A Perthshire family who have opened up their home to three refugees from Ukraine have spoken of the difficulties faced ploughing through paperwork and negotiating bureaucracy.
But the family has praised Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine (TASH), which has given a mother and her two young daughters boxes filled with clothes, bedding and other goodies to welcome them to Scotland.
Crieff couple Ena, who is originally from Ukraine’s Odessa region, and husband Keith didn’t hesitate to help when a friend from Ena’s school days got in touch to see if she knew anyone that could provide sanctuary.
However getting the family to Scotland was not a smooth process.
Ena said: “The process was a challenge and it took a long time. It took longer than anticipated to complete the paperwork.
“You have to do a separate application for each person, even if it is a mother and daughter, and it is a long application form.
“We also didn’t know how to make an appointment for the biometrics in Prague, where they stayed for a while. It wasn’t really clear how to make an appointment until I started playing around online and eventually found out how to do it.”
Ena’s guests left their homeland in March as the Russians began their invasion.
The family hadn’t been abroad before and had to travel through Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic. They eventually arrived in Scotland on May 17.
Ena’s guest, who had to leave behind her husband of 25 years and 25 year-old son, said: “Many people would like to come here but the visa process is just too complicated, and there is a long waiting time so not everyone is able to come.”
They were dealt a blow on the final leg of their journey when they were forced to ditch many of their personal possessions at Prague airport because they were exceeding the baggage allowance. Winter clothes and books, violin music, toys and a memory blanket that were links to home for the children all had to be abandoned.
Ena said that everyone who receives a welcome box from TASH is very appreciative and you can see the love and effort that go in to each one.
She added: “They are so grateful and you should have seen the kids’ faces when they opened the boxes. It was like Christmas for them.”
Ena’s guest said they were particularly touched by the handwritten messages of loving kindness that were included in the boxes. She added: “We really appreciate it. All the volunteers we have met on our journey from Ukraine have been amazing. It was all very organised and pleasant for us.
“We are very thankful to TASH and we are very thankful to the Scottish people for the opportunity to be here.
“But, we are very worried for our family that have stayed in Ukraine and for the future.”
