenly grew toabout 70 kids almost.
So very fortunately, I've got to mention Reading Boys School, who were brilliant insupporting us.
(13:03):
I mean, they...
They have the Ukrainian flag flying outside at all times.
And they provided classrooms for the headmistress Alex Starvko to move the school over tothere.
And they've got a much better and nicer facility.
I'm pleased you mentioned the Boys School actually.
So was going to ask you what's it been like, the positive points with coming to Reading?
(13:26):
How have people embraced the Ukrainian community?
What's it been like?
So we've had amazing support from the British community, local MPs, mayors.
I've got to mention Matt Rodder, the local MP who's been so supportive of us.
He's run marathons for us to raise money.
Rachel Eden, the um ex-Lady Mayor.
(13:48):
She even learnt the Ukrainian National Anthem as well.
She's wonderful.
And the subsequent mayors have all been very supportive as well.
So when the invasion broke out and we started to have the displaced Ukrainians comingover, donations from the British community were amazing.
There are photos on the website rucc.uk which show boxes and boxes of donations ofclothing, bedding, medical supplies.
(14:15):
So yeah, we've had fantastic support.
Wokingham Borough Council have been very good as well because they've given us a storagefacility to use in Winnersh.
So we collect medical supplies, we collect dried food stuffs, we collect wheelchairs andcrutches and walking frames because obviously there are injuries amongst the brave
(14:42):
personnel fighting on the front line.
So when we have enough stuff, we'll then either get a four by four and fill that up orwe'll get a van and fill that up.
So.
We're constantly on the go here and say the support to do that has been fantastic.
Well, the first challenge, I guess, is that Ukrainians didn't ask for any of this.
(15:03):
You know, it's absolutely okay to change your life and move to another country.
I'm sure British people have done that at some point in their life when they decided, hey,I just want to live in the US or Australia or in Spain or something.
But it's one thing if you decide and pack your bag and venture.
But it's a very different thing when you had a pretty good life.
(15:27):
and all of the Ukrainians now who are displaced, we grieve for that life because we didn'tplan on living abroad.
It's just the circumstances happen.
If you've got children, you feel like you have to take them into safety.
So the first challenge, I think, is the loss of home, friends, support system, you know,that kind of...
(15:52):
You're in completely new place and you have to start from the beginning.
The second challenge would be the loss of status, if you will, because back home, most ofus were educated in some of the best universities in the country.
had careers, you know, a lot of us were middle management, top management.
(16:12):
When you arrive in a new country, you're not going to get the same level of the job.
You have to start from the beginning.
And if you're in your twenties, that's fine.
But if you are in your forties, and if you are children, so.
That's probably something that people struggle with.
So I think it's the accepting that your life is not going to be the same.
(16:34):
You are grateful for the safety the country provides, but you also have to come to termswith starting from the beginning and kind of being behind your peers, behind women your
age in the UK.
And also we've got about 220,000 displaced Ukrainians in the UK.
(16:54):
Most of them are women with children.
And I think based on the situation today, I'm sure you don't know many single incomehouseholds that are thriving, right?
If you think of single moms and single dads in the UK, nobody's really thriving.
Now imagine a single mom from Ukraine, you know, with lack of language and local educationand all that.
(17:16):
So even if you're safe and your life is more or less, you're okay.
You're still struggling.
to provide for yourself to make ends meet.
Not for the lack of trying, but it's just life and it's not a UK problem.
It's just if you're displaced anywhere you go, it's going to be the same.
Thank you for pointing that into perspective.
So tough.
You spend so long and so many years developing your career and building a life.
(17:40):
And like you said, you get to a certain age or stage in life where it's supposed to bepaying off and suddenly you're starting from ground zero.
It's not just starting from ground zero because of a choice.
It's been taken away from you.
So yeah, it just puts into perspective how difficult it must be.
So on the back of that, what donations, what support do you need?
(18:00):
I think the main thing is job opportunities, hire people, give them a chance.
That's the most important thing if you have a job.
Because all you want is to be able to provide for yourself and your child.
And um I know a lot of people, not just Ukrainians, but British people as well, lot ofpeople are being made redundant these days.
(18:20):
So it's just that job security, I think, is the best thing you can do for Ukrainians, isemploy them.
And that will give them a sense of...
future, I think.
And one of the other challenges is that when I lived back home, I was a citizen.
So all I had to worry about were the bills to pay and career and just sort out family, youknow, problems, stuff like that.
(18:43):
We are guests here with visas that have an expiration date.
And if you look at the end of the expiration date, you're like, okay, so am I going to beasked to leave?
Where do I go?
Because some people have lost their homes, you know, they don't have a home to come backto in Ukraine.
So what happens when the visa ends?
You know, are you asked to leave?
(19:04):
Some people don't have a family to come back to.
You know, it's been three years, marriages fell apart.
Sometimes people don't have a place to come back to.
So that's probably one of the challenges as well that gives anxiety to a lot ofUkrainians, because also when your visa comes to an end, your employers are anxious.
because they do not want to break the law.
(19:25):
They're asking you for the right to work.
Your landlords become anxious.
Like what happens next?
You don't know.
I think one of the major challenges for Ukrainians in the future is we do not have like aclear vision of what's going to happen.
Those are, think, the major challenges, but job security is probably the best thing youcould do.
(19:46):
I was going to ask you about the future holds really for the Korean community, but I thinkyou very clearly put it in.
It's hard, you don't know.
And I suppose it's just good that you have this community center in the middle.
It's so important just to help, just show everyone that the support is there for them asand when they need it.
Yeah, well, you know, I now look at my life, you know, what war has taught me is acceptthe reality.
(20:11):
A lot of times we run away from reality and we try to fantasize about life where we don'taccept what's going on.
The sooner you accept the reality, the faster you can do something about it and change itand have a bit more of control.
So I think Ukrainians now we accept the reality that it is what it is.
We're lucky to be alive.
(20:32):
Our children go to school here and they have a childhood and that's what keeps us going.
The children are able to look at the sky and see a plane and say, hi plane, know, theplane's not there to kill them.
And that's essential.
We take it day by day and we try to do our best with what we've been given.
think it really puts into context, sometimes you can get so carried away with the smallthings like oh your favorite item isn't in the supermarket or something so trivial or the
(21:02):
holiday was canceled or such trivial things in comparison.
somebody missed the bin collection day.
We were like that Ukraine, we were like that before the war when I think about what wecomplained about.
It's a very human thing, know, we're all potholes in the road, our mayor is stupid, youknow, this and that.
This was it was just like we were never happy with anything.
(21:24):
And now we appreciate what we lost because Ukraine was not a perfect country like nocountry is.
But but we were absolutely fine.
You know, things were absolutely OK.
We understand now.
With that said,
Just looking at Reading when I arrived in Reading, I'd like to say that I was impressed bythe diversity.
You have international cuisines and things like that.
(21:46):
But also what impressed me the most about the UK was the number of charities andorganizations where people volunteer and really try to make a difference.
You have Cancer Research, British Heart Foundation, Age UK.
women's aid, know, plenty of organizations for children, just many churches opened andtried to help.
(22:09):
So I know you've got your own problems, you know, in your country and you might be unhappywith some things, but that having so many organizations that are trying to help is a sign
to me of a relatively healthy society.
Because if you're looking after those in need, that's a very, very good sign.
So I was impressed by so many organizations in Reading.
(22:33):
It's pretty symbolic when you are dealing with cruelty from Russia, from your neighbor,with absolutely barbaric behavior.
And then you come to another country and you meet strangers and they're kind.
So that really helped us.
And I'll never forget that.
I'll be forever grateful to the UK for that, for the kindness that they've shown me and mychild specifically, and the teachers at school and the teachers in the nursery.
(23:01):
It's so heartwarming and it shows you that humans have always been like this.
Wars have always happened sadly, but we only survived as a human race because there werepeople who said, no, this is not okay.
And they were kind and they tried to help.
I'm so pleased you've had a good experience since you come here.
mean, it doesn't counter any of the challenges or any of the bad, but it can certainly,like you said, help make a fresh start.
(23:27):
is there anything you'd to leave our listeners with today?
Apart from don't get worried about your bins or the potholes, there are bigger things inlife.
No, you do.
You have the right.
You have to.
It's your life.
You have the right to be upset about what's going on.
You know, we're joking about these things, but also just like appreciate what you have.
You know, you have the right to be unhappy and complain about certain things andabsolutely improve your life and hold your MPs and council accountable.
(23:53):
Yes, but appreciate what you have.
Definitely.
If you have family members with you in the same country and you can hug them and talk tothem, appreciate that.
If you have a peaceful sky.
You can just go on a picnic and enjoy with your family.
Appreciate that because that is so important.
Peter, what do you think?
Any final thoughts you'd to leave our listeners with?
(24:15):
Again, for me, I'm Reading, born and bred, so I'm as British as anyone else.
I've always been proud of my Ukrainian roots.
If any positives have come out of Putin's invasion, it's meeting these new people like Iraand becoming attached to my heritage a lot more and being prouder of it.
(24:36):
Not that I was ever not proud of it.
So if you'd like to come and meet us, yes, and chat with us.
We are participating in the Heritage Day September Festival, September 20th.
The community center will be open to the public.
So you can come, we'll have workshops and lectures and things like that if you'reinterested in the Ukrainian culture, architecture.
(24:56):
You're more than welcome to join us September 20th for Heritage Day.
Can I just end on a few words from one of my favorite Ukrainian poets?
So her name is Lesia Ukrainka, she's from Ukraine and um she's got this poem that's calledin Latin Contras Pempero which basically means I am hoping without hope I'll say a few
(25:21):
lines in Ukrainian and then in English so people understand So Contras Pempero
Yes, I'll smile indeed, through tears and weeping, Sing my songs where evil holds its way.
(25:45):
Hopeless, a steadfast hope for ever keeping, I shall live.
You thoughts of grief go away.
Hello everyone and welcome to the My Local Marketer podcast.
I'm Maria and today I'm speaking with Irina Bakalia, Head Librarian at Reading UkrainianCommunity Centre and Peter Andriechko, Chair of Reading Ukrainian Community Centre.
Hello both and thank you for coming on.
How are you?
very well thank you and thank you for inviting us today.
(00:21):
My pleasure.
I can't believe it.
It's taken me what, 56 episodes to get here.
This place is lovely.
And I don't think many people would realize it's so central in Reading.
That is such a busy road, Sidmouth Street.
Yeah, mean there's constantly traffic down at the weekends.
mean, you roughly want to know where we are, we're kind of halfway between the Oracle andRoyal Barks Hospital.
(00:42):
It's a great location, but obviously I'm sure everyone in the Ukrainian community willknow exactly where you are, which is the main thing.
Could you please just introduce yourselves and what your roles are?
So I'm Peter Andriatchuk, so I'm the current elected chair.
Our job here is just to keep the centre open to support the local Ukrainian community.
(01:05):
obviously, even though the centre's been open since 1968, there's been a new influx sincePutin's illegal invasion of Ukraine.
And obviously, we've uh supported the displaced Ukrainians who have been here, you know,for that reason.
Irina, do you have anything to add on your role?
Head Librarian, think it's, the job is in the title.
(01:27):
Though how have you found it?
How did you come here?
I arrived here at the end of 2022 and when you arrive in a new place, you always look foryour own first.
So I Googled and saw this building and just showed up.
At first when I arrived, there were lots of cultural events like stuff for kids.
(01:50):
So I just came with my child and met everybody.
And we used to have a school here, so it was a very active place to come to just
to feel safe and meet Ukrainians.
And um that's how I met Peter and everybody else.
we now have a library.
So I managed the library.
(02:10):
The library was done through the efforts of our committee and an organization calledReading Studios, which is a charity that promotes reading literature.
So it was a joint effort that got this library together.
And I signed up to manage it.
and now I manage the library and we have uh seven other displaced Ukrainian women whovolunteer in this project as well.
(02:33):
So it started as a library, but it turned out to be a beautiful thing where displacedwomen come together, make friends and create events for people, know, create a safe space
for other Ukrainians to come and pick up books, but also talk about life, you know.
We're very grateful to have this space because it's nice to have a place to come to.
(02:54):
I think you touched on a really important point there that a library is not just for bookswhere you can borrow books.
There's so much more around it involving the community and getting to know people andhaving hobbies and we can really connect to people on a personal level, which yeah, I
don't think people really consider that, but it is very important.
One of the main things with the libraries, like you said, it was a joint effort.
(03:16):
Why is it important, especially given what's happened in Ukraine, for Ukrainian childrento continue learning Ukrainian?
Children don't choose war, but they are usually the most affected by it because war stealstheir childhood essentially and takes them away from everything they know, know, culture,
their friends, their environment, their school, their structure.
(03:39):
So when you move to a new place for safety, you are grateful for the safety that itprovides, but you do miss the comfort of books and your language.
Sadly, Russia bombs printing houses, schools, libraries, museums and things like that.
So for us, this library is very much about resisting that and preserving the culture.
(04:03):
That's one of the aspects we have to save.
So this library is essentially Ukrainian saying you can't destroy the culture, the people,the language, because by reading Ukrainian, speaking Ukrainian, we continue living.
The language is such an important part of a culture.
It really is.
Do you have any Ukrainian words that you can share today?
(04:25):
We've got a lot!
Hello is ПривИт.
Yes is Так.
And No is Ни.
One thing you need to know is like Слава Украине, which I'm sure you've heard in manyspeeches, which means Glory to Ukraine.
It's sort of a symbol of the fight.
So Glory to Ukraine is Слава Украине.
(04:47):
So if you meet Ukrainians and you say Слава Украине to them, they'll be very pleased.
It's a hit.
Слава.
One of my favorite ones is actually sonychko, which is the little sun, know, like sun,sunshine.
So if you love somebody or like your child, you call them sonychko.
Peter, do you have any favourite Ukrainian words?
(05:09):
Well, there's jiaquia which is thank you.
Pivo, that's beer, so that's a favourite of mine.
And the other nice one that doesn't really have a direct translation but if someone iseating and they're clearly enjoying it you'd say to them, smaach noho.
I guess the best way of describing it is, is that going down well?
(05:32):
Bon app...
yeah, bon appétit.
Here's another one, one of my favorite words in Ukrainian.
If you actually ever look at the Ukrainian flag, you'll see a symbol that's like atrident.
I'm sure you've seen it.
It has a meaning.
In Ukrainian, it's called Volya, which has two meanings, freedom and willpower.
So we have the same word for freedom and willpower.
(05:53):
And that symbol keeps all the Ukrainians going through the hard times because you have thewillpower for your freedom.
So Volya.
I really like that word, that is a really nice one.
What are some of the key differences then would you say between English and Ukrainian?
Well, the alphabet is the main difference, I'd say.
(06:14):
Ukrainian has got Cyrillic alphabet and 33 letters and English has got a Latin one with26.
Also, order of the sentences that's not fixed.
So our words in the sentence can change and the meaning does not really change where inEnglish you kind of have a fixed word order.
(06:35):
need the subject, the verb, the object, all of that.
So the Ukrainian's a bit more loose that way.
We do have the same words, like international words, think uh bank is bank in Ukrainian,office is office.
So a punctuation mark like comma is comma.
So we kind of have some of the words are the same, but generally it's different.
(06:57):
good to know that there are some similarities, when you're learning, especially if you'reUkrainian trying to learn English, mean, just like I if it's a totally different alphabet,
that's intimidating.
Yeah, yeah, but we feel supported by the communities here.
I can just say that the British people are probably some of the most patient people whenyou're trying to speak their language.
(07:19):
I've never heard from Ukrainians um saying that, because they didn't speak a language,people were rude to them or anything.
British people usually are patient and they understand that you're trying to speak aforeign language and they try to speak in a simpler English with others, you know, and
accommodate them.
Beyond the language which you said is very important for Ukrainian culture, are there anyother cultural aspects that you think are really nice and people should know about?
(07:44):
I mean, food is something instantly comes to mind.
Yeah, well, borscht is a Ukrainian soup that's made of beetroot and cabbage.
So that's something totally Ukrainian that you have to try.
In a lot of books, it's going to be labeled as Russian, it's because of the Soviet Union,basically anything was labeled Russian, but it's a Ukrainian soup that everybody must try.
(08:07):
In terms of culture, if you think of Christmas and Carol of the Bells,
Yeah, that was written by a Ukrainian composer, Mikola Leontovich.
Yeah, so it's based on a Ukrainian folk song that then became a Christmas song.
So if you are listening to it, think of Ukrainians because it was written by a beautifulUkrainian composer.
(08:28):
That's one of my favourite Christmas songs, that's really good to know.
It's called Shedrick in Ukraine and one of my favorites is actually a heavy metal versionof it as well.
It's actually very good.
You'll have to tell me that later so I can go listen to that one too.
Even this podcast, I don't think would be possible without a satellite.
And everybody knows the first satellite that was launched at the end of 1950s, Sputnik bythe Soviet Union.
(08:54):
But very few people know that it was actually launched by a Ukrainian engineer calledSerhiy Korolev.
So he was behind the launch of the first satellite and he identified as Ukrainian and wasactually sent to Gulag for six years because he identified as Ukrainian.
And he was also behind sending the first man into space, Yuri Gagarin, 1961.
(09:16):
So, Serhii Korolev, that name, he's called like the father of the Soviet space program,but people don't know that he was Ukrainian.
So he is responsible for wonderful inventions.
It's amazing.
I said most of these things, they just come under the Russian umbrella.
So that's really important.
Thank you for clarifying that because I think it's really important for people to knowthese things.
(09:37):
And also an artist, if you are into art, probably know Kazimir Malevich, who was asuprematist and he's got this iconic uh abstract painting, The Black Square.
So people also used to be branded as Russian, but he he identified as Ukrainian.
He was born on the territory of Ukraine and now lots of art galleries are changing himfrom Russian to Ukrainian.
(09:57):
So he's a Ukrainian artist.
um Some sportsmen, if you're into tennis, you probably know Elina Svitolina.
She's like,
I think number 14 in the world now.
And if you're into boxing, we've had many heavyweight champions.
So Alexander Usyk is the heavyweight champion now.
I will have to include all of these references on the podcast landing page because that isamazing.
(10:19):
So much has come out of Ukraine.
And also one thing about the food, think Ukraine does have some of the most fertile soilin the world.
And we used to export grain to half the world, you know, and we are actually verystrategic land when it comes to preventing world hunger.
(10:40):
And so we were the top exporters of grain and sunflower oil.
So that's what Ukraine is famous for.
So if you're ever in Ukraine,
I think because of the fertile soil and you're invited for a cup of coffee to somebody'shouse, it's never going to be just a cup of coffee.
It will be a three course meal with food to go.
(11:01):
You know, just in case.
So we are brought up as Ukrainians to feed our guests and to make sure they don't leavehungry and to give them food to go.
So yeah, Ukrainians are foodies very much so.
You know, hopefully when it's safe, you get to visit.
Oh, get ready.
There's going to be lots of food, lots of restaurants and people will try to feed you evenif you are against it.
(11:25):
It's just such a wonderful culture and what such a wonderful country.
What has it been like coming to UK?
What some of the challenges that the Ukrainian community has encountered?
So I'm Reading, born and bred anyway, but my dad came here after World War II and settledhere.
And ultimately it was a community of about 150 families in Reading that were able tojointly purchase this building back in 1968.
(11:53):
And at that time they called it the Diaspora, which was the idea of being displaced awayfrom your homeland.
And to be honest with you, the Putin's invasion has in effect mirrored that once again.
And so this was an important center for that generation.
But we had a Ukrainian school here, which I mean, when the center opened, I was eightyears old and running around in shorts and being a naughty boy.
(12:21):
And we had a Ukrainian school up here.
So on a Saturday, we would, you know, come to the school between about two and fiveo'clock and learn Ukrainian language and culture.
And it did disappear for a while, but then
The Ukrainian school started again 2019 with Alex Selvka, who's the headmistress.
(12:42):
And it essentially outgrew this place because originally they had about 20, 25 kids acrossthe two floors here.
And then, of course, with the displaced Ukrainians coming over, that suddenly grew toabout 70 kids almost.
So very fortunately, I've got to mention Reading Boys School, who were brilliant insupporting us.
(13:03):
I mean, they...
They have the Ukrainian flag flying outside at all times.
And they provided classrooms for the headmistress Alex Starvko to move the school over tothere.
And they've got a much better and nicer facility.
I'm pleased you mentioned the Boys School actually.
So was going to ask you what's it been like, the positive points with coming to Reading?
(13:26):
How have people embraced the Ukrainian community?
What's it been like?
So we've had amazing support from the British community, local MPs, mayors.
I've got to mention Matt Rodder, the local MP who's been so supportive of us.
He's run marathons for us to raise money.
Rachel Eden, the um ex-Lady Mayor.
(13:48):
She even learnt the Ukrainian National Anthem as well.
She's wonderful.
And the subsequent mayors have all been very supportive as well.
So when the invasion broke out and we started to have the displaced Ukrainians comingover, donations from the British community were amazing.
There are photos on the website rucc.uk which show boxes and boxes of donations ofclothing, bedding, medical supplies.
(14:15):
So yeah, we've had fantastic support.
Wokingham Borough Council have been very good as well because they've given us a storagefacility to use in Winnersh.
So we collect medical supplies, we collect dried food stuffs, we collect wheelchairs andcrutches and walking frames because obviously there are injuries amongst the brave
(14:42):
personnel fighting on the front line.
So when we have enough stuff, we'll then either get a four by four and fill that up orwe'll get a van and fill that up.
So.
We're constantly on the go here and say the support to do that has been fantastic.
Well, the first challenge, I guess, is that Ukrainians didn't ask for any of this.
(15:03):
You know, it's absolutely okay to change your life and move to another country.
I'm sure British people have done that at some point in their life when they decided, hey,I just want to live in the US or Australia or in Spain or something.
But it's one thing if you decide and pack your bag and venture.
But it's a very different thing when you had a pretty good life.
(15:27):
and all of the Ukrainians now who are displaced, we grieve for that life because we didn'tplan on living abroad.
It's just the circumstances happen.
If you've got children, you feel like you have to take them into safety.
So the first challenge, I think, is the loss of home, friends, support system, you know,that kind of...
(15:52):
You're in completely new place and you have to start from the beginning.
The second challenge would be the loss of status, if you will, because back home, most ofus were educated in some of the best universities in the country.
had careers, you know, a lot of us were middle management, top management.
(16:12):
When you arrive in a new country, you're not going to get the same level of the job.
You have to start from the beginning.
And if you're in your twenties, that's fine.
But if you are in your forties, and if you are children, so.
That's probably something that people struggle with.
So I think it's the accepting that your life is not going to be the same.
(16:34):
You are grateful for the safety the country provides, but you also have to come to termswith starting from the beginning and kind of being behind your peers, behind women your
age in the UK.
And also we've got about 220,000 displaced Ukrainians in the UK.
(16:54):
Most of them are women with children.
And I think based on the situation today, I'm sure you don't know many single incomehouseholds that are thriving, right?
If you think of single moms and single dads in the UK, nobody's really thriving.
Now imagine a single mom from Ukraine, you know, with lack of language and local educationand all that.
(17:16):
So even if you're safe and your life is more or less, you're okay.
You're still struggling.
to provide for yourself to make ends meet.
Not for the lack of trying, but it's just life and it's not a UK problem.
It's just if you're displaced anywhere you go, it's going to be the same.
Thank you for pointing that into perspective.
So tough.
You spend so long and so many years developing your career and building a life.
(17:40):
And like you said, you get to a certain age or stage in life where it's supposed to bepaying off and suddenly you're starting from ground zero.
It's not just starting from ground zero because of a choice.
It's been taken away from you.
So yeah, it just puts into perspective how difficult it must be.
So on the back of that, what donations, what support do you need?
(18:00):
I think the main thing is job opportunities, hire people, give them a chance.
That's the most important thing if you have a job.
Because all you want is to be able to provide for yourself and your child.
And um I know a lot of people, not just Ukrainians, but British people as well, lot ofpeople are being made redundant these days.
(18:20):
So it's just that job security, I think, is the best thing you can do for Ukrainians, isemploy them.
And that will give them a sense of...
future, I think.
And one of the other challenges is that when I lived back home, I was a citizen.
So all I had to worry about were the bills to pay and career and just sort out family, youknow, problems, stuff like that.
(18:43):
We are guests here with visas that have an expiration date.
And if you look at the end of the expiration date, you're like, okay, so am I going to beasked to leave?
Where do I go?
Because some people have lost their homes, you know, they don't have a home to come backto in Ukraine.
So what happens when the visa ends?
You know, are you asked to leave?
(19:04):
Some people don't have a family to come back to.
You know, it's been three years, marriages fell apart.
Sometimes people don't have a place to come back to.
So that's probably one of the challenges as well that gives anxiety to a lot ofUkrainians, because also when your visa comes to an end, your employers are anxious.
because they do not want to break the law.
(19:25):
They're asking you for the right to work.
Your landlords become anxious.
Like what happens next?
You don't know.
I think one of the major challenges for Ukrainians in the future is we do not have like aclear vision of what's going to happen.
Those are, think, the major challenges, but job security is probably the best thing youcould do.
(19:46):
I was going to ask you about the future holds really for the Korean community, but I thinkyou very clearly put it in.
It's hard, you don't know.
And I suppose it's just good that you have this community center in the middle.
It's so important just to help, just show everyone that the support is there for them asand when they need it.
Yeah, well, you know, I now look at my life, you know, what war has taught me is acceptthe reality.
(20:11):
A lot of times we run away from reality and we try to fantasize about life where we don'taccept what's going on.
The sooner you accept the reality, the faster you can do something about it and change itand have a bit more of control.
So I think Ukrainians now we accept the reality that it is what it is.
We're lucky to be alive.
(20:32):
Our children go to school here and they have a childhood and that's what keeps us going.
The children are able to look at the sky and see a plane and say, hi plane, know, theplane's not there to kill them.
And that's essential.
We take it day by day and we try to do our best with what we've been given.
think it really puts into context, sometimes you can get so carried away with the smallthings like oh your favorite item isn't in the supermarket or something so trivial or the
(21:02):
holiday was canceled or such trivial things in comparison.
somebody missed the bin collection day.
We were like that Ukraine, we were like that before the war when I think about what wecomplained about.
It's a very human thing, know, we're all potholes in the road, our mayor is stupid, youknow, this and that.
This was it was just like we were never happy with anything.
(21:24):
And now we appreciate what we lost because Ukraine was not a perfect country like nocountry is.
But but we were absolutely fine.
You know, things were absolutely OK.
We understand now.
With that said,
Just looking at Reading when I arrived in Reading, I'd like to say that I was impressed bythe diversity.
You have international cuisines and things like that.
(21:46):
But also what impressed me the most about the UK was the number of charities andorganizations where people volunteer and really try to make a difference.
You have Cancer Research, British Heart Foundation, Age UK.
women's aid, know, plenty of organizations for children, just many churches opened andtried to help.
(22:09):
So I know you've got your own problems, you know, in your country and you might be unhappywith some things, but that having so many organizations that are trying to help is a sign
to me of a relatively healthy society.
Because if you're looking after those in need, that's a very, very good sign.
So I was impressed by so many organizations in Reading.
(22:33):
It's pretty symbolic when you are dealing with cruelty from Russia, from your neighbor,with absolutely barbaric behavior.
And then you come to another country and you meet strangers and they're kind.
So that really helped us.
And I'll never forget that.
I'll be forever grateful to the UK for that, for the kindness that they've shown me and mychild specifically, and the teachers at school and the teachers in the nursery.
(23:01):
It's so heartwarming and it shows you that humans have always been like this.
Wars have always happened sadly, but we only survived as a human race because there werepeople who said, no, this is not okay.
And they were kind and they tried to help.
I'm so pleased you've had a good experience since you come here.
mean, it doesn't counter any of the challenges or any of the bad, but it can certainly,like you said, help make a fresh start.
(23:27):
is there anything you'd to leave our listeners with today?
Apart from don't get worried about your bins or the potholes, there are bigger things inlife.
No, you do.
You have the right.
You have to.
It's your life.
You have the right to be upset about what's going on.
You know, we're joking about these things, but also just like appreciate what you have.
You know, you have the right to be unhappy and complain about certain things andabsolutely improve your life and hold your MPs and council accountable.
(23:53):
Yes, but appreciate what you have.
Definitely.
If you have family members with you in the same country and you can hug them and talk tothem, appreciate that.
If you have a peaceful sky.
You can just go on a picnic and enjoy with your family.
Appreciate that because that is so important.
Peter, what do you think?
Any final thoughts you'd to leave our listeners with?
(24:15):
Again, for me, I'm Reading, born and bred, so I'm as British as anyone else.
I've always been proud of my Ukrainian roots.
If any positives have come out of Putin's invasion, it's meeting these new people like Iraand becoming attached to my heritage a lot more and being prouder of it.
(24:36):
Not that I was ever not proud of it.
So if you'd like to come and meet us, yes, and chat with us.
We are participating in the Heritage Day September Festival, September 20th.
The community center will be open to the public.
So you can come, we'll have workshops and lectures and things like that if you'reinterested in the Ukrainian culture, architecture.
(24:56):
You're more than welcome to join us September 20th for Heritage Day.
Can I just end on a few words from one of my favorite Ukrainian poets?
So her name is Lesia Ukrainka, she's from Ukraine and um she's got this poem that's calledin Latin Contras Pempero which basically means I am hoping without hope I'll say a few
(25:21):
lines in Ukrainian and then in English so people understand So Contras Pempero
Yes, I'll smile indeed, through tears and weeping, Sing my songs where evil holds its way.
(25:45):
Hopeless, a steadfast hope for ever keeping, I shall live.
You thoughts of grief go away.
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