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| Angjelina with two Ukrainian women |
Although she has emigrated from Tirana to Berlin since 1990, Angjelina Haxhija has not forgotten the Albanian tradition: Hospitality. She has opened the doors for 6 Ukrainians who left to escape the horrors of war. Since March 6, Haxhija has sheltered Ukrainians, while telling to DW of how he came in contact with them. Through a WhatsApp group opened by her friends, Haxhija received the notification about a Ukrainian woman who had stayed at the train station in Berlin with her son.
Her plan was to house only two refugees from Ukraine, but Albanians are always close to people in need, and so Haxhija says she sheltered four more refugees. Haxhija does not have daughters at home after they are married, but her heart was filled with life from these guests.
"We have 6 people, we have our private house in Berlin, I am a mother of three daughters, my children are married, our house has space to gift a roof. So we decided to get them right away. Many girls have set up groups to help refugees coming from the main train station in Berlin. They had written please help as soon as there is a woman left with a child. Someone wrote to me that he was left at the train station and there was no one to pick them up. I called my doughter and she went and got them. News broke the next day that sandwiches were in demand. In the early days, Berlin and the people were left with private aid. We prepared 250 sandwiches. Natalina begged him to come to me, she said I have mom, son, and granddaughter on the streets. I told her it's not a problem I will shelter them. I took them on the 6th, on the 9th, the mother came and took the niece, the other 6 with the daughter", says Haxhija.
Haxhija shows that with this situation all Albanians in Berlin have shown solidarity. They were found near the Haxhija family with food aid and clothing for refugees from Ukraine.
"We took all our clothes to Ukraine, I had not many clothes when they came, Albanians from Berlin brought me many clothes, many toys for children", she continues.
At her private home in Berlin, Haxhija is sheltering a Ukrainian girl and a family of four. Two Ukrainian women have husbands at war.
"These two women have both men in Ukraine at war. The lady has the bride and son at war. They love their country. They are proud to be Ukrainian."
One of the Ukrainians tells how she feels about the hospitality of an Albanian family. She says her husband is training to fight.
"From Kyiv, the situation is difficult. Many victims, I read the news every day with great concern. I'm getting help from the West because I'm here now. Husband? He left Kyiv because he did not learn how to fight and went to a training camp, I am financial aid to the Ukrainian army. It's very good, I feel very good especially after I left. Many people despite being helped by the Germans still feel haunted by the situation that is still in Ukraine. We are living for a day, we do not know what the future will bring us," said the Ukrainian.
Despite the fact that the war turned their lives upside down, this Albanian family brought hope to the Ukrainians that life goes on. They are being integrated with Berlin, three Ukrainian women have started a German language course, offered by a company for only 25 cents only for refugees coming from Ukraine. While three Ukrainian children will start school. Despite the fact that Haxhia is facing this situation at her own expense, she will not close the door to the refugees but says that she will support them until the last moment when they are ready to leave.
"She has opened a program for women from Ukraine, 25 cents a month, they teach two hours. The 17-year-old starts school on the 28th, on Monday, and the two girls start school. No fits from the state, they all come from charities, from society, co-workers, girls, sisters-in-law. Bringing clothes, potatoes, maybe a small thing, but for me, it's a lot at the moment. I tell them I need shoes for the boy, tomorrow they will bring two pairs of shoes", she said.