New job, foreign country: How Ukrainians find a new home in Germany

Created: 04/08/2022, 22:02

By: Sebastian Tauchnitz

Colleagues stand together: The three refugee nurses from Ukraine have already learned one thing in the past few days - at the Weilheim-Schongau GmbH hospital, no colleagues are left out in the rain when there is an emergency.

© Sebastian Tauchnitz

Many Ukrainians come to Germany fleeing war and destruction.

In Weilheim she supports the hospital GmbH.

You get a roof over your head, work and a lot of warmth.

Weilheim-Schongau – The second day at the new school.

In a new country, with a new language, new curriculum, new classmates, a new home.

Because Putin's bombs are falling at home in the Ukraine war.

There is no question that Anna Harnyk's little daughter has a lot to deal with.

But where it is particularly dark, a small light shines all the brighter.

The new bank neighbor, whom she met the day before here at the middle school in Weilheim, pushes her a note that she drew herself.

“Welcome” is written in Ukrainian.

And: "Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

Ukraine refugees: No recognition of vocational training without German language skills

While her daughter makes new friends and learns her first words in the new language at high speed, Anna Harnyk sits in a conference room at the Weilheim hospital.

She has been working here for a few days, initially as an intern.

Probably from today then as a "nurse in recognition".

It will take time for the official process to come to an end.

The recognition is only given when the nurse can prove the appropriate language level.

At home in Ukraine, she was a specialist, working in a private surgical clinic in the CT, MRI and X-ray departments.

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But that doesn't matter now.

You can learn German.

They are here, Anna, her little daughter and her mother.

Her older daughter is studying in Slovakia.

They didn't want to leave, says Anna, and you can see that she finds it difficult to talk about it.

But her husband, he didn't want to be talked to, reports the 44-year-old.

He sent her away.

To Germany, safe.

Objection futile: Her husband sent her, her daughter and her mother away, reports Anna Harnyk.

© Sebastian Tauchnitz

Her friend, whose name is also Anna, has been working in the Weilheim hospital for several years.

She said: Come here, these are good people who will help you. She didn't promise too much.

At Hospital Weilheim-Schongau GmbH, they have always taken special care of their employees, have the necessary structures and experience in solving problems.

You can read all further information on the Ukraine war and its effects in Bavaria here on our Ukraine refugees topic page.

In the company, Udo Heymings manages the apartments that the hospital GmbH has rented for its employees – 47 in Weilheim alone.

Thilo Rudloff, nursing manager on the "Innere", coordinates their occupancy.

You only had a few days.

You used them.

Anna Harnyk and her family have a furnished apartment, a refrigerator full of food, and the opportunity to earn their own living.

Ukraine refugees: Hospital in Weilheim offers many a chance

And not just her.

Almost at the same time, Inna Trachenko arrived in Weilheim with her family.

The two older ones, Nadja and Jaroslava, are also already at school, the little tomboy Alexander, whom everyone only calls “Sascha” by his nickname, sweeps through the conference room.

Because they have three children, their husband Juri was also allowed to travel with them.

They come from Kharkiv, right on the Russian border.

A city as big as Munich, just a few weeks ago the center of science and higher education in the Ukraine.

Today, most of the buildings are in ruins after the Russian continuous bombardment.

We all want to say a very big thank you for the warm welcome here in Weilheim, for the help and support we've had over the past few days.

That helps us a lot.

Inna Trachenko

Ukraine refugees: You have to start from scratch

Inna cannot talk about the escape, Yuri reports how they were shot at and lived in constant fear until they reached the border.

You can tell he wants to be strong for his family and look ahead.

At home in the Ukraine, he was an electrical engineer, his Inna worked in the intensive care unit.

Here they have to start all over again.

She has a job at the hospital GmbH, he is looking for one.

But the fear is gone.

Usually.

Only when the ambulance drives by, when planes fly over the city, then suddenly everything is there again.

All news and stories from Bavaria can now also be found on our brand new Facebook page Merkur Bayern.

This goddamn war that they thought at first would be over soon.

It will take time to process what happened.

But the family, at least they are together.

The whole life in two suitcases.

Yuri and Inna Trachenko and their family could not take more with them on their flight from Kharkiv to Germany.

© Sebastian Tauchnitz

Ukraine refugees: The new colleagues are doing their utmost

Kateryna Balandiuch is alone in Weilheim.

Her family is still in Lviv.

"Every night there is a bomb alarm there, I'm terribly worried," says the 23-year-old.

She also had a friend who was already working in the Weilheim hospital and who paved the way for her.

A small apartment was organized for Kateryna in downtown Weilheim, and she can count on the full support of her new colleagues.

But nobody can take away her worries.

Her family is still in the war zone.

Kateryna Balandiuch is very worried.

Day after day.

© Sebastian Tauchnitz

Nevertheless, the employees of the hospital GmbH, above all the nursing director Anne Ertel and her deputy Sandra Buchner, leave no stone unturned to make the start of their new colleagues as smooth as possible.

Sunday evening there was a first German course for the children at the Ertels' living room table. A German teacher from the high school has agreed to teach the new nurses several times a week.

"We've already gained a lot of experience with an international college," says station manager Thilo Rudloff.

All of the new colleagues from the Ukraine will work together on one ward – a little bit of home away from home.

In addition, the duty roster is structured in such a way that, in case of doubt, there is always someone who can translate.

Ukraine refugees: looking for a roof over their heads

These are nurses like Lydia Anselm from Peißenberg, who is doing the translation this morning together with a colleague.

But that's not enough for the young woman, who has been working in Weilheim for two years.

She wants to help more.

This week, she reports, her cousin and her friend from Kremenchuk in southern Ukraine are due to come to the district.

With a total of four children between the ages of five and 18 years.

"I'm urgently looking for accommodation for the six people," says Lydia Anselm.

You can't wait any longer: "Night after night in the bunker with the children - it can't go on like this."

Night after night in the bunker with the children - it can't go on like this.

Lydia Anselm

Meanwhile, the colleagues in the hospital are obviously happy about the reinforcements that are already there.

Above all, however, about the fact that they can do a very small part to alleviate the misery in Ukraine and to welcome the refugees here.

The employees of the intensive care unit were just raising money.

500 euros were collected, from which the newcomers can now get what they urgently need.

Refugees from the Ukraine: People in the Ukraine also know about the willingness to help

But what if others also want to help?

"We don't need any donations in kind," says Thilo Rudloff.

Anyone who really wants to help can simply put a voucher for the respective shop on the tape next time they go shopping in the supermarket and then hand it in at the hospital reception.

By the way, word has already got around in the Ukraine how helpful the employees of the hospital GmbH are.

"My cell phone number is apparently already being exchanged among nursing staff there," says Sandra Buchner.

It is quite possible that more refugees from the Ukraine will soon find a new, safe home for themselves and their families thanks to the hospital GmbH.

You can find more current news from the Weilheim-Schongau district at Merkur.de/Weilheim.