For the two brothers, the morning of February 24 began with a roar and the cries of their sister and father: “The war has started!” Chaos reigned in the large family home in one of the southern regions of Ukraine. While the older brother rushed to fuel the cars, waiting in kilometer-long queues, the younger brother could not accept the idea of leaving, arguing with his father that he would stay with him. Ultimately, the tears of his little nephew, who begged him not to stay and die, and his father’s insistence, forced both brothers, along with their sister and her children, to set off into the unknown.

Their journey to the border with a neighboring country was full of challenges: a flat tire, driving in the oncoming lane to bypass traffic jams, and a tense farewell with their father through a fence at customs, who had tricked them into leaving with a promise to catch up. They managed to cross the border only thanks to the cleverness of the older brother, who, having been born abroad, was able to negotiate with the border guards.

After a few days in the neighboring country, where the fear of the war spreading was palpable, the family decided to travel further into Europe. This journey proved to be even more difficult. At the train station in the capital, they faced blatant discrimination: bus drivers refused to take them, and they had to pay double for their tickets. The journey lasted 40 hours, during which the driver also demanded extra money from the Roma, threatening to leave them on the road.

Upon arriving at their final destination, the brothers, along with their mother who had arrived from another European country, went through refugee camps and eventually settled in a small room in a dormitory. The most joyful moment was the arrival of their father a year later, who had driven 2000 km alone by car to reunite with the family. This meeting became for them a symbol of the return of strength and the feeling of home.

Gradually, life began to normalize. The family received immense support from a local religious community, which helped with housing and integration. The brothers began to learn the language, the older one got married, and the younger one found a job. Having adapted, they themselves began to actively help others: every Friday, their mother cooks meals for anyone who wants one, collecting donations that are then sent to help children in Ukraine. The family also organized the collection and shipment of large batches of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, becoming an example of mutual support and resilience.