A West Lothian woman who grew up in Belarus and lived in Ukraine for five years is fighting to match refugees with sponsor families in Scotland.
Katerina Lisenkova said there are already “tentative matches” but the visa process is so complicated it will prevent many refugees from finding a home with local families.
Katerina also said she is using her language skills and knowledge of the system to connect families.
She also urged people to consider becoming a sponsor to Ukrainian refugees fleeing from the Russian invasion.
Katerina said: “There are extensive networks trying to match people.
“It’s unclear how long we will have to wait for phase two of the scheme when the government/charities will do matching and so people stepped in to do this job themselves. It’s amazing how everyone is trying to help.
“The sponsorship visa is too complicated. It asks for documents people on the run would not have (e.g. proof of residency before December 2021).
“You have to fill in separate application for each child. And if children do not have an international passport you have to go to a visa centre and apply in person.
“It’s unnecessary complications which cuts off a large number of people
from using this scheme.
“But human kindness and ingenuity is limitless and we are muddling through.”
Katerina is urging people to visit UkraineTakeShelter.com, an independent platform helping to connect Ukrainian refugees with potential hosts and housing.
She has been in constant contact with her loved ones in Ukraine and has been helping send money over to help the “many friends” she still has there. She said the war has severely affected her and her family.
Katerina said: “I lived in Ukraine for five years and have many friends there. This war is horrible and affects me on many levels. I’m in constant contact with them. I provide them with support and spread information.
“Here I’m organising fundraising and share with people information from the ground. I think people’s stories can be more powerful than news reports.
“Because I have local connections, I prefer to send raised money to people on the ground.
“It will help buy an electricity generator for a blood transfusion station, or to Mariupol City Council for humanitarian needs.”
Katerina and her husband Liam and daughter Alina held a fundraiser for their neighbours in Linlithgow, calling it Borsch for Ukraine.
They invited everyone to come along and try the traditional Ukrainian beetroot soup called borsch, raising £700.
Liam made 13 litres of borsch while Katerina made gingerbreads decorated in Ukrainian colours.
She continued: “My next project is Easter eggs for Ukrainian kids.
“I’m planning to start fundraising under a slogan ‘Get one, sponsor one’ for each Easter egg that I sell for a donation I will make one for Ukrainian kids. Money as always will go to Ukraine.
“We are also going to register for the new scheme to sponsor a refugee to come to the UK.
“At the moment I’m talking to my friends who are still in the country. If they decide to stay (many don’t want to leave the country), we will express general interest and hope to be matched.”
For more information on how you can welcome Ukranian refugees, visit UkraineTakeShelter.com.
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