Tetiana Bilooka celebrates resilience in a new country after everything changed in Ukraine
(LWI) – Tetiana Bilooka is a mathematics and computer science teacher. She is also, an actress.
When she arrived in Prague from Ukraine, she did not imagine that theater would become part of her life, let alone a source of healing, confidence, and belonging. Yet today, standing on stage, she radiates strength, calm presence, and optimism. Her journey reflects not only resilience, but the quiet courage it takes to begin again.
Bilooka brings with her more than 20 years of teaching experience and three university degrees. Before the war, she lived and worked in northeastern Ukraine, in Chernigov, a city close to the Russian border. She had built a stable life, a respected career, and a clear sense of identity.
When the war began in 2022, everything changed. But she survived weeks of bombings, sheltering in basements without electricity or water. Eventually, she made the painful decision to leave her home and seek safety in the Czech Republic, where her son had been living for several years. “I cried constantly,” she recalls. “I felt that my life had been left behind.”
Starting over at 50 was not easy. While she found safety in Prague, the psychological impact of war stayed with her. She did not speak Czech. The stress affected her deeply, she struggled with sleep, lost her appetite, and developed a severe stutter. Everyday interactions became exhausting and intimidating.
Yet even in this fragile period, small acts of kindness helped her move forward. She remains deeply grateful to the people who supported her during those first difficult months.
