CONTRIBUTION

How she came to live in this house

Yuliia was leading a peaceful life with her husband and two sons in Mariupol. She worked as an employee in a managerial position, and her family lived in an apartment with three bedrooms in addition to a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. However, their life changed drastically following the outbreak of the war. She and her sons evacuated to an underground room, stayed there for a few days, and then escaped from Mariupol by car. On their way, they had some difficulties, such as the failure of the car's radiator, but she decided to keep going, partly reflecting advice from a member of the military. Passing through multiple checkpoints, they took buses and airplanes until they arrived in the Netherlands. Her husband joined them later but was permitted to have only short-term visits in the first one year. They therefore communicated with each other by using WhatsApp and video conference.

After arriving in the Netherlands, they initially lived in temporary housing renovated from a former school building. In that building, they shared a kitchen and a bathroom with other residents, but it was conveniently located close to facilities needed in everyday life. Later, they moved to the current temporary housing, which was designed for families. This home was allocated to them in a draw. The home is smaller than their previous residence, with her sons sharing a room. However, Yuliia expresses her joy, saying "I feel as if I have won the lottery."

How she feels living there

"Having a safe place called home, with a roof over our heads, brings us the ultimate peace of mind," says Yuliia. They felt that they have settled down in the place soon after arriving there, and Yuliia and her older son soon found jobs. Her younger son resumed studying computer science and created his own space with a gaming chair and high-speed internet access. "His environment is perfect," says Yuliia with a smile. She wants to have a stable job and their own home in the Netherlands in the future. She also has a desire, "I want a home which I can decorate with potted flowers instead of cut flowers." Finally, she gave us a message, "Please cherish what you have now and enjoy your life."

How she came to live in this house

Julia and her daughter, Dahlia, used to reside temporarily in De Oase, a former bank building located in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel. However, this facility was not appropriate for long-term stay. It was therefore decided that they would move to Harmonie, new evacuation housing where they can lead a more independent life. The name, Harmonie, was given by one of its residents. It consists of 41 apartments designed with a capacity of around 130 people in total. Each apartment has a private kitchen and bathroom, helping residents live independently.

How she feels living there

Since they moved to the new residence, Julia and little Dahlia have been working hard to build their home. Julia seems to be happy with her new living environment, saying "Fantastic!"

The opening ceremony of the evacuation housing was held on December 18, 2024, with the attendance of local residents, local company representatives, the mayor, assembly members, and press people, among others. Traditions of the Netherlands and Ukraine were integrated in the ceremony, which included ribbon cutting and a Ukrainian custom of letting a cat go into a new house first.

Harmonie was constructed with financial assistance from the government, and residents who work pay their living expenses. In addition, the environment around the buildings was improved in consideration of local residents' concerns.