Hi, my name is Varvara, and I’m fundraising for my education.

Two years ago, I moved to Canada and had to rebuild my life from the beginning. Since then, I’ve worked extremely hard to create a new future. I recently graduated from high school, and I have been accepted into the Bachelor of Commerce program at Memorial University, starting this January.

Over the past two years, I’ve grown in ways I never expected. I learned English from zero to fluency, became active in my school and community, volunteered, painted murals, and participated in student leadership programs. I received several awards, including Visual Artist of the Year, and I was selected for an international learning trip to France and Belgium — where I was the only Ukrainian among 99 other students. These experiences showed me that even with challenges, I can achieve meaningful things when I work hard.

This fall, I focused completely on working so I could save money for university. I currently work two jobs, and I spent the entire season earning and saving everything I could for my first semester.

But my journey is still difficult. Because I do not yet have Permanent Residency, my tuition is much higher than for domestic students — about $22,000 per year. I am applying for scholarships, and even though many are only open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents, I have been fortunate to earn a few. Still, the support I have received so far is not enough to cover all of my tuition.

Education means everything to me. It is my path to stability, independence, and a future where I can give back even more to the community that has supported me. I am doing everything I can on my own, but covering the full tuition in such a short time is impossible without help.

Asking for support is never easy, but I want to be honest: even sharing my story makes a difference. Any contribution — no matter the size — brings me one step closer to starting my studies and continuing the life I am building here.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and for supporting my journey.

With gratitude,

Varvara