Bike giveaway helps Ukrainian newcomers navigate the city

Julia Karapira was studying to ride a bicycle for the quite 1st time on Sunday.

For her, it’s another initial — like when she came to Canada to remain with a host family after leaving her lifelong house in Ukraine amidst the war.

And she is not by itself. 

Karapira is one particular of more than 100 Ukrainians learning to navigate their new home on two wheels, many thanks to a volunteer-led exertion sourcing donated bikes from Ottawa citizens and servicing them for newcomers to use. 

Inspite of slipping and scraping her chin, Karapira identified as her shiny new bicycle a blessing. 

“It’s wonderful,” she explained. “I sense pretty privileged … to find out the town and to be able to vacation close to and not get missing on my have.”

“Absolutely everyone warrants a bicycle,” said Britannia Bay resident Maureen Adamache, who arrived up with the concept to supply newcomers with bicycles.

Adamache noted that many people coming from Ukraine never have drivers’ licences or entry to vehicles and need a way to operate errands and access solutions. 

So immediately after the war commenced, Adamache rounded up some of her pals and put out a simply call on social media for donations of old and unused bicycles, helmets, locks and other equipment.

With the support of other volunteers from a Facebook team, a “safe bicycle information” was made in Ukrainian and Russian for arrivals who do not talk English. 

Now, each Sunday for virtually three months, Adamache’s backyard has been bustling with volunteers servicing bicycles and Ukrainians starting their life in Ottawa.

Recipient turned volunteer needs to share ‘free’ emotion

Adamache stated the group has gathered a lot more than 150 donated bikes. Of these, 112 experienced been presented absent as of Sunday.

The greatest need has appear from Ukrainian seniors and young moms, she mentioned, incorporating that most of them are remaining in the residences of volunteer hosts.

“[The bicycle] offers them some independence from the host family. They do not have to check with for a journey to go to a doctor’s appointment or go get groceries or to go visit a Ukrainian church,” said Adamache.

For newcomer Igor Zosymenko, becoming in a position to experience a bicycle has meant that and more.

“I could focus on occupation browsing, accommodation searching, and just forget about the transport,” he explained. But when he took his bicycle out for a spin, Zosymenko stated something unpredicted took place. 

He felt a sudden flood of “great emotions and recollections,” remembering summers biking with his good friends and household in his hometown of Dnipro.

A single week later, Zosymenko has returned to enable Adamache as a volunteer. 

Soon after fleeing the traumatic war, Zosymenko stated he desires other Ukrainians to really feel like he does now — with the help of a bicycle. 

“I really feel absolutely free,” Zosymenko reported.