The Story Behind the Sunflowers

Earlier this month, we shared a mini-documentary featuring Natalia, a young woman displaced from Ukraine. Her heart for supporting other refugee women led her to start her own sleepwear business. Hopefully you have already had the chance to view her story, but if not, you can find it HERE.

I (Jaydon) want to share a deeper look into how we (IAFR Bratislava team) came to know Natalia and the events that led up to documenting her story.

Natalia came to Slovakia in 2023, about a year after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. One of the first things she did after arriving in the capital city of Bratislava was to find a church community. She just so happened to begin attending City Church International, the same faith community that Emma and I are actively involved in.

Meeting Natalia was a joy! Her energy, creativity, and loving heart were evident from the very beginning.

Emma and Natalia began spending more time together and one day, sitting at McDonalds over french fries and ice cream sundaes, they discussed their mutual desire to find new ways to support refugee women in the city. This conversation laid the groundwork for the two of them to partner in helping Natalia to launch her own business, aimed at providing a quality product that also creates jobs and cultivates authentic relationships between women in a non-threatening environment.

Around this same time, I received a message from a friend of mine who works as a professional documentarian. He asked if I knew of anyone with a story that would inspire others, and Natalia was the first person who came to mind. Over the next few weeks, we developed a vision for how to work alongside Natalia to share her story. Our goal was to do so in a way that would not only give an overview of her experience adjusting to life in a new country, but would also showcase her entrepreneurial spirit and ambition for making a difference in the world. Natalia’s voice shone through and we were blown away by her enthusiasm, vulnerability, and poise throughout.

The title of the project, Sunflowers in New Soil, reflects multiple themes in Natalia’s story. Sunflowers are the national flower of Ukraine and are extremely resilient as they stand tall against strong winds. They are accustomed to movement and rotate themselves throughout the day in relation to the sun’s position in the sky. As with most flowers, it takes time for them to adjust to a new home after being transplanted. But sunflowers are quick to regain their strength and begin contributing to the environment around them.

Through our friendship and partnership with Natalia, we have been encouraged by her strength, resilience, and adaptability. Like many others we have met in Bratislava who have experienced forced displacement, she has utilized these characteristics to make an impact within her host community. We are excited to continue sharing their stories with you.

CLICK HERE to learn more about IAFR’s work in Bratislava.