Krys Shiels: Away from the frontline

Krysta Shiels, 43, is a mature student of Ukrainian origin, studying her Level 2 Certificate in Make-up at East Sussex College Hastings.

It’s early March when East Sussex College (ESC) Hastings student Krysta Shiels begins fundraising to support Ukraine. Russia launched a military invasion of Ukraine just days earlier (24 February). For Krysta, a British national with Ukraine origin, she is desperate to support the country where her family members and friends reside.

Krys works with the College to raise donations and it is later in March when ESC catches up with Krys on campus in Hastings. A book sale has been held in the College Atrium the past few days. “This flower was hand-crafted by a member of staff here,” says Kry, pointing to the crocheted sunflower she wears on her top, made by Lisa Cullingworth, LRC Study Skills Mentor. “She really cares so much about what's happening in Ukraine; her flowers are truly beautiful and are such a powerful way for me to signal my Ukrainian identity in a positive way I can be proud of.” It’s a fitting symbol, as sunflowers were planted by Ukrainian and Russian political representatives to mark Ukraine renouncing its nuclear weapons and since then have become a symbol of peace for Ukrainians. The sunflowers were donated to the stall along with hearts, sewed by ESC Wellbeing Mentor, Pauline Greig. The idea with the hearts is that students and staff add a personal message of support and these are then transported to Ukraine with the donated supplies.

Donation bins are in situ at the campus entrance, as they are at the College’s other main sites in Eastbourne and Lewes. Staff and students are urged to contribute supplies so desperately needed for Ukrainians. The previous weekend, Krys organised a second van of medical supplies to Poland, but there is still more to be done. And with Krys, it starts with family…

"My brother is a doctor - a very talented surgeon who was selected to go to Germany with his wife and infant,” says Krys. “A few days after the war broke out, he left everything to volunteer as a medic in Kyiv .”

It is in Kyiv where, like the rest of Ukraine, devastation of the war is taking hold. Krys, like the rest of us, is faced by it every time she listens to the news. However, Krys strives to remain practical and pro-active, which has helped her put so many fundraising efforts in place, and may also be seen as her way of coping. “I have contact with [my brother] periodically,” Krys says, “very practical contact,” she adds. “He tells me what he needs, and I try to organise it from here. That’s all the contact I have, so when people ask, ‘how is your brother?’, all I can say is, ‘I know he was alive yesterday’. I don’t know how he is.” She pauses for a moment. “I can’t imagine he’s doing very well.”

Krys is active in fundraising as a way of trying to cope with the worry for her brother and for the whole country. She is currently running two initiatives: one is to raise money for life-saving medical supplies. “This is for life-saving equipment, things like chest shields, not first aid,” Krys explains. “It’s to help people - if they didn’t have this equipment they would die.”

The previous week, a second van of supplies was taken to the border and delivered to the local authorities in Poland who accepted everything and stored items in the local primary school. The donated equipment was then picked up by volunteers, who work to get equipment into Kyiv. It was in Poland on the 11th (March), and Krys received confirmation from her brother that he’d received the equipment just three days later.

Krys’ second fundraising initiative is for transportation. “My brother has said there aren't enough vehicles to support the wounded,” Krys continues. “I’m trying to fundraise for a vehicle like a minivan which can transport the wounded away from the bombings and the shellings to relative safety where they can then recieve medical support.” It is this fundraising that is proving challenging, as it’s a huge amount of money to raise. Krys, however, remains optimistic.

“I have contact with my brother periodically - very practical contact. He tells me what he needs, and I try to organise it from here. When people ask, ‘how is your brother?’, all I can say is, ‘I know he was alive yesterday’. I don’t know how he is. I can’t imagine he’s doing very well”

Aside from her fundraising, Krys is striving to educate and build bridges of communication for young people in Ukraine and in the UK. This is an angle she is passionate about as a former teacher (Krys worked at sixth form colleges in London before the birth of her second son) and a mother of two young children. “I hope to facilitate a live video link between the College and my family links in Lviv.” Sadly, at the time of the interview, the news about a Russian missile strike on Lviv, which was regarded by Krys as a ‘place of relative safety’, is less than a day away from breaking.

“Both of my children are in primary school, so I wanted to devise some educational resources about Ukraine, so children can learn in a safe way about Ukraine - where it is and what’s happening - so they can understand that people, including children, are getting hurt by conflict inside Ukraine and also in Russia.”

“I can’t imagine where I’d be without the support I’ve received at the College or how I would’ve coped. This is my lifeline… I’m leading my life to help other people in every possible way that I can.”

Krys is effectively using her role as a mature student at East Sussex College as a platform, and venue, to fundraise from. Staff and students have united in supporting Krys’ initiatives, and more besides. For Krys, the support of the College has been welcomed. “I can’t imagine where I’d be without the support I’ve received at the College or how I would’ve coped. This is my lifeline. [The past month has] been hard for anyone who is Ukrainian. I’m surrounded by amazing people, who are so supportive.”

In particular, Krys cites her make-up artistry tutor, Celina Zomer, as “a godsend, a phenomenal, amazing person. She’s the primary person I have to thank for the fact that I get up in the morning and keep on going. I read the news and it breaks my heart. But I still have the strength to go to College because she’s going to be there and she’ll look at me in a kind way. It means the whole world to me. I cannot imagine being in a better place than the College.”

For now, her College routine and active fundraising is helping Krys stay focused and to a degree of positivity. “I have to get up, go to college and design make-up looks! It feels a little bit hypocritical because people in Ukraine, their lives are broken. Hundreds of children have died, my children are safe, and I feel a degree of guilt about it. But I’m leading my life to help other people in every possible way that I can, with my fundraising campaigns. I’ll keep going as long as I’m needed. This is what the meaning of my life is now.”

Krysta’s fundraising pages to support Ukraine:

• Crowdfunder: Urgent Medical Aid to Ukraine
• GoFundMe: Urgent Medical Help for Ukrainian People

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BBC Radio Sussex 19 April 2022 Krys Shiels