A new life in Canada

Hi, my name is Tom Voss. My wife Jane and I are fundraising for Kateryna Mala, a brave woman who made the early decision to flee from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and start a new life for herself and her daughter in Canada.

Kateryna's story:

Kateryna (Kate) Mala is a single mother and sole provider for her daughter who, before the war began, was living in Dnipro, Ukraine. When the Russians invaded, she packed up her daughter and fled the country, first to Krakow, Poland and then to Portugal, where they lived for two months waiting for a visa to come to Canada. They arrived in Vancouver in April of 2022. Fortunately Kateryna was able to bring her widowed mother over several months later.

While in Portugal, through Facebook, Kateryna came in to contact with Paul and Agnes who graciously offered her free accommodation for one year in their fully equipped basement suite in the Vancouver neighbourhood of Dunbar. That arrangement has just come to an end. Kateryna, ever resourceful, has found an apartment in New Westminster where the three moved in late June and where she will be solely responsible for the monthly rent and utilities. She has recently found an administrative job but it is only on a month-to-month basis with no guarantee beyond August so she faces a great deal of economic uncertainty while she continues to look for permanent work in her field of marketing.

We are hoping reduce some of the financial stress for Kateryna and her family during this transition. She is a brave, accomplished and open hearted young woman determined to make a new life here in Canada. Let’s help her do that.