- From Separation to Reunion
The Mykhno family, composed of Oksana, Valerii, and their son Vitalii, comes from Ukraine. Oksana comes from the village of Bugov in the Kirovohrad region, while Valerii is from Kobyzcha in the Chernihiv region. Their lives, though grounded in small, close-knit communities, have been marked by a series of migrations, driven by the need to secure a better future. Early in their marriage, Oksana and Valerii ventured to Finland, where they spent a few months picking strawberries during the harvest seasons. These trips were their first experience of economic migration, giving them a glimpse of opportunities beyond their homeland.
In 2019, the Mykhno family chose to move to Sosnowiec, Poland, in search of financial stability. This time, the migration’s experience was longer, more demanding, and filled with sacrifices. The most painful of these was leaving their young son, Vitalii, behind in Ukraine under the care of his grandmother. The distance was difficult for all of them, as the parents worked long hours in a foreign land, struggling with the absence of their child while striving to create a better life for him. The separation underscored the harsh realities of economic migration, where the pursuit of financial stability often comes at a significant personal cost.
Eventually, fortune smiled upon them when they secured jobs at a logistics centre for a food chain in Sosnowiec. Their employer offered them the opportunity to work in shifts—Oksana in the morning and Valerii in the afternoon. This arrangement allowed them to finally bring Vitalii to Poland, reuniting their family after months of separation. The reunion was a moment of profound relief and joy, as they could at last focus on building a life together.
- The Mykhno Family's Migration Challenges
Since their move to Sosnowiec, the Mykhno family has encountered a series of challenges that have made their life as economic migrants increasingly difficult. One of the most immediate issues has been the rising cost of living in Poland. As prices for essentials such as food, rent, and utilities continue to soar, wages have not kept pace, leaving many migrants struggling to make ends meet. For the Mykhno family, this has meant that paying rent and maintaining a dignified standard of living has become a constant battle. Like many others in their situation, they have found it increasingly difficult to secure affordable housing, as the demand for accommodation drives prices even higher.
In addition to the financial strain, the Mykhno family has also faced growing challenges in regularizing their administrative status. The influx of migrants, particularly from Ukraine, has led to a significant increase in the number of people seeking to legalize their stay in Poland. As a result, the process has become much slower and more complicated. Even for those like the Mykhno family, who already hold a residence permit, renewing these permits has become a drawn-out ordeal due to the high volume of applications. This bureaucratic delay has added another layer of uncertainty to their lives, making it difficult for them to feel totally secure in their new home.
Perhaps the most distressing aspect of these challenges is the impact on their ability to stay connected with their family in Ukraine. The prolonged wait for residence permits to be updated means that the Ukrainian families cannot safely return to Ukraine to visit their loved ones, as they risk not being able to return to Poland if their papers are not in order. This situation has created a painful sense of isolation, as they are effectively cut off from their homeland and their extended family. The inability to reunite with family in Ukraine has added a heavy emotional burden to the already challenging circumstances they face as economic migrants in Sosnowiec.
Conclusion
The Mykhno family's story is a powerful reminder of the human cost of economic migration. While their journey has been fraught with challenges—from the heartache of leaving their son behind to the constant battle with rising living costs and bureaucratic delays—their resilience and determination to build a better life remain unwavering. Their experience underscores the complex realities faced by many migrant families, who must navigate not only the economic and legal hurdles of life in a new country but also the emotional toll of being separated from their homeland and loved ones. As they continue to strive for stability and security in Poland, the Mykhno family represents both the hope and hardship that define the migrant experience.
