When friendship knows no borders
When war broke out in Ukraine, Zurich Spain employee Araceli Cordero encouraged her friend Mariia to leave Ukraine and come to stay with her in Madrid. “You just get here, and we’ll take care of the rest,” said Araceli, and true to her word, that’s exactly what’s happened.
By Tim McMahon
Araceli and Mariia first met in 2001. “I had just given birth to my son Carlos and needed a nanny so I could go back to work,” explains Araceli. “I met Mariia through a mutual contact who was helping Ukrainians find work in Spain. I liked her immediately. Her face had a special light to it and my gut feeling was to give her the role – so I did!”
It turned out to be a great move. “She lived in our home for the next two years and helped me,” says Araceli. “For the first month, I taught her some basic Spanish, let her get to know Carlos, and showed her what I needed help with. She was brilliant; honest, hard-working, and kind – I loved having her around. She was a huge help for me at that time in my life and we became very close friends.”
When Mariia’s mother passed away unexpectedly in 2003, she returned to Ukraine for the funeral and ended up staying. “We remained in touch, through regular letters, photos, phone and video calls. We watched each other’s lives unfold and got to know each other’s children and relatives – albeit from a distance.”
A big decision
That distance was reduced in March when Mariia and her family came to live with Araceli in Madrid.
“When the war started in February, I said to Mariia, ‘come to Madrid’. But her husband and son needed to stay in the country to help with the war effort and she didn’t want to leave them.
However, as the conflict moved closer to her home in western Ukraine, Mariia and her family made a tough decision: she would head to Spain with her daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. “They hoped it wouldn’t be for long but felt it best to leave until the situation was resolved.”
Her son drove them to the Polish border, where they made their way to Warsaw. “I have Polish friends here in Spain whose family live in Warsaw, and Mariia's daughter-in-law has a friend there as well,” explains Araceli. “They met up with Mariia and helped her purchase tickets to Madrid.”
They booked the cheapest flight available, which saw them first fly 4,800km to Tenerife and then straight back 2,000km to Madrid! “By the time they arrived, they had been travelling for three and a half days. They were so tired, but when Mariia and I saw each other, emotion took over – we burst into tears and just hugged each other. I was so happy to see her and relieved they were safe.”
A helping hand
Since arriving, Mariia, her daughter-in-law and grandchildren talk every day with the family back in Ukraine. “At first, we all thought they would be in Spain for a few weeks, or maybe a month – I mean they turned up with one suitcase of clothes for four people!
Luckily, Araceli has been helping her friend out. “We’ve registered them with the Spanish government and given them a place to stay. My family knows Mariia from 20 years ago and love her as much as I do. Right now, my uncle’s house is empty as he is in a retirement home, so he is letting them stay there.”
Araceli is covering utility bills, while additional humanitarian support from the Z Zurich Foundation to Mariia and her family makes a huge difference. “Words cannot describe how thankful I am to the Z Zurich Foundation - their support helps Mariia and her family so much.”
Life goes on
In the four months since arriving, everyone’s paperwork and medical coverage is in place, the family is learning Spanish, and the grandchildren have started school. And while they are incredibly thankful to everyone who is helping them, it’s hard to fully integrate or find work without speaking the language.
“Every day there’s a new challenge,” says Araceli. “They may need to talk to teachers, doctors or potential employers and can’t get their point across. I’m there whenever I can be - it’s a big help if I can translate for them.”
Despite the danger, Mariia and her family are heading back to Ukraine. “Mariia’s husband is unwell, and her grandchild needs to sit an exam at school that could allow him to study biology at university,” explains Araceli.
“Plus, her daughter-in-law, who is a professional violinist, has been chosen to be a part of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra that is touring Europe and the U.S. this summer, with all the proceeds from the various concerts going to Ukrainian refugees – so it’s a huge honor for her.”
“Our big hope is that peace will soon return, concludes Araceli. “I love Mariia very much. I understand why she needs to go home, and she knows that my door is always open to her and her family if she needs it.”
