Anastasiia Korohodova
“Being a refugee and/or an asylum seeker is a daunting experience like no other, and the amount of support and assistance required to cover all linguistic needs and ensure crucial communication between individuals, institutions and governments is rising with each day.”
Ukrainian <> English <> Russian
I was born in the Donetsk region in the east of Ukraine. Several years after my hometown was occupied by the Russian forces, I got a scholarship to study History of Arts in Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. I've also been passionate about acting ever since I was a child, and I’ve played in theatre and films. Between graduating from the Faculty of History and relocating to England after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I was a lead actress at a state theatre in western Ukraine and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After moving to the UK, I graduated from a course at the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and now occupy myself as a theatre workshop facilitator, youth worker and theatre/creative media translator, as well as actress and film director. Aside from the arts, I like to polish my language skills by travelling around the world and volunteering abroad, something I started very early on and which has since become a big part of my life, also because it led me to meet Machaela Parkin, our Team Lead!
Ever since I first heard about the philosophy behind Respond's work, I knew I wanted to be a part of it and contribute to providing people in need of linguistic services with something they were failed to be provided with for whatever reason. Being a refugee and/or an asylum seeker is a daunting experience like no other, and the amount of support and assistance required to cover all linguistic needs and ensure crucial communication between individuals, institutions and governments is rising with each day. I have experienced firsthand how important it is to be able to express yourself clearly and state your needs coherently when in a vulnerable position. Let's be honest, it's hard enough to do in your native language! Not to mention when you, or your family, are in the most oppressive circumstances. It seemed only feasible, therefore, for me to turn the knowledge of languages I've learned into an asset for people who might benefit from it. And, luckily, Respond provided me with a perfect opportunity to do so.
I'm being paid for my work with Respond, and as a refugee from Ukraine living abroad, this income has brought immense improvement to my living and financial situations. It ensured that I would maintain my independence even in difficult circumstances. It is also a very empowering feeling, to be rewarded for doing something you find important and for being able to provide the necessary aid in due time to people who struggle with linguistic support in the same way I used to.
I'm really proud of pursuing my dream and working my way up the creative industry, while staying true to my values and interests. It was a big leap of faith at first, but then I gradually learned to combine being a full-time artist, a youth worker/volunteer and a human rights activist, among other things, and now I finally feel like I have created a life for myself I have always envisioned.
I have recently discovered I am a highly sensitive person (HSP), that is someone who has an increased sensitivity to stimulation and information. This was a relief to find out, since it explains why I immerse myself fully in things that interest me, feel so attuned to the feeling and emotions of others and have a high sense of justice.
Advocating for the rights, welfare and fair treatment of women and children is something I always related to, and could never not speak up about. The amount of mistreatment, abuse and hindrances to their development females and children are subjected to due to being perceived as an easy target, is a terrifying number. The fact that such violations happen in every part of the world, every industry and every sphere to this day clashes with my vision of a better future of the world, and in my opinion this oppression must be combated in every possible way, while women's rights and child protection should be at the forefront when it comes to ensuring safe and sustainable growth and societal development.
"Libertà", which means "freedom" in Italian, became my favorite word after I first heard an Italian song of the same name from 1980's, with the lyrics stating "Freedom, how many have you made me cry" and "...as long as there is a meaning to living, I will live to have you". I value the presence of liberty in my life immensely, as well as the opportunity to contribute to its augmentation in the world, thanks to being a linguist at Respond.
