Page 4 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 102 - May 2022

Dear BPW UK Members,

This month the flowers are coming through, and my herb garden has sprung
into life.
Some of the members took part in the BPW Estonia Earth Day last month, and
you will hear more about this within the Newsletter from PNP Helen Ashworth.

With spring here, it makes me think of a recent conversation
with a Ukrainian lady, Tanya, who had come to stay with a
friend. How will her home be, in the coming months and indeed
years? Tanya has kindly agreed to write a small piece on what it
is like for her, after coming to the UK to work on a project, but
not being able to get back home once war had begun.

Yes, a war, not a “special military operation”.

I maintain contact with the BPW Ukraine ladies that I have written to you
about before, life is more than difficult. In fact, I am lost for words on how to explain
this. But as the sunflowers grow, they too are growing by learning new skills.

Viktoria Filatova has been assisting with the World
Central Kitchen Charity (www.wck.org )to make meals for the
residents of Chernihiv; as women within BPW we adapt easily
to situations as they arrive.

I am part of a group of BPW European Presidents led
by Amelie Leclercq and we are working towards providing clear
information on what our governments are doing to assist, or not. Amelie was in Cher-
nihiv last December and has met these women in happier times. To have a clear line of
contact within Ukraine is of great benefit, but then we are indeed part of a global net-
work of women.

? Last month we asked you to send a letter to your local Member

of Parliament concerning the lengthy immigration process for the
Ukrainian refugees. As part of the ongoing work, we would ask if you can
let us know if you sent this to your MP, did you get a reply and finally if
you have a female Member of Parliament? This is part of the valuable ad-
vocacy work we do, and to be able to understand the areas that need lobbying.