Deaf Ukrainians provide updates during war

Callie Frye, Daily Moth Reporter:
It has almost been two years since Russia invaded Ukraine. I’ve been thinking about the Deaf community in Ukraine. We reached out to Olga, who we interviewed two times in the past, for an update. We also interviewed the president of the Ukrainian Society of the Deaf (UTOG).

[interview begins]

You’re now a Ukrainian refugee in France for more than a year now. What has your experience been like from the beginning to now? Emotionally and financially.

Olga Cherednichenko: My experiences as a Ukrainian refugee in France were not easy for me. In the beginning, it was chaotic and far from perfect. Things are better now. It was hard at the beginning but it is better now. Things are not the same as before. It’s not easy. But as a refugee, I can understand others because we have similar experiences. When I first came, it was not easy at all. I had many bad dreams. I wasn’t my usual self. How has my life been as a refugee? As a refugee, I received financial assistance. In the past, it was better, but after several months, it has reduced. It is difficult and things are not “okay” or easy. We do have free food that is provided on a weekly basis. It is difficult to rely only on financial assistance. It is better to find a job. There are many Deaf people who have found jobs, but not all of them.

Iryna Chepchina: I am the president of the Ukrainian Society of the Deaf. My name is Iryna. This is my sign name.

Callie: Iryna.

Iryna: This sign name came from my mother, who is also Deaf. She gave me a similar sign name.

Callie: That’s so sweet.

Can you share some of the effects from the war on the Deaf community in Ukraine?

Iryna: On February 24, 2022, we were stunned by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. So many people had to flee and move to Europe, Canada, and Japan. A higher percentage of Deaf people went to Europe because it is closer. About 6,000 of them left Ukraine, including 712 children. They went to Poland first and then moved elsewhere. Germany now has the majority of Deaf refugees. France is second, followed by different countries.

Olga: Deaf Ukrainians, due to the war, are no longer a close-knit community. They are spread out. Some want to go to France or to Germany. It’s very spread out and it’s not a positive thing.

Iryna: There are also Deaf people who are internally displaced. They went to areas in Ukraine where there is no fighting, such as Lviv. About 9,000 Deaf Ukrainians moved there. They didn’t want to go to Europe because they preferred to stay in Ukraine. There are also those who do not want to go anywhere and decide to stay in their home cities. There is a decreasing amount of Deaf people from cities impacted by the war compared to cities that are still “normal.” There are about 30,000 Deaf Ukrainians in the country.

Callie: Tell me about some of the work that UTOG has been doing.

Iryna: The UTOG is a smaller organization nowadays, but the work continues tirelessly. We work with 22 regions. Each has presidents and interpreters. They also have (Ukrainian sign).

Callie: What is this sign?

Iryna: They are advocates, those who help people who have various problems, such as writing things.

Callie: I understand.

Iryna: I am very grateful to those who work in this organization. Some of them are very committed to the work and it is helpful to the regions. It is impossible for one person to do this. It requires teamwork to make the work possible. I’m grateful to the interpreters, advocates, the regional presidents. From the first days of the full-scale war, UTOG focused on sharing information. This is critical because the Ukrainian president doesn’t provide interpreters during his addresses. Military officials also don’t provide interpreters during their speeches. So the UTOG has accepted the responsibility to film interpreters after the speeches conclude. During the next day, we will release side-by-side videos. We have done this for two years. This work of providing information is important for Deaf people. The second is with the government and those who oversee issues with disabled people. We work in collaboration to provide food and medicine. The third area is with refugees. We keep track of who is leaving. The fourth is food distribution. We have a growing number of Deaf volunteers. It surprised me. During this time of war, Deaf people have stepped up to help in various ways. During the past winter, when there was little electricity, we got help with portable light devices. We got heating devices. It’s a lot of help from the world, who supports Ukraine. I am so grateful.

—-------

[Sponsored video from Convo: www.convorelay.com]

———

Callie: How are deaf children getting an education because some deaf schools were targeted or hit by missiles, especially in eastern Ukraine?

Iryna: Before the war, Ukraine had 57 Deaf schools. Right now, there are 43. Schools in the eastern part have shut down. It went from 57 to 43. Two schools were impacted. The children moved away to western Ukraine, like I explained before. 771 Deaf children are in Europe and studying at Deaf schools there. There are fewer and fewer Deaf children in Ukraine. Teachers in Europe are working with Ukrainian schools through the internet. The children are getting an education in Europe and also from Ukraine. For schools here, they have to be at places where there are underground shelters. If there are bombs, the children can find refuge. Teachers say the work is difficult because it is virtual and the children are suffering psychological stress. It’s a big problem now. Teachers are working in tough conditions.

Callie: Do you have anything you’d like to add?

Iryna: I am very grateful to America for its support of the Ukrainian government. The help with weapons. I am so hopeful that Ukraine will win the war.
[interview ends]

Callie: Thanks Olga and Iryna for sharing your experiences and thoughts. Your resilience is inspiring, and please stay safe!