"I didn't want to work as a cleaner just because I'm a foreigner." An interview with Viktoriia Lytvynenko about her new home in the Czech Republic and more.

Viktoria arrived in Prague with her son six years ago in response to the rising tensions in the Donetsk region. Recalling her first weeks in the Czech Republic, she says she felt lost. She speaks of the difficulties associated with finding work and the mixed feelings about her new environment. Among other things, the Slova 21 New Home project, which offers a helping hand to holders of international protection, helped her find her way. Today, Viktoria passes on her experience with migration and finding peace far from home at the organization InBáze, helping people in the same situation she found herself in six years ago.

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You arrived in the Czech Republic six years ago, before the full-scale conflict broke out in Ukraine. What were your first impressions of your new home?

Yes, I arrived six years ago. But it is important to say that I am from Dnipro, which is close to the Donetsk region. So, we were heavily affected by the initial conflict in 2014. We all knew that war was coming. And that is why I am here. As for my impressions of the new place? We had visited Prague a few times before. But my first feelings were like: "Why am I here? What am I doing here? What will I do here, and why do I need all of this?" I think we were all a bit lost.

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Why did you ultimately choose the Czech Republic?

Mainly because it is close. It is a two-hour flight. And also because Czech is a Slavic language. It feels closer to us, as do the culture and mentality. And also because my son wanted to study a technical field at CTU. He was interested in robotics and participated in various competitions... So, I supported him in choosing this location.

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What were the biggest obstacles for you in the Czech Republic?

Perhaps finding work. I didn't want to work like all the other foreigners. I didn't want to clean just because I was a foreigner. I was looking for opportunities to do something else.

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Czech is a Slavic language, but how did you overcome the language barrier at the beginning?

I learned the language simply through communication. As soon as I arrived in the Czech Republic, I moved within the Czech community. All my neighbors were Czech. My son also went straight to a Czech high school, and all his friends were Czech. So, that played a big part in my learning.

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I understand that those first weeks in the Czech Republic were not easy. But is there anything from that period that you remember fondly?‍

That relates to the Czech community. From the very beginning, I felt like they accepted me. We arrived during the first week of Advent. I remember that fondly. Our first month here felt festive, like a holiday. It was Christmas, and Prague was beautiful...

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How did your son handle the change of environment?

He was fifteen at the time. I wouldn't say it was easy for him, but it wasn't terrible either. He could still stay in touch with everyone online. It was a bit difficult because of the COVID pandemic, which made it an uncertain time. But other than that, I don't recall any major obstacles.

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How did the New Home project help you during that period?

I joined the New Home project as part of our integration. Every asylum seeker received an offer from the Ministry of the Interior to participate in an integration program. It was a good experience. It covered the legal basics. I was also in contact with a social worker, which helped me a lot because I didn't have a laptop, and they helped me get one. They helped me with anything a foreigner in the Czech Republic might need. So, it was a positive experience.

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Today, you help out at InBáze yourself. What exactly do you do?

I work as an intercultural worker. Right now, that mainly means administration and organization. I handle the administration for courses, such as the qualification course for social service workers or the basics of intercultural work. I also provide basic information to foreigners regarding employment, business opportunities, and similar matters.

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You mentioned that foreigners in the Czech Republic often work well below their qualifications. Is this a problem you address at InBáze? ‍

Yes, we deal with that a lot. Most of the women who arrived after the war began didn't know what would happen next. Perhaps they didn't even want to work because they felt they would return home soon. But now I see them looking for regular jobs, getting their diplomas recognized, and taking retraining courses... So, the situation is definitely improving.

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Do you now consider the Czech Republic, at least in part, your new home?

‍I still don't feel completely at home here. Probably mainly because I can't go back to Ukraine. On the other hand, I have friends and a support system here. Even so, I can't say I'm one hundred percent at home. Maybe ninety. But I definitely see my future here. That has a lot to do with my son, too. He will certainly want to stay; he is happy here and wants to continue his studies.

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This interview was created as part of the New Home in the Czech Republic 2024–2026 project, co-funded by the European Union.