22 year old Diana Baranetska who comes from Ukrainian town, Kherson has created her own candle making business in order to support her extended family who, like her, have fled the war in Ukraine. 

Diana and her husband Yevhenii have been living in Hazel Grove Stockport with their sponsor, Catherine but the move over here wasn’t easy. Diana told us, “ After we saw the Russian soldiers almost at the threshold of our home, we made a difficult decision for ourselves that we should try to leave our native occupied city, despite the great risks.

After a terrible and difficult journey, which was filled with mass checks by russian soldiers of our personal belongings and searches, we still managed to leave safe and sound. We had to go through these checks at more than 20 russian military checkpoints. 

We were helped a lot by our sponsor, her name is Catherine Bird , she is the Minister of the Stockport Methodist Church. And after a tiring wait, we were finally sent our official permission to arrive in the United Kingdom. We are very grateful to Catherine for her support and assistance. We will remember all our lives the help and support of the people of Britain and its government for its assistance to the Ukrainian people and our country.”

As soon as Diana moved over here, she noticed how most high streets have at least one shop that sells candles and handmade goods. This then inspired her to try out making her own candles. She said, “I began to study different waxes, components and candle making techniques. The most important thing for me was to create a completely natural candle that would be different from others and try to surprise people a little, despite the fact that the competition in the UK is simply enormous. After a lot of experiments and attempts, I managed to achieve the result that I wanted - only natural wax, special aroma and the melodious crackle of a wooden wick creating an atmosphere like near to a fireplace. Then the creation of candles gradually became my hobby. And I decided to try to create my own brand "DiCandles". 

As English isn’t her first language, Diana found it increasingly more difficult to find a job that would suit her, so now she has made this her full time job as well as still attending English language courses twice a week. 

Commenting on the current situation in Ukraine, “I really look forward to the moment when one day I wake up from the news that the war is over, and I can again see my whole family together, which is now scattered around all over the world in more than five different countries… Every day I worry about my grandparents, who did not want to leave their native village in Kherson, since this part of the city is still occupied by Russian soldiers. 

I wish everyone who reads my story a peaceful sky above their heads and the usual bustle of life, because war can completely change all your plans and radically change your life in the most terrible and unpredictable way, believe me.”

Diana’s handmade candles are available to purchase at dicandles.com.