EK: The Famine was terrible. My youngest brother died, because he was too young to save himself. I went to grain depots and ate a few grains at a time. That’s how I survived. Those who couldn’t do this died. Many died. We weren’t allowed to [collect grains] but we did it. We’d hop over the road and go to the depot. I went to school; very few children went during the Famine. Usually they were too weak from famine.

Interviewer – Did you get anything to eat at school?

EK: No, they didn’t give anything to eat. There was nothing to give to eat at school. Many people died in our village from starvation. The village wasn’t close to any city; it was 120 km to Kyiv, and it wasn’t easy to walk there. The Famine was terrible. Many people died, very many. Perhaps half the village died. What can you do? It’s frightening to even think about. The Famine was terrible, and I don’t want to remember it. It was very hard to live through the Famine.

Evrosinia Kovalyov (nee Yaroslavska)

Date of birth: 1924

Place of birth: Kovalivka village, Kyiv oblast

Witnessed Famine in: Kovalivka village, Kyiv oblast

Arrived in Canada:

Current residence: Vancouver

Date and place of interview:  24 February 2009, Vancouver

Excerpt From Full Interview