Austria 22 Gala
Yesterday was a huge change from my usual days (and nights). An honor to be recognised for the collective work we are doing to support Ukrainian refugees in Austria.
The backstory is actually rather interesting. In April, I was helping at the train station, splitting my time between translating at the ÖBB ticket desk and distributing the first Hofer cards to Ukrainians in Austria. Many of the families I was meeting with to hand deliver cards were living in the dorm in Vienna’s 11th district, where they were being fed food that looked like prison slop. I shared some of those photos online, and it aroused some interest in local journalists. One of them, from Die Presse, a conservative-leaning daily newspaper in Austria, met me at the train station and interviewed several Ukrainian women living in that dorm, with yours truly as the translator. It took a few hours of my time. The article never came out in the form I had hoped for (to the best of my memory). I remember at the time being slightly annoyed; as a former freelance translator I know translation also doesn’t usually come for free. And the hours I spent on that were hours I wasn’t helping refugees directly. Anyway, lesson learned, I made a note to myself to encourage journalists to find interpreters before they start interviewing. Not to expect the volunteers to be the interpreters. I expressed my thoughts, and moved on. Months later, I received a message from the same journalist — I had been nominated for Austrian of the year in the Humanitarian Engagement category. My first thought was of course “but I’m not Austrian!” to which I was told that’s ok, we discussed it internally, everyone decided it’s not a problem.
The top three of five nominees in the Humanitarian Engagement category, based on public voting, were all awarded €10,000 cash prizes. The awards were presented by the head of the Austrian lottery. A very generous award and in our case it will buy 200 more Hofer cards. I kept thinking about my waiting list the whole evening. 52. Open my phone. Another 7 messages. 59. Cannot read them until the morning. Wake up at 6am to check them again. Decide to go into negative territory to deliver 4 more cards today, hoping the €10,000 check will arrive soon. Because when you receive messages like this, and then participate in a gala evening like last night (it was phenomenally well organized and very, very classy), it messes with your head.
You just can’t make sense of it.
I spent the evening in awe of the other nominees, with a huge case of imposter syndrome, and also looking around the room, and I will be totally honest — I kept thinking about the dorms. I kept thinking about all the Ukrainians who cannot afford to eat a balanced diet in the wealthy country where they have taken shelter. I felt terrible eating the delicious roast beef and fancy beetroot (beetroot!) appetiser. I looked around me at the beautiful dresses and suits and shoes and jewels and wondered what we could do if each person pulled €100 out of their pockets.
All of you have helped us get this far. You have all helped along the way. Without your collective generosity, I would never have delivered a single Hofer card. But I cannot help but think: what if the state did its job? What if NGOs delivered aid more swiftly and effectively with less red tape? What if wealthy people really did more to help those in need? So you’ve got those thoughts spinning in your head, and then you have to dress up and try and play the part — it was very much an out of body experience.
I ordered my dress from designers originally from Kharkiv now in Vienna. I found them on Instagram. I went to an apartment in Vienna’s 3rd district, they tried to squeeze me into a size S (that was hilarious!), then took my measurements, called in an order to Kharkiv (“as long as Russia doesn't attack today should be fine”), and 10 days later my gorgeous made-to-order dress was in Vienna. For a price far less than I would have paid in a shop for a made-to-wear gown.
My hair and make-up were done by a young stylist now also in Vienna, with her mother, who is an expert dental lab technician. Her mom makes those teeth they use for implants. 30 years experience. Had her own lab in Ukraine. Is now working for an hourly wage that would make you scream (€1200 per month) in a lab in Vienna. Because she cannot sit still. Because she wants to work. So much so that she does this knowing full well it is not a fair price for her talent and experience and knowledge. The stylist is now travelling around Europe, doing hair and make-up for Ukrainian stars performing in benefit concerts. She is soon off to Paris for a month. It was the most wonderful experience. She arrived with an entire suitcase of equipment and high end make-up and calmed me down and made me look like me — only better.
My hair was coloured by a Ukrainian single mom of three who used to own two salons in her home city now trying to survive here on €1400 per month salary for a full time hairdressing job. Also not exactly fair. My nails are done by a beautiful and talented young woman originally from Donestk oblast, near the Russian border. She now works in a Vienna salon. You get the idea. So much talent, so much passion, so many lives destroyed and now trying to rebuild themselves, despite all the challenges, not losing hope. Moving onwards.
I wrote a little speech which I did not deliver, as the winner was by far the woman who deserved the award the most. Hanife Ada was physically abused by her husband and father of her children for years. She came close to taking her own life. She survived all of that and built an organization which helps woman escape from violent partners. She gave the most wonderful acceptance speech. She was crying. Her kids were all crying. I was crying by the end. When she talked about the €10,000, she reminded me so much of what we are doing to help Ukrainians — she listed €4,200 — the price of a new wheelchair for a woman in Ankara who was thrown out a fourth floor window by her husband. I know she has in her head the breakdown of how she will spend every Euro of the prize money. I know what grassroots feels like. I was so, so happy that she won and received the recognition she deserves for doing the hardest work, the emotional labor, the phone you never turn off. She said that too, and I nodded along. I get it. She gets it.
My little speech is below. I am now back to my envelopes, my Telegram messages, my jeans and hoodie, my deliveries. I will go to a dorm this afternoon. I have a worrying message in my inbox about a Ukrainian mother whose two-year old child was removed from her custody by the authorities here and she has no information for over a week. I have been supporting a woman whose mother died this week, in part it seem due to an in-hospital accident. The circle of life continues. Refugees give birth in Austria. Some elderly die in Austria.
I cannot even imagine. If everyone in this world had only 10% the emotional strength of the average Ukrainian woman, the world would be a much, much better place. I am in awe. I am humbled by their words of thanks. I am anxious when the €10,000 check will hit the bank. I worry about the winter. I worry about the kids. I worry about the old folks. You don’t stop worrying. At least, I can’t.
In early March, I received a message on Twitter. Go to Wien HBF. They need Russian and Ukrainian speakers. Ask for Masha.
Off I went. And since that moment, my life changed forever.
It began with buying coffees and sandwiches and medicine and hotel rooms and translating at the ÖBB kassa for Ukrainians travelling onwards to other destinations in Europe.
In April, I started to distribute €50 supermarket gift cards to Ukrainians in Austria, realizing that refugees living here amongst us don't have enough money for food.
I never could have imagined it would be October and I would still be doing this.
Huge thanks to Mario Zechner of Graz who "digitalized" us, building the Cards for Ukraine website, taking over the admin so I could focus on what I do best: working and texting directly with Ukrainians in need.
Huge thanks to the many wonderful volunteers I have met and collaborated with along the way.
Where the state has often failed, Austrian civil society has come to the rescue. Our program would not be possible without the huge generosity of ordinary people from around the world.
Thank you in the name of the thousands of Oksanas, Irynas, Tatianas, and Nataliias and their children and aging parents I have met along this incredible journey. Living all over Austria, from Vienna to tiny villages in Carinthia and Tirol. So grateful and inspiring in their perseverance despite incredibly challenging circumstances.
€10,000 buys another 200 Hofer cards. 200 more Ukrainian refugee families will put €50 of groceries on their tables. Our waiting list is always long, even though we only deliver one card per family, one time.
Thank you. It is a huge honor, especially as I am not an Austrian citizen!
Slava Ukraini.
Here are some photos from the event by Die Presse and a brief article here. ORF was filming a lot of it, but it looks as if it won’t be aired until late in the evening on October 26, Austria’s national holiday.
Just about to hit “publish” I receive an email on which I am cc’d. A German living in Austria for 40 years, horrified by this government’s inaction on refugees and other social matters, sending €100 to a family from Mariupol on their way to Canada. Brought a huge smile to my face. That is what this is all about. People helping people. A buddy system. Making these human connections. Those who can help, do, because one day we might be on the other side. One day we might need to be the ones asking for help.
Last night there was a lot of talk about climate change and green energy, and yes, the war was mentioned, but more in the context of “it is on our doorstep” not “it could happen to us”. It could happen to us. It could happen to any of us. In a moment, your life can change forever. No one in Kyiv or Kharkiv in early February thought it could happen to them, either.
Thank you for reading and for your continued support. And for your votes!!! Your votes generated a much-needed (and hopefully paid out soon) €10,000. DANKE!
I cried throughout reading this! I cried for joy-I know how much this means to you; to the work you have adopted --or has the work adopted you? I cried for all those people whose lives are upended and will never truly be the same, but your efforts and the efforts of all of us may get them to a place where the same is transformed to a stronger and more resilient same--if this makes sense. I am so proud of what has been created; for what you do. I will always support the cause; I will always be connected to the Ukrainian community through you, with you. For this, I can never put a price on; I have forever been gifted a responsibility. thank you Tanja, from the bottom of my heart. There I go crying again...
“Imposter syndrome”??!! I almost showered my iPad with coffee when I saw that.
You’re the real deal, Tanja. I’m so glad you got some official recognition. You’re a hero to me and thousands of others.