Liliya Kontseva, an engineer with nearly four decades of experience, made the bold decision to return to Kherson and join the CF SSS team. We spoke with her to understand her story and vision for the city’s rejuvenation.
– Liliya, what was it like for you when you left the city?
– In April 2023, I had to leave for Poland with my daughter and granddaughter. Despite my reluctance, my family’s insistence and the need to help transport my daughter’s large dog and two cats compelled our departure. Leaving Kherson, especially without being able to provide for our pets, was incredibly difficult.
I spent six months working at a tobacco factory before accepting an offer to build a ten-story building in Ivano-Frankivsa Oblast. I jumped at this opportunity as it was a step towards returning home. Eventually, the CF SSS invited me to participate in Kherson’s reconstruction project.
– Weren’t you afraid to return to a city under constant shelling?
– I was thrilled about the opportunity to return to Kherson and engage in humanitarian work. I returned in October and feel very happy about it. I have a deep connection with the city, having grown up in a family of builders who contributed to many of its landmarks. For example, the shipyard, the market in the Dniprovskyi district, the Yuvileinyi cinema were all built by my father.
– Do you regret moving now??
– I’m not a cowardly person: I close the windows and continue working. I have already learned to distinguish between our defenders shooting and Russians shooting at us. I find comfort in the fact that our shots outnumber theirs. That’s the way I work.
– Can you tell us about your role at the Foundation?
– I am currently working on a project to repair housing damaged by the war. I evaluate the condition of the premises and assess the damage. I focus my work on preparing Kherson residents for the cold weather. We will mostly repair damaged windows, doors, and roofs. Obviously, a lot of homes, roads, and social institutions are constantly affected by the shelling, but first of all, we need to meet the immediate needs of the Kherson residents who remain in the city.
– How do you envision Kherson’s reconstruction?
– Kherson faces a significant rebuilding task. The initial focus should be on restoring the housing stock and then addressing infrastructure, which, of course, requires much more money and time.
However, I believe we should not just restore it to its pre-war state but update it to appeal to both residents and tourists. Key focus areas include the tourist zone and the Antonivskyi Bridge. It is very special to us, it is our pride: it leads to the left bank, to the sea, to Crimea.
In addition, the invaders have removed numerous monuments from the city, such as those to Suvorov, Ushakov, and Potemkin. Of course, some of them won’t be missed, so there is no need to restore them. We will replace them with those that are more related to the city and its history. So we have much to restore and rebuild!
Liliya works as a regional engineer in the project “Lifesaving Shelter, MPCA, SRH, and Protection Assistance for Conflict-Affected Communities in Rural Hromadas in Mykolaivska and Khersonska Oblasts.” This initiative is a collaboration between the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services and Successful Woman NGO in partnership with the international humanitarian organization CARE and supported by the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund.