– War is terrible, but you have to keep living, you only have one life. You have to seize every opportunity you get. Don’t sit and wait. We can live now and do something now, says Yuliia Babii. She met her friend Anna Kondratiuk for the first time when the two studied journalism in their home country four years ago. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the two had to flee everything and everyone they knew. – One day you’re at home with your family, and the next day you have to move to another country without knowing what’s going on or what you’re going to do. But you just have to keep living, says Babii. On “Lindmo” this week, the two 20-year-old girls talk about what it was like to leave friends and family in their home country and start a completely new life in Norway. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news The two knew little about their new homeland. They didn’t know the language at all. And that not too long afterwards they would be working as journalists for a Norwegian local newspaper, they knew even less about. Editor: – Had to give them the opportunity It is responsible editor Bernt Frode Lyngstad of Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad who has given the girls the opportunity to work as journalists in Norway. Last autumn, he was contacted by a lady in the Ukrainian community in Sarpsborg, who spoke warmly of a young journalism student at Nav’s introductory programme. She pushed for the newspaper to take in the then 19-year-old Babii, and later Kondratiuk, for language training. – We thought we had to give them the opportunity. We write about companies and associations that have to take social responsibility, and then we also have to stand up, says Lyngstad. The language training quickly transitioned to summer temporary jobs as journalists. Now the girls are part of the editorial staff. Making news for Ukrainians in Norway The two Ukrainian girls have received funding from Fritt Ord to start a news project aimed at other Ukrainians in Norway. They now make articles and videos about things that are obvious to Norwegians, but which Ukrainian refugees may struggle to understand. – The cases we create are often about things like finance and education. About things that concern people. The cases are published in both Norwegian and Ukrainian. Anna Kondratiuk and Yuliia Babii say it is important for them to have as many viewers and readers as possible. Valentina Emelyanenko is head of the Ukrainian Council in Sarpsborg. She knows the two journalists well. And she appreciates the work they do. – It is difficult to come to a new country. Those who came after the war did not plan for this. It came as a shock to everyone, says Emelyanenko. – The two have in many ways become our voice. It is nice and useful to read stories about other Ukrainians. The cases of Anna and Yuliia are published on Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad’s platforms. But they can also be published in all of Amedia’s local newspapers, in addition to Nationen and Nettavisen. They have also created their own video accounts on TikTok and Telegram under the name “sa.ukraine”. Tells about the Norwegian system The need for information among Ukrainians is great. Since the outbreak of the war, over 65,000 have come to Norway. 29,000 this year alone. That’s more than Sweden, Denmark and Finland combined. The journalists say that over 250 Ukrainians live in Sarpsborg alone. Anna Kondratiuk and her friend Yuliia Babii now work as full-fledged journalists in Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news The two, who are now 20 years old, have worked as journalists in Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad since 1 October. Their main task is to produce news for Ukrainian refugees. – We feel that we are helping our people. They come to Norway without knowing anything. The biggest problem is language. Therefore, it is important to publish the news in the Ukrainian language. Older people often don’t know English either, and then it’s difficult to find your way around society, says Kondratiuk to news. Babii says that she feels the work the two do is important. The two also write for the paper newspaper. Here is a case that Yuliia has written. The editor is full of praise for the two journalists. He says that the editors have learned a lot from having them with them. – We see that the cases they choose are cases we hadn’t thought of ourselves. They make cases about what it is like to give birth in Norway. It goes without saying that Ukrainian women know how to do it. They create cases that tell a good story about the Norwegian system. It is very, very important, says Lyngstad. Watch this week’s Lindmo on Friday at 9.50pm and whenever you want on news TV.
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Makes news for Ukrainian refugees – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
