The Story of Yuriy from Luhansk, Who Found Shelter in Kharkiv | ALLIANCE.GLOBAL
23.09.2024
Yuriy's life journey is a story of unbreakable human spirit in the face of constant trials.
Born in Luhansk 51 years ago, he doesn’t remember his parents. Yuriy’s earliest memories are associated with the Nadezhda Krupskaya orphanage.
“Uncle Vasyl often took me horseback riding when he went to get supplies for the institution. These rides are my warmest childhood memories,” Yuriy recalls with a smile.
But there were dark moments too: “One nanny called me a ‘devil’s gypsy,’ and often beat me on the heels with a plastic doll for any childish mischief.”
Youth brought new challenges.
“At a young age, I started to like my male classmates.”
“I didn’t understand why I had such an affinity for boys. I kept these feelings to myself, fearing bullying from my peers,” Yuriy confesses.
After school, he entered medical college, but studies didn’t go well. Dropping out in his second year, he started working at a machine-building plant in 1990.
“I worked at this plant for 24 years as a machine operator,” he says.
Fate had new turns in store. In 2020, Yuriy moved to Lysychansk, where he worked as a timekeeper. And in 2022, the war forced him to seek refuge in Kharkiv.
Here began the darkest period of his life.
“I got a job at the Barabashovo market selling hot meals. The salary was very low, the work was hard, especially during cold periods of the year,” Yuriy recalls.
He barely made ends meet, often moving to cheaper rented rooms.
Finally, in the cold November of 2023, Yuriy found himself on the street. “I was forced to live in the open. The only advantage of working at the market was that I could eat for free.
“I was afraid I wouldn’t survive this winter,” he shares painful memories.
But even in the darkest night, a ray of light appeared. “At the market, I had a regular customer – a seller named Pin. He gave me a sleeping bag. It was the best gift of that time,” Yuriy remembers gratefully.
Fate intervened again, this time for the better. A chance encounter with a kind stranger led Yuriy to the doors of ALLIANCE.GLOBAL in Kharkiv.
“I met with Vasyl at the ALLIANCE.GLOBAL office. He told me about the organization’s services, gave me certificates for food and hygiene items, and most importantly, directed me to the shelter administrator,” Yuriy recounts.
At the shelter, Yuriy found not only a roof over his head but support and understanding.
“It’s an amazing place, cozy, people are friendly and kind-hearted. They fed me, gave me clean bedding, towels. Now I have a home,” he shares, his eyes shining.
Today, Yuriy looks to the future with hope again. He attends events at the shelter and community center, receiving necessary assistance.
“Thank you ALLIANCE.GLOBAL, UNAIDS, Vasyl, Mykola, everyone who helps me and other people. Thanks to you, I can plan my future again,” Yuriy says.
Yuriy now lives in the ALLIANCE.GLOBAL shelter in Kharkiv. He attends support groups, learns new skills, plans for the future. But most importantly – he is no longer alone. At ALLIANCE.GLOBAL, we constantly collect such stories from our guests, but publish only some of them. If you also belong to the LGBTIQ+ community and need support – find it here: https://linktr.ee/lgbti.consortium
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