A Christmas Miracle for the Family from Odesa
Finding safety during a time of war: family’s story
After fleeing Odesa to escape the ongoing war, family from Odesa faced uncertainty and unimaginable challenges. Yet, through the support of USPUK and a compassionate sponsor, they found refuge in the UK. This heartfelt journey of resilience, hope, and community is nothing short of a Christmas miracle.
In their Own Words
"Hi, kids! Let me tell you a story about how we got a chance to start over in the UK. Grab some milk and cookies because this is a real Christmas fairy tale. :)
Once upon a time, an evil dictator decided to invade our beautiful and peaceful Ukraine. Our family tried to adjust, to keep living our lives and running our business. But it’s impossible to get used to missiles flying over your head and ballistic strikes hitting the city center.
So, we packed a few bags and left for the unknown. After all, walls can be rebuilt, but family is the most precious thing in the entire world.
We moved onto a friend’s couch and started thinking about our next step in this new reality. And that was when the real magic began!
I got a message from Nadiia, saying she wanted to talk to us about our UK visa application. The first magical coincidence? Her name means ‘hope’. I called her with no expectations because when I filled out the application form months ago, I was told there were 2,000 people on the waiting list and only 5 available sponsors. For a family of four, the chances seemed impossibly slim.
But Nadiia told me they did have a sponsor for us. For all of us! A real sponsor! And if we wanted, we could speak with her and make our dreams come true.
So, we talked. We loved everything we heard and saw, and we started the process.
Then even more miracles began to happen! Nadiia not only helped fill out all the forms but also explained every stage of the process to us. She told us that she had secured the last four slots to apply for visas—and the deadline was incredibly close: it was the next day.
We went to the visa center fully prepared. Our forms were filled out correctly, and we applied, expecting to wait 3–4 weeks as we’d been told.
But Nadiia gave us hope that it might happen sooner. And she was right! We got our passports back in just 1 week! It felt like magic was guiding us every step of the way.
Once again, we packed our bags and headed to the UK. There, we met our warm-hearted sponsor, who took such amazing care of us from the very beginning. She even decorated our apartment with a Christmas tree and gave us presents for each family member.
So, kids, it took us only 2 weeks from Nadiia’s first call to our first peaceful night in the UK.
I want to say a huge THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to the entire USPUK team, and especially to the amazing, hope-bringing fairy Nadiia. Thank you for making our dreams come true!
Stay safe, and always keep hope in your hearts. Miracles do happen!"
You can make a difference
At USPUK, we support not only Ukrainian families on their journey to the UK but also the generous hosts who open their homes to them. From the moment they register on our website throughout their hosting experience, we are here to help.
If you’d like to help someone on their journey to a new beginning, consider becoming a host today. Visit our Become a Host page to learn more.