Nadezhda from Nikolaev who believes that when it comes to helping others, Ukrainians could learn a lot from Bulgarians.

Before the war began, Nadezhda worked as an economist in a state enterprise. Now she works in a garment factory in Stara Zagora. Ksenia started first grade in September 2021, just a few months before the war started. She already speaks Bulgarian and has been accepted to a Bulgarian school.

“We didn’t know where we headed to at all. If it wasn’t for the help of the people who welcomed us literally from the first hours, it would have been very difficult,” says Nadezhda.

When we ask her what her dream is, she answers with bated breath:

“Oh, now the main thing is not to cry… Like all Ukrainians, we want peace.”

As she takes a breath, Ksenia says:

“To go back to Ukraine, to welcome the new year in Ukraine, in our homeland.” Nadezhda adds: “Now comes Christmas. We have always celebrated this holiday all together, with our family. I really want to see my sister who is also in another country, I want to see my husband! This is something we desire every day.

In Bulgaria, I was mostly impressed by the people, people with big hearts. We Ukrainians have a lot to learn – this is a very big lesson for us, and we should take this skill of helping people back to Ukraine.

This chain of people that helped me, it was amazing how they showed up right when and where I needed something.

I know that many of the other Ukrainians are struggling, and I try to help them as other people have helped me. Without supporting each other we would not be able to exist normally. I know that the girls in Mineralni Bani have problems now, they are left without food, that’s important… there are also pregnant girls, they need help. We stick together and help each other!”

Check out the full interview with Nadezhda here (the subtitles are in Bulgarian).

Read the rest of the stories as well:

Nadia, with the never-ending dream of becoming an Olympic champion
Diana on how much the illusion of normality helps
Natalia from Herson who wants her country to be the best in the world
Natalia, the volunteer from Kyiv, who is happy that she can be helpful to others
Ekaterina from Odessa, who wants everything to be as it was before
The cobbler who now helps in a kitchen and says that Bulgarians actually like Ukrainians
Natalia from Kramatorsk, whose home was destroyed but still dreams of returning back
Katya, who we brought to tears by asking one naive question