Elevate her ✈️ Stand with Ukraine ✈️
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Suggested donation method for Norwegians with zero transaction fee under 5000 nok is through Vipps App to this number: 46 55 75 22
Who I am, why I’m fundraising
My name is Tetiana Sergan and I come from Rivne in Ukraine. In 2023 I moved to Norway to study at Pilot Flight Academy (PFA). I’m fundraising 110 000 $ in order to accomplish my Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL).
Adding the link with the tuition fees and payment breakdown:
Impact of the war on Ukraine’s aviation industry
Since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian aviation industry has encountered significant difficulties, marked by numerous setbacks. Ukraine’s airspace has been closed to civilian flights for over 3 years. Major carriers suspended operations and many pilots either based out of Ukrainian airports or had to enlist/become officers in the Ukrainian Army. So, not only the pilots going to be in short supply (injured, retired or worse…), but also we will need as many professionals as possible, who know the country’s terrain and can provide advice/expertise get the aviation industry going (infrastructure, training, standardization/safety). This is where I want to make a difference.
How your donation can impact Ukrainian aviation
Due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace, aviation students were forced to travel abroad for practicing flight training during the war time. I want to shed light on the importance of this profession. Ukrainian sky is far from safe, everyone who travels to Ukraine flies to border-countries and takes a train from there.
The war in Ukraine has forced many individuals to flee their homes, seeking safety and new beginnings elsewhere. Among these people are those who can't wait to return home. Only in Norway there are over 70 000 refugees. I’m hoping for the privilege to bring my compatriots home one day. There's nothing else in the world I desire more than to do a personal announcement "This is Tetiana from the Flight Deck. Welcome back home" in Ukrainian language in Boryspil, the Ukrainian International Airport in Kyiv.
Finding the financial resources is my last chance to finish ATPL. Your support can help me get a student visa, so I can proceed with my flying phase. I need a financial proof to The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) that I can cover my tuition fees, living expenses I’m covering from my Emirates savings.
Powerful and meaningful mission
As a woman, and especially as someone who believes in the strength and resilience of Ukrainian women, I want to break the barriers that still exist in the skies.
Women belong in the cockpit. They belong in control of their dreams, navigating their own paths, and rising above every challenge. I want to inspire young girls and women across Ukraine to believe that becoming a pilot isn’t a dream meant only for others. It’s a powerful way to serve, lead, and represent a new era of equality and strength. I hope to light the spark in future aviators - to help them see a reflection of themselves in the skies and know they’re not alone.
Through this fundraiser, I want to show that no matter how difficult life becomes, a Ukrainian woman will never give up. We rise, we persevere, and we keep fighting with strength and dignity!
Why fundraising deadline is so critical
As per January 13. 2025, Norwegian government has made new regulations for Ukrainian refugees who where abroad during the full-scale invasion. Those who belong to this category and come from Western part of Ukraine need to move back home (the government gives passport back and asks to leave the country within 2 weeks). I will have to move back to Ukraine in June/July if I will not have the money for the tuition to get a student visa in Norway. I will not be able to continue my education in Ukraine either, as we don’t have safe airspace.
I’m adding the link to The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) with the new regulations as per January 13. , 2025, you can see Rivne is on the list:
The second deadline comes from PFA - students who start integrated ATPL training are required to finish the whole education within 3 years from the start date of the course. My deadline is September 2026 and I haven’t started building flying hours according to European Aviation Safety Standards (EASA), as I don’t have sufficient fundings.
Beginning of my aviation story ✈️
My aviation story started before the war at home, when I became a Cabin Crew for Emirates. During my layovers in Los Angeles I was renting Cessna 152 with a flight instructor at Aces High Aviation in Long Beach, learned some basics of flying and did my first solo. Since then, a strong desire to transform from a Cabin Crew to a pilot has been driving me all this time.
When the war in Ukraine shattered the peace of millions, I refused to let it shatter my dream. Staying determined to my goal, I secured myself a place in college in USA, planning to take 2 years Commercial Pilot Associate Degree. Unfortunately my visa got “on hold status” and I was not able to move to California before semester start. This news broke my heart as at that time I have already quit my job and had no residence permit in the Middle East, where I was based. On top of that, together with my family, we just managed to save my mom, who was fighting breast cancer for about one year.
It was extremely hard to restart my life from scratch and pursue my dream in such unfavourable conditions, but I didn’t give up. I passed online admission exams for Pilot Flight Academy in Norway. In 2011-2016 I was au-pair in this country, did my bachelor’s degree in European studies at University in Oslo, worked as a Cabin Crew for Norwegian Airlines and speak the language, that’s why I chose Norway as my next chapter.
Challenges faced in Norway
The real challenges in my aviation path started after I moved to Norway. Among these are - no possibility to obtain student visa as my study loan was refused, no possibility to get refugee status and residence permit either (as I lived in the Middle East when the war in Ukraine started and one of the requirements in Norway to obtain this status is a proof that you lived in Ukraine Dec-Feb 2022), no permit to work while documents are under review and no financial support from the government. Following Norwegian law, Ukrainians who were elsewhere but Ukraine during the start of the war, could stay on Norwegian territory without residence permit while waiting for more information from the government.
As I could cover my living expenses, without hesitation I proceeded with ATPL theory while waiting for the documents. With every passed exam I felt closer to reclaiming what the war had stolen from me. I've finished my ATPL theory successfully, but my second part of the training is uncertain due to lack of fundings.
So, now I still have no passport, I have no permit to work, receive no financial support, have no chance to continue my training without necessary tuition funds, living life in uncertainty, being stuck in the system under the threat of losing my individual protection and having to return to Ukraine.
What aviation means to me as a Ukrainian
For me, aviation has always been more than flying - it’s a symbol of freedom, courage and limitless potential. It is a proof that no war, no displacement, no tragedy can extinguish the fire in a persons's heart.
I hope my story highlights willpower, resilience & determination of a Ukrainian refugee and will not let you stand aside. With common effort we can make the world a better place and I can proceed with the training, as for us, aviators, the sky is not just a destination, - it is home.
Credibility
We live in a world where checking credibility is essential and protecting yourself from scammers/fake accounts is also a great thing. During my Emirates career I’ve actively used instagram platform for sharing Emirates travels with the other aviation enthusiasts and will be happy to provide my flying progression at PFA on the same Instagram account @flyteti, so you have an evidence that your donation was for a good and important cause.
Testimonial:
“Tetiana has been a student at Pilot Flight Academy since September 2023. She is attending the Integrated ATP program. Due to lack of fundings her training unfortunately has been paused until further. Tetiana has completed all theoretical studies, and her next step will be to start flying.
Tetiana’s performance during her theoretical studies has been very good. She has passed all 13 of the mandatory exams with an average score of 87% versus the required 75%. This is well above the average students’ performance. In addition to Tetiana’s theoretical skills she has also shown remarkable social skills.
In my opinion, Tetiana has the necessary qualities required to complete the flight training and thereafter have a successful career as an airline pilot.”
Captain Mikael Eriksson, CEO/COO of Pilot Flight Academy
What will happen if Tetiana will not meet the fundraising target?
-Donations will be returned back to donors.
Please be aware that after entering the sum which you want to donate for education you will see “Voluntary tipping by donors” which is set to 15% you can scroll it to the left, down to 0, as this is a tip to GoFundMe webpage and it will be deducted from your donation amount if you will not set it to 0 (unless you want to leave the tip to GoFundMe webpage itself). GoFundMe organizer will not see whether or not their donors leave a tip.
When it comes to transaction/conversion fee - 3 % will be deducted from the donation sum.
I will combine the total vipps sum together with this donation wallet for foreigners to meet the final target.
Thank you very much for your generosity and kindness!
Organizer
Tetiana Sergan
Organizer
Oslo, 3