What is life like for children whose parents live abroad? What problems do they face? A new book released in March by Ukrainian Old Lion publishing house in collaboration with German translation association Translit attempts to answer these questions. Called Mom on Skype, it’s a collection of 11 short fiction stories by modern Ukrainian writers.
The stories reveal the dark side of female labor migration, involving Ukrainian families, which are among the most vulnerable in this regard. According to government estimates, about 200,000 children grew up without parental care in Ukraine between 2003 and 2008, because their mothers or fathers, or both parents, went to work abroad.
A story with an Italian title, Ho Paura (I’m Scared), opens the book with a chat between mother and son via Skype, which uncovers the fears of both. Nine-year old Ivan is afraid his mother Nelya, who left for work in Italy five years ago, will never come back, just like his friend’s mom Vasylyna, who married in Italy and left a husband and kids in Ukraine. Nelya in her turn fears Ivan could become cold-hearted without her care, as Vasylyna told her in a story about her children, who instead of love were only asking for money each time she returned to Ukraine.
Another story called Slavka is even more dramatic. Lesya, the mother of schoolgirl Slavka is finally coming back home after spending years working in Italy. But her return is marred by rumors in her village about the way she earned the money. Lesya worked as a surrogate mother in Italy, which allowed her to earn enough money to finish the family house and pay for her daughter’s studies. Back home, Lesya decides to go to a priest and confess, which turns out to be a fatal mistake, since it later pushes her to suicide.
The first print run of the book (1,000 copies) was sold out in Ukraine in just over a month after being officially presented in March, according to Maryana Savka, chief editor at Old Lion publishing house and compiler of the book. Outside Ukraine, the book has also been translated and published in Germany, where it has been a smashing success.
“We didn’t expect (it to get) such a huge public response,” says Savka. A lot of reviews on it were ordered in Germany, she adds, and even the German ambassador to Ukraine did one. “That means (the problem) this book (poses) is among the burning ones nowadays,” she said.
The book is currently going through a second print run, with plans to expand the languages available.
“We would really like to get it translated into Italian language as Italy is the country where most of the labor migrants from Ukraine are women,” says Savka. Right now the book is being translated into English. “We’ll try to get English-language society interested in it,” Savka explains.
In Kyiv “Mom on Skype” is available at the Kyiv department of Old Lion publishing house (34 Biloruska St.) for Hr 30 and Ye book shop chain (3 Lysenka St., 5 Spaska St., 33/2 Povitroflotsky Av.) for Hr 35. It can be purchased online at www.bookr.com.ua and www.yakaboo.ua for Hr 41.
Kyiv Post staff writer Anastasia Forina can be reached at [email protected]
