Stories of Impact
Natalia’s Story: A Heart for Helping Others
November 4, 2024
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Natalia arrived in Ireland from Ukraine in May 2022, she now works as a locum accommodation manager in Tipperary and is a volunteer EMT with the Irish Red Cross. This is Natalia’s story.
“From the start, when we came to Ireland, people welcomed us. The Red Cross were the first people I met. They were helping at Shannon airport and were chatting away to me. When I got a place in a convent in Templemore, I was told to find my own way there, but the people from the Red Cross were so nice, they brought me to the convent.
When some members from the Roscrea branch, Fiona and her father John came to visit the convent to give us things to help get us started, they asked if I wanted to join. I said I’d love to. I felt so grateful for the way I was welcomed into this country, I thought I’d love to give something back to the community.
I thought the Irish Red Cross just help with a crisis, a war, flooding, something big. So for me, it was mostly for fun in the beginning, and I thought, I’d be able to help if something came up. But it turns out that the Red Cross is all about medical support as well. I started learning more and more skills; I got my first aid, CPR training and I’m an EFR. Then Fiona asked if I’d like to become an Emergency First Responder.
I thought, I could try, but I didn’t know if I had enough English to learn all the medical terms, it was very hard in the beginning. She told me we’d have a mock exam, so I wasn’t nervous at all. Then at the end of the mock exam, she told me, ‘Congratulations, you’ve passed, you’re an EFR!” It was real!
I love to talk to patients and make them feel comfortable, I think loving words are the best helper! And then they go away happy, with a smile and I feel like I‘ve helped. It’s a great feeling.
I wasn’t going to do Emergency Medical Technician training, as everyone said it was really hard and if you have it, it’s a lot of responsibility. But when another Ukrainian lady said she was going to do it, I felt kind of jealous! At the same time, I was working with refugees, I became a manager at the accommodation in the convent. It’s a great set of skills to have because I work with older people and with kids. And if anything happens, I know how to react.
So I started working on it and it turned out, the other Ukrainian had said no! On the day of the exam, I said to myself, if I pass, I pass, if I don’t, it’s fine. I got 92%, I was very, very happy!
We do lots of duties with Irish Red Cross, events like sports events, car rallies or horse racing, so I get to use my skills which is great. We have fun and you meet lots of people. Though every time we go on duty though, I always feel, “Oh please God, I hope nothing happens.” But it is great to know you have the skills to help people.
I love to talk to patients and make them feel comfortable, I think loving words are the best helper! And then they go away happy, with a smile and I feel like I‘ve helped. It’s a great feeling.
I really want to give something back to the community. I want to involve Ukrainian people so they can integrate too. So many people thought this war was going to end in six months. It’s been more than two years and we’re still here. I said to the Ukrainians in our accommodation, you have to integrate, we did the Tidy Towns, we got involved in the church, I’ve joined the Lions Club.
I never thought I was going to end up in Ireland, I came here for my son and my daughter. Now I have a job here, a place, my husband came and we’re finally all together. My son was able to do his Leaving Cert, and he got a place in university. I really love Tipperary, the people are very nice here. And maybe I could become a paramedic. I am 45, but it’s never too late – not in Ireland!”
Part of our Ukrainian Stories collaboration with WeAct, originally published on their website.
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