April 2023 was a significant month for ORAM's Ukraine Response Program. The program celebrated one year since the inception of its longer-term housing project and hosted its very first in-person event for LGBTIQ Ukrainian refugees in Berlin.
In recognition of this important milestone and to prepare for the event, two of ORAM's staff members visited ORAM's Berlin office. ORAM's Executive Director, Steve Roth, and I, ORAM's Communications and Development Coordinator, spent one week collaborating and meeting ORAM's team members in Berlin, partners, and LGBTIQ Ukrainians that ORAM serves.
This trip was significant for me as it was the first time I met our clients in person. ORAM's Ukraine Response Program Manager, Camille Ogoti, organized visits to two longer-term apartments ORAM provides for displaced queer Ukrainians and set up interviews with two of our clients.
On my first full day in Berlin, I took the train to the apartment building where ORAM rents two units. I had the pleasure of meeting Marina and Svitlana, a queer Ukrainian couple, and Veronica, a trans Ukrainian, and her mother, Alyona.
They welcomed me into their apartments with warmth and kind eyes. After speaking with them for a few minutes, we sat down to chat, and they graciously shared their lives. They told me about life in Ukraine before the war, the challenges LGBTIQ Ukrainians face in Berlin, and what they hope for the future.
Marina (left) and Svitlana (right), a queer Ukrainian couple who are clients in our longer-term housing program.
Alyona (left) and her daughter, Veronika (right), whom ORAM is providing longer-term housing for in Berlin.
There were several other highlights from the trip. One was a co-creation and brainstorming session to advance ORAM's work on behalf of LGBTIQ Ukrainians and reach more members of the community.
"Great ideas were flowing, and I felt so much energy and connection among our team. There are some things that you can't fully experience virtually, and this was one of them," Steve shared.
The team bonding during the week was notable for ORAM's Senior Program Manager, Anja Limon.
"Being a remote team, it is always a pleasure when we get to sit in the same room, bounce ideas off of each other and discuss our work face to face," she said. "It is always amazing to get time to spend in a more casual setting. It was lovely spending an evening with ORAM's Board Chair, who cooked one of the best Indian meals I have had," Anja shared about an ORAM team dinner hosted by our Board Chair, Rajiv Desai.
The ORAM team at ORAM's Board Chair, Rajiv Desai's, home in Berlin.
Another highlight was the success of ORAM's first event for LGBTIQ Ukrainians in Berlin. The "Get to Know ORAM" event was an open house where members of the queer Ukrainian could meet members of our team and learn about the services ORAM provides to members of the community. The event was well attended, and Camille’s outreach efforts successfully brought members of the queer Ukrainian community who ORAM hadn't met before.
Camille shared that one of her highlights was "the success of the first event we hosted at Sonntagsclub. It was great to have the support of the team and the community."
ORAM's team members agree that having this time to work and collaborate in person is extremely valuable. "It meant so much to sit across a table from each other, exchange ideas and share laughs. Not only do you feel the personal connection, but it's also to get a lot more accomplished in person," Steve said.
ORAM's team members plan on getting together again this summer. Stay tuned for an update on that meeting in an upcoming blog post.