Ukrainian students help create Kamloops community resource map for compatriots fleeing invasion

KAMLOOPS — Community resource mapping is a valuable tool for helping connect people to services, assets and other people.

This summer, a pair of Ukrainian summer students teamed up with a TRU Social Work professor to create a map of resources for fellow Ukrainians. They hope the map will be a useful tool for other Ukrainians in Canada after fleeing the Russian invasion of their homeland.

“With the war expansion, many Ukrainians are coming after February 24,” Dr. Sasha (Oleksander) Kondrashov explains. “That [map] now becomes more essential for people who are new to Canada.”

Yana Hulak is one of two students who signed on to come to Thompson Rivers University last fall to take part in a research internship through a non-profit called Mitacs. However, when Russian dictator Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it complicated things.

Dr. Oleksander (Sasha) Kondrashov (middle, holding flag) with Yana and Sofiia to his right. (Image Credit: Yana Hulak}

“We decided to adapt our project to the new reality — to the new needs of Ukrainian newcomers who are coming here,” Yana explains. “We decided to create a map — a place that would allow any Ukrainian who is in need of some place to find it more easily.”

As newcomers to the country and community themselves, Yana and Sofiia were uniquely qualified to understand what resources would be valuable on such a map. Yana says this project was a way for her to help make that transition safer for the millions of Ukrainians fleeing the war.

“We realized we were in a safe space [in Canada], we’re in a safe space now. I don’t feel safe because my family is still there, and I’m, just worried about every single Ukrainian,” Yana explains. “At least I can have a safe place to develop different projects and to help Ukrainians here.”

In Kamloops, both Ukrainian churches have been included, as well as a Ukrainian dance troupe. While many resources are listed right across Canada, there is a continued need to add to the map.

“We still need to continue building that map, because unfortunately there are so many people who need that support,” Sasha says. “It’s millions of people who are displaced in a very short period of time — one-third of the population of Canada, 12 million people.”

Resource mapping like this is important for identifying assets for newcomers to our community. However, there are greater benefits for those involved.

“Resource asset map is critical, but it’s the people connection that makes it feel a little bit like home,” Sasha says. “That makes a big difference.”

“That’s something that makes me feel like I’m home,” Yana says. “I’m extremely grateful for that.”