On The Ground – In conversation with Jana and Sarah Ashton-Cirillo

As part of the recently released 19th digital issue, KALTBLUT has teamed up with Refuge Worldwide again for the On The Ground – interview series. Two women were interviewed for this episode, which aired a month ago on Refuge Worldwide. Both Jana and Sarah Ashton-Cirillo have called Ukraine their home. If you want to read the interview with Jana, you can do so in our latest KALTBLUT 19th digital Issue titled “Fighters”.

Only Jana has had to leave again. This is the second time Jana is now fleeing from war and the Russian Army. Jana is originally from Syria. She went on to study medicine in Sumy, a city in the northeast of the country very close to the Russian border. Due to the invasion, she’s become a two-time refugee and now lives in Germany, where her future is uncertain.

The second interview is with Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, who moved to Ukraine when the war started. Sarah has been working as a journalist and aiding the local government in Kharkiv ever since.

Trigger warning: The interview with Sarah discusses war and violence. Listener discretion advised.

Listen to the full interview on Apple Podcast, Amazon, Spotify, and Refuge Worldwide.

If you want to keep up with Jana and Sarah, you can do so via Twitter:
@Jana_Kalaaji
@SarahAshtonLV

All photos were provided by Sarah and Jana.

Follow On The Ground on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon!

For the second edition of Regenerate starting on 30th September, Refuge Worldwide will explore how civil society groups can mobilise communities, self-organise and turn the tide from awareness to action.

The three-day event will start on Thursday 29th September at Carhartt WIP’s location in Berlin Mitte, where Refuge Worldwide will celebrate the launch of a new Regenerate Zine, Refuge Worldwide’s first printed magazine, as well as a limited edition long-sleeve shirt going on sale, produced in collaboration with Carhartt.

Sign up here.