Singing, dancing, laughing or even glasses banging. The celebration was great this Sunday for the Ukrainians welcomed in the Village of Draguignan. At the initiative of the team that accompanies them every day, a solidarity Christmas lunch was held in the refectory of the Lycée Léon-Blum.
A moment of sharing that allowed the 77 Ukrainians to celebrate the nativity scene, despite the concern for their families who remained in the country, and to celebrate the chain of solidarity that was activated to welcome them.
“It was out of the question not to do somethingsays Sophie Meunier, head of the team that accompanies and advises these exiles on a daily basis and thus favors their integration. It’s a gathering time and we had to mark the occasion for them and allow them to breathe a bit.”
For this an agreement was signed and the teams of the Village, the CCAS and all the people welcomed were able to prepare this meal from Saturday in the kitchens of the establishment, before being able to fully enjoy D-Day. “The meal is a cold buffet that mixes Ukrainian and French culturecontinues Sophie Meunier. So there are twelve Ukrainian dishes, a local tradition, and thirteen desserts, as usual in Provence.”
All in all, something to enjoy.
“I help them as best I can”
Sophie Meunier took the floor to launch the celebrations. Sentence by sentence. Immediately translated by Bakhtier Kuseynov, who prefers to call himself Bakha. He is one of three artists in contact with Ukrainians. “My grandmother is Ukrainian but I am Tajikspecifies the 1940s. I’ve always had a disgusted look at Putin’s policies, so when war broke out I immediately wanted to get involved and help the Ukrainians.”
Because Bakha was not predestined for this role of performer. “I was working as a project manager to create medical softwareexplains the one who has only recently learned French and whose arrival in France only dates back to 2019. I’ve been there, so I help them as best I can.”
“We are present almost every day, we facilitate exchanges between the CCAS team and the refugees but also for appointments with social workers, doctors, the prefecture”chase Bakha.
“A Blessing”
Next to her is Olga Marochko. After several months spent with a host family in Cannet-des-Maures, at the end of August she joined the Village of Draguignan with her 11-year-old daughter Polina. A shock for mother and daughter, originally from Dnipro in central Ukraine. “It was the first bombing near our house that made us flee.he says in almost perfect if hesitant French. I didn’t want my daughter to experience the horrors of war.”
“This meal is a blessing, it allows us to forget the hasty departure and what is happening in the country, he feels. My husband stayed in the countryside, he takes care of preparing…” He stops, hesitates, then turns to Bakha and says the rest in Ukrainian. “Prepare medical equipment for the military”Adds.
Celebrations and laughter punctuated this meal. Hanna Nikitina, a 25-year-old Ukrainian, also sang several Ukrainian and French songs, for everyone’s enjoyment. Present with their families, the members of the group received a warm acceptance speech in French on behalf of all. “Thank you all for the help you give us. Thanks to you, we feel safe.”
