Anna: “Thanks to JRS Europe and FHC, my children receive tutoring from volunteers and attend meetings for teenagers. the staff there are very friendly and always offer support with various issues.“

 Displacement experience 

Until 2022, I worked as a financial calculations specialist in an energy company. In our town, the war started at 4 o’clock in the morning, I was home alone with the children. That day, they hurriedly left the town, we left for the village, there we heard shooting all night, so in the morning we drove on, towards Slovakia. I left on 25.2.2022. I was on the road all that time and lived with the children (boy 10, girl 11)  in the car.  

We arrived in the town Šaľa, they helped us to settle into an apartment there. The owner of the apartment didn’t even take money from us for accommodation and the volunteers helped us with the food. But there were long queues to get the documents. 

Encounter with JRS 

attempting to live our lives in the intervals between air raids. However, in July 2024, we came back to Slovakia, arriving in the city of Trnava. Ukrainian acquaintances added me to a Telegram chat called “Ukrainians in Trnava,” and that’s how my integration began. 

I first came to the Family Help Centre to celebrate Independence Day. After that, I started attending various meetings at the FHC, and since February, I’ve been taking Slovak language courses. Thanks to JRS Europe and FHC, my children receive tutoring from volunteers and attend meetings for teenagers. We really enjoy visiting the FHC; the staff there are very friendly and always offer support with various issues. 

Integration and future 

The Family Help Centre and activities supported by JRS Europe plays a significant role in the integration process. It supports language learning and organises interesting events. At the Family Help Centre, we can always receive psychological support and advice for life’s challenges. Thanks to the meetings here, I’ve found friends and acquaintances who share my interests. 

I feel very accepted into the Slovak community and in the FHC. They gave me the opportunity to lead the club for teenagers, and I am very glad for it. I received a lot of help, and now I can give a little help too.  

Regarding the future, our family has decided to live in Slovakia for the next five years. I plan to learn the Slovak language to at least a B2 level. I would also like to obtain a certificate from a confectionery course and open my own business. 

JRS is working together with the Xavier Network, the Society of Jesus in Europe, local civil society, and NGOs in a coordinated Jesuit response. Together we help thousands of people like Anna. You can read more about The One Proposal at: jrseurope.org/en/project/the-one-proposal/.