The war has forced many Ukrainians to start their lives from scratch — in new countries, cities, and roles. Anastasiia is a volunteer with the HelpNow HUB team and a regional representative in the Czech Republic. She lives in Prague with her son and speaks openly about the experience of forced displacement, adaptation, searching for stability, and about topics that are often silenced — living with HIV, self-stigma, and the need for up-to-date information and support.

— Anastasiia, could you tell us a bit about yourself? Where are you from, how long have you been in the Czech Republic, and where do you live now?

— We are from Ukraine, from the Donetsk region. I currently live in Prague with my child. We arrived in the Czech Republic in the summer of 2022. The first months were extremely difficult — both emotionally and in everyday life. I only spoke a little English, everything felt scary, and after the shelling my child became very anxious and was afraid to stay without me.

At first, we were sent to a dormitory in a small industrial town — the conditions were very hard and completely unsuitable for living with a child. Later, we had to move again and search on our own, because free housing involved long waiting times and rental prices were very high. Eventually, we moved to Prague, where I found better living conditions and finally a kindergarten for my son. In smaller, industrial towns this is a real problem.

— What was your path of adaptation like: work, childcare, everyday life?

— At first, I started learning Czech, and at the same time I found my first job — cleaning in a hotel. I often took my son with me because he couldn’t stay without me — he had strong anxiety, attachment issues, and fear. After completing Czech language courses, I still couldn’t find a job in my field, and I realized that I wouldn’t be able to continue like this for long — neither physically nor psychologically.

Later, I saved some money and decided to study manicure and pedicure. I worked in a salon for two years. And then everything began to fall apart. My husband and I divorced while living apart, my child experienced bullying at school, and at work it was very hard — from early morning until almost night, five to six days a week, while my son was often with a nanny. That’s when a deep reassessment of values happened. I decided to start everything from scratch.

— You often speak about responsibility and inner change. What was the turning point for you?

— War puts everything in its place very quickly. Illusions collapse instantly. You realize that material things are not the most important. Life and health are. I had a period when my health declined significantly — I was losing consciousness, completely exhausted. And then I clearly decided: I no longer want to live in a constant mode of running and fighting.

I started learning a lot — reading books, studying psychology, taking courses, working on self-development. And I came to the conclusion that I want to connect my life with helping people — because I know what it’s like to feel scared, ashamed, in pain, and to have no one who can calmly explain and support you. But the world will not hear us if we remain silent.

— You openly address the topic of HIV and the stigma around it. Why is this so important to you?

— Because it is still a taboo topic. So many people are afraid to speak. They hide, feel shame, think they will be hated or rejected. And this destroys people from the inside.

When I learned about my HIV status, I encountered specialists who were not very empathetic — I didn’t feel support or trust. There were situations where I was treated as if I were dangerous: distance, gloves, multiple masks. I would leave feeling like I was “different” or “dirty.”

That’s why I want to be the person who can say to someone else: “You are not alone. Everything will be okay. The most important thing is not to stay alone with this, not to remain silent when you need advice or answers, and not to make dangerous mistakes. There is always a solution.”

— You mentioned that there was a time when you stopped taking therapy. Why did you decide to talk about this?

— Because I know how it can end. At a certain point, I believed people who deny treatment and even the existence of HIV, and I stopped taking my therapy. After some time, I started getting seriously ill — one illness after another. I was hospitalized, and my test results were very poor. Only then did I return to therapy and slowly begin to recover.

It’s important for me to say this out loud not for “drama,” but to warn others so that someone doesn’t repeat this experience. Especially if a person has children and loved ones who depend on them. I personally know many people with very similar stories. I may not know “the perfect way,” but I know for sure: don’t do it like this. Because I lived through it myself.

— How are people living with HIV generally treated in the Czech Republic? Do you see a difference compared to Ukraine?

— For me, the difference is huge. At first, I was also afraid to go to a doctor in Prague, expecting the same experience as before. But here I saw a completely different approach: HIV is treated as a chronic condition that a person can live with while receiving treatment — similar to diabetes, for example.

I am very grateful to my infectious disease doctor — she is empathetic, professional, and I feel respected. And another important thing: here, much more attention is given to sharing up-to-date knowledge with patients, which many adults lack. We often live with outdated information from school — and that’s where fear and stigma come from.

— What kind of support do Ukrainians arriving in the Czech Republic need most, especially people living with HIV?

— First of all, clear navigation — knowing where to go. Not every city has an infectious disease specialist. In small towns, people often have to travel to Prague, and if therapy is running out, this becomes critical. It’s very important for people to know from the beginning in which city they can definitely get a doctor and treatment.

Second, housing. This is a painful issue for everyone, but especially for vulnerable groups. In Prague, there is a Czech organization that supports people living with HIV/AIDS, including temporary shelter and social support — Česká společnost AIDS pomoc. It’s not a permanent solution, but as a starting point, it can help a lot.

Third, psychological support and work with self-stigma. Many people arrive already traumatized — by war and by previous experiences. But here it is really possible to find free psychologists, language courses, and employment programs. The key is not to remain silent and not to isolate yourself.

— What would you say to someone who is afraid to seek help or feels ashamed of their status?

— I would say: don’t stop. If someone refused you, it doesn’t mean that you are “wrong” or undeserving. It means that you knocked on the wrong door. There will be another person, another organization, another specialist.

You need to move forward in small steps every day, reflect, and listen to your body — it never lies. And one more thing: don’t focus only on the negative. Yes, it exists. But if you consciously notice at least one good thing every day — in people or in circumstances — you slowly build your future in the right direction. When we change ourselves for the better, the world starts to attract similar things.

— Finally, a new year means new plans. What do you dream about most?

— I want to be happy. I want conscious, mature relationships and a family. I have deeply rethought my responsibility in relationships and I want partnership and mutual understanding, where two people “work together.”

I also want to grow professionally. I plan to study social work, I dream of becoming a psychologist and social activist. It is important for me not just to volunteer, but to help people systematically — those living with HIV and those going through difficult periods and needing support. I want to share modern knowledge so there will be less fear and stigma, and more respect and understanding.

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This publication was prepared within the framework of the project “From heart to heart” in partnership with Step by Step Fundacja, with financial support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation.