Three weeks ago, I was invited to a meeting as an "expert" to an extraordinary panel for the Ukrainian refugee situation in this city of Netherlands. As pleasant as it was, it was still a massive surprise to me. The invitation came out of the blue, and to be fully honest, if I had know a panel was being put in place I wouldn't have taken part as I do not consider myself an expert at all.
All I know is "Thrive! Not just survive."
In all my efforts, I've simply tried to make the lives of the Ukrainians in the city a little better. In return, I've not asked for any support, subsidiaries, benefits, or even credit. I know what it feels like to lose your home, career...basically your entire life. I am a victim of the invasion also. I, too, have lost my career, house, business, and a lot more.
I strongly believe that all the initiatives I took to make my fellow Ukrainians lives a little less difficult got noticed. And that's how my name came up as an "expert" to represent the Ukrainians in the city. The goal is to move to a more long-term plan, and brainstorming is needed.
Today, was the second meeting.
Throughout the last 3 weeks, I've gone around to the different locations where Ukrainians are placed and conducted small interviews. I would say a lot of the findings were as expected but there were a few that came off as shocking.
Among them was the distrust in the city council and the hesitancy to make any sort of comments. The distrust, especially in people who have been here for around or more than a year, stems from the numerous disappointments from the city council's side. The hesitancy stems from the fear of the quality of life becoming even worse if one complains. I can objectively see that neither part is to be blamed. There's a lot of psychological and social issues that create these problems.
Today, we focused on all what he had found from the different interviews done. Some did a couple, others found ways to ask a plethora of Ukrainians. We went deep into different topics, finding obstacles, and proposed solutions.
The planned 4 hour long session seeped into a little longer than 4 and a half hours. There's just way too much to tackle. It is hard to condense everything into a few hours and tackle them quickly.
Unlike last time, we divided each other in groups and deligated different themes to different groups to save on time. People were everywhere. Opinions all over the place. But the goal was the same.
We had a short break like last time with plenty of tea, juice, fluids, and snacks to refuel on. Last time I couldn't enjoy the refreshments because I was fasting. This time I couldn't enjoy them because I was busy framing my approaches.
My main aim was to stay as objective as possible. My strategy was to have an analytical approach to the different challenges and guide them into a practical form that can be dealt with.
But that's not the case with everyone, is it?
I saw a lot of bias. It is also not easy for everyone to let go of their subjective view and focus on their problems. We aim to solve the major and minor problems of the Ukrainian community as a whole. Anyone who expects their specific challenges to get tailored attention might be missing the bigger picture. Also, I wasn't a fan of "magical" solutions some came up with. Nonetheless, these smaller and subjective issues were also given ear. After all, we are just 1% of the total number of Ukrainians in the city - and many more could be facing such issues or there might be a place where a magical solution could work.
Towards the end, after most of the discussion and action plans had been created we had presentations. A total of 4 presentations were done about the 4 major problems the Ukrainians are facing in this city along with proposed solutions. Representatives of the city council were present to hear these presentations and raised questions when appropriate.
Finally, the elections.
For the upcoming meeting with city council, stakeholders, and so on, we held an election. Only 2 people would be part of the main meeting and presentation from this 1% representation of Ukrainians.
I got elected.
I'm now a representative of all the Ukrainians in this city for at least the next strategic session.
Now this was a bigger surprise. I DID NOT expect...at all...to be elected as a representative for the entire community.
The weight of responsibilities just became heavier. I know I have the right intentions, the right aim, even the most objective and analytical view among the entire group. But I'm still very surprised.
.....and a little sad.
Not long after the meeting, all the congratulations, and the short breifing about the strategic session I heard the few words that broke me into pieces.
"I'm not happy with the decision. You're not a Ukrainian, and you shouldn't represent us. You're just a foreigner."
I know what these words mean. It's not my first rodeo with a narrow-minded discriminatory person. It is discrimination that holds society back. If only they understood. I know the selfish and envious feelings they have when they say me these things. Like I said, it's not my first rodeo with discrimination.
But it especially hurt because of the person who said it. This person has first-hand experienced and enjoyed the benefits of my initiatives. This person also knows what I've been through. She knows the many things I've done for the Ukrainians. She knows what I've lost just as much as many of others have. She knows that I've used all my skills to help Ukrainians since day 1 of getting here. Yet she said it.
I know the majority here would call me as their own before they would call her as their own. Just because I have a different skin colour does not negate my intentions, my actions, my love, and everything I do for the people here.
I'm very enthusiastic. I'm excited. The future seems bright. I take the utmost pride to represent the Ukrainian people. And I will do my best to reshape their future for the better.