From escaping war to leading community projects in Surrey, Ukrainian volunteer Natalia Maievska shows how resilience and kindness can turn loss into purpose.
BY FRANCESCA RAPISARDA
When Russian missiles rained over Kyiv on 24 February 2022, marketing director Natalia Maievska woke to the sound of distant explosions. “I immediately knew it was war,” she recalls. “But for almost an hour I lay there convincing myself it might be military exercises or thunder.”
For Natalia, life in Ukraine’s bustling capital had been full, a successful career in marketing, raising her teenage daughter, and the normal rhythms of city life. “Every project brought a new challenge, a new story,” she says. “My work taught me responsibility, creativity and, above all, never to give up.”
But when the full-scale invasion began, everything changed overnight. After weeks of uncertainty and danger, Maievska and her daughter fled first to western Ukraine and, in June 2022, arrived in Britain through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
“Starting life over at fifty, in a new country with a new language and rules, was not easy,” she admits. “But I’ve learned that if you don’t give in to fear, anything is possible.”
A New Beginning in Surrey
Settling in the UK was both a relief and a challenge. “It was an incredibly difficult decision,” Maievska explains. “I had never planned or dreamed of living abroad, I was happy and successful in my own country.”
Her gratitude to Britain and its people is profound. “We were very lucky to meet two wonderful British families who helped us during our first year, with paperwork, housing, my daughter’s schooling and finding work. They welcomed us as part of their family, and that kindness will stay in my heart forever.”
Drawing on her background in marketing and events, Natalia soon found purpose in community work. What began as small acts of volunteering evolved into a network of seven Ukrainian women now leading charity and cultural initiatives across Surrey.
Seven Women, One Mission
“We are seven ordinary Ukrainian women who simply cannot stand by,” Maievska says. “Each of us has her own story, her own path, her own pain.”
Among them is Dasha from Irpin, who survived two weeks under occupation, and Iryna, who fled Kharkiv with her elderly mother. “We all have different professions, banking, teaching, law, business, but what unites us is one goal: to support Ukraine.”
Together, they began organising charity events, from commemorations marking the anniversary of the invasion to Christmas concerts and fundraising walks. Their efforts have so far raised over £21,000 for Ukraine Mission UK, a volunteer-led initiative providing vital medical aid to frontline areas.
“For us, it’s a powerful example of how ordinary people, Ukrainians and Britons together, can achieve extraordinary things,” Maievska says proudly.
Supporting the Helpers
Natalia speaks with deep admiration for the Ukraine Mission volunteers based in Guildford. “They are my heroes,” she says. “People without offices or big words, just pure dedication.”
Founded by local residents moved by early images of the invasion, the group has since delivered defibrillators, stretchers, and ambulances to Ukraine. “Every two or three months, they personally deliver humanitarian aid, often to frontline areas. They risk their lives to help those who need it most,” she says.
Moments of Kindness and Connection
Natalia’s memories of their early events are filled with touching moments of solidarity. At their first charity gathering, she remembers a local Lions Club team appearing “like a film scene” setting up tents and equipment just before the start. “We felt so supported and safe, it was an incredible feeling of community and kindness.”
Another time, when their Christmas carol performance lacked a printed programme, a local design agency stepped in at the last minute. “They stopped everything to help us, and later came to watch our show,” she says with a smile. “Those moments stay with you.”
But what moves her most are the quiet exchanges with strangers. “When British people come up to us, give us hugs, and say, ‘We’re praying for you’, that heartfelt compassion gives us strength. It’s what keeps us going.”
The Spirit of Volunteering
For Natalia and her group, volunteering is not just an act of service, it’s part of their identity. “Volunteering is deeply inspiring, yet it asks everything of you, your time, your energy, your heart,” she says.
Each of the women defines it differently: as love, gratitude, compassion, or faith. “For all of us, volunteering isn’t a duty, it’s a feeling,” Maievska reflects. “It’s about belonging, purpose, and identity, not only as Ukrainians, but as human beings. Above all, it’s about hope through the darkness.”
Resilience and the Women Who Hold the World Together
Natalia draws strength from other Ukrainian women she calls “the light of our nation,” among them Tata Kepler, founder of The Quiet Project, and Marta Levchenko, who runs The City of Goodness shelter for women and children.
“Ukrainian women today are holding the world together, even when they themselves can barely hold on,” she says. “They have faced unspeakable suffering but have not fallen into despair. They’ve transformed pain into compassion and light.”
She hopes British readers will see reflections of their own resilience in these stories. “Wherever we are, we all hold the world together in our own way.”
Looking Ahead with Hope
Two years after leaving Kyiv, Natalia still dreams of going home. “I’d like to return when it’s safe,” she says quietly. “The war has changed everything, the country, people, even ourselves. It will be a new challenge, but I’ll be home.”
Until that day, she and her team continue their work in Surrey, turning empathy into action, one event at a time. “I’d love to wake up one morning and not read the scary news,” she says. “Just go to the window, drink coffee, and live an ordinary life, the way people in peaceful countries live, often without realising what a great gift peace really is.”
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