March 17, 2014
Ukraine
Caritas of the Archdiocese of Prague cooperates with the Ministry of Interior to provide social assistance to patients treated within the MEDEVAC project. Coordination of the work is ensured by SVĚTLANA PORCHE, the director of the Migration Center. We asked her for an interview.
How is Caritas involved in the project organization? Did you have to hire a large number of external employees?
No, we have hired very few people, only one social worker on a contract and several interpreters. All social and coordination work is provided by long-term workers of the Migration Center. One colleague of mine, Irena Adamenková, was also born in Ukraine. All Ukrainians that work on the project, including many volunteers, are united by the idea of helping our country. We all have motivation to do something for our homeland.
During the coordination of social assistance, do you have opportunities and time to meet the injured in person?
My main role is to organize the social assistance. In order to coordinate the work, it was necessary to address each patient, ascertain their needs. When the wounded come, we preferred personal communication. We did not use any interpreter. Every one of us who spoke Ukrainian or Russian got involved.
What did the first days of the Ukrainian MEDEVAC project look like?
First of all, they were completely different compared to the Syrian, Libyan or Cambodian MEDEVAC projects. The course of this MEDEVAC is unique. Usually, when patients come, we start our social work with them followed by the phase when volunteers get involved. Here, this was impossible. Since the beginning, there was such interest in various organizations and persons to visit the wounded and to help them that we had to react “on the fly.”
Media reported about the arrival of the patients before the project was approved by the Government.
Yes. A lot of people were immediately ready to help. The Ukrainian community is one of the largest in the Czech Republic, and the highest number of foreigners among all regions is in Prague. There are Ukrainian doctors, nurses, other medical workers, and cleaning ladies working in Czech hospitals. Since the very first days, many visitors came to the patients. Many parties got involved, some of them cooperated as they knew each other previously, some not. All of them had good intentions. No one considered that this could negatively affect processes in the hospital, visiting hours, treatment of the wounded, and well-being of other patients.
Our task is to mitigate the problems, to try to explain to everyone that it is nobody’s intention to break any rules. Our common idea is clearly so great and strong that this enormous unity and solidarity of all parties emerged.
Who are these parties you mentioned?
They include Ukrainian and Czech organizations as well as individuals. There are both Ukrainians and Czechs. There are people from various social classes, including a cleaning lady and a scientist. Everyone would like to contribute with something. Someone would like to touch the heroes and thank them for supporting the idea that they also have in their hearts. Someone would like to express sympathy with the wounded. Someone would like to help in a concrete way. I have not experienced such an extensive help – physical, spiritual, material – during any MEDEVAC project.
How would you describe the wounded?
It is a very diverse group. The age span is considerable. The oldest one is more than 60 years old, the youngest one is not even 17. Someone is from a village, someone from the capital; someone from a higher social class, someone from a lower one. The shared ideal was not followed by just one social class.
Could you describe the type of wounds by that affected the patients?
Pain plays an important role in the Ukrainian MEDEVAC project. There are wounds that cannot be imagined by people living in a time of peace until you see them. Many wounds were inflicted by firearms. You meet for example a man that looks healthy, he does not seem to have any complications. When he shows his body beneath the T-shirt, you see he was hit by five bullets in lungs, stomach, legs. For me, the whole MEDEVAC project is exhausting, but also enriching. I thank God that I can be a part of this all.
I assume that you follow the events in Ukraine.
Almost the whole day, I work with people and I am involved in hospital affairs. Someone’s health status improves, someone else might not have the same luck. One is in a good psychological state, one not. There are many aspects to the work that have to coordinated, planned, sorted out.
Of course, when I come home or when I wake up, I immediately turn on the computer, radio or TV to find new information. The style of news is different in the case of Western, Ukrainian, and Russian broadcasting. They represent the same information but with different subtext.
From your point of view, how will the situation in Ukraine further develop?
I cannot anticipate that. The situation has not been solved yet. When someone asks me this question, I ask that everyone pray or at least to think positively. At the moment, the most important thing for me is to see how the idea materializes here on the spot, how many people are connected by it. When I enter a Czech church, I hear people praying for improving the situation. The same thing happens in Ukrainian churches. I think that this is the most important aspect. To think about it and to send positive energy.
Where does your family in Ukraine come from?
My family comes from the Northern Ukraine, from Nezhin, about 150 km away from the capital. I spent several years in Kiev before my departure to the Czech Republic. I studied there and my last years in Ukraine are connected to these places of turbulent events.
So you have some friends there…
Yes, I have a lot of friends in Kiev. The places that were affected are the same where we used to meet. I returned there every time when I visited Ukraine during the last years. These places are very important to me.
How long have you been living in the Czech Republic?
For more than 15 years now. One begins to contemplate. I came originally to remain only one month, I did not plan to stay. I was writing my dissertation at the Kiev University, I already had my plans.
What was your reason to leave for the Czech Republic?
My husband-to-be worked here. He also did not want to stay here permanently. He came just for a limited time in order to earn some money for our flat in Ukraine. I came because I loved him, there was no other reason.
What was your situation at the beginning?
The first five years I worked in a factory in České Budějovice. Then I found a work in a local Diocesan Caritas office. I went through the same path as many Ukrainians in the Czech Republic or elsewhere. Ukrainian people with university degrees cannot count on finding suitable work unless they learn the language and their degrees are recognized by the state. And even then, a lot of luck is needed. The fact that I passed the Czech state language exam and succeeded to have my education recognized would not mean anything without God’s will and the help of people. A big word of thanks and esteem go to all my supervisors in Caritas in České Budějovice and in Prague for the fact that they trusted that I will succeed.
The MEDEVAC Ukraine is surely a unique project among others of the Migration Center – due to its extent and significance. Will this experience change the Migration Center?
I am convinced that every client shifts us further. I cannot say that the MEDEVAC program is any different in that respect. Nevertheless, it is true that it broadened our horizons, in cases of issues that have not been present in similar projects so far. Personally, I have to say that no MEDEVAC project has ever enriched, strengthened, and exhausted me at the same time like this one.
