Empower Refugee Anastasiia's Journey to Certification

I am asking for financial support for critical education for my dear friend, Anastasiia Sebeldina, who is a refugee from Ukraine.

She was a professional biochemist working in pharmaceutical labs back in Ukraine but needs a particular certification for the US regulations RAC. It's been a challenge to find work and get help navigating with little paperwork available from war-torn Ukraine. Any tangible help of info, finances, or great advice is greatly appreciated.

We are hoping to find many who could pitch in (any amount helps) to raise the funds to cover $8000 worth of UCSC Extension courses, materials, and tests needed. This certification will allow her to work in her field, at the position level she was educated for and employed in previously, giving her the ability to support herself and help her other family members in the same predicament. (NOTE: Another helper, who assisted in figuring out how to get what she needs educationally, said there's no financial aid available for her for this program. So if you know of any special grants or scholarships she'd be eligible for, with her status, please let us know.)

About Anastasiia

She's a brilliant, young chemist professional who gratefully got hired into a small company here but can't do her normal position without these USA certifications.

Back story:

Three years ago, I met Anastasiia and her family after seeing a post for helping the new arrivals. After a harrowing escape from Ukraine, through refugee camps, she eventually arrived here in Santa Cruz with her parents and younger sibling, sponsored by relatives. With very little and in shock from their journey and sudden change in reality, it has been a stressful and amazing growing journey for them all. The Welcome Network and many community members have played critical support roles in getting them all housed, providing resources, and helpers to try to navigate this complex reality. Anastasiia, being an adult, has independent status from her family, thus needs to find her own support.

I've been incredibly inspired by the courage, determination, and hard work of Anastasiia in a completely overwhelming circumstance. She and her family have done anything they can to learn a new language and customs, adjust, earn money, secure housing, and do all the mass amounts of paperwork. It's been our honor to welcome them and be part of their new lives here. Seeing them be loved on by our community is such a joy.

Besides trying to secure life here, Anastasiia is a member of UNWLA (Ukrainian National Women's League of America), volunteering and advocating in favor of Ukraine. They work directly with charity nonprofit organizations in Ukraine. She has been staying active, applying for jobs, and attending regulatory, industry, and pharma professional webinars and conferences. She was even flown to Chicago to attend an Automation Conference for her field. She is VERY motivated to get to a place of self-sufficiency, working hard, and so grateful for any and all assistance along the way.

Over these years since I met her, I've seen this community provide so many needs and support through our collective compassion and care (proud of our community). It has meant so much to them; they are so VERY grateful and humbled. As such, it's hard to “ask for more help,” but I assure her, you NEED more support. It's been such a long, hard, stressful, complex, traumatizing journey. There's NO SHAME in getting support from this community. (She is not eligible for much help or resources under TPS status and has applied for asylum, but it's taken three years to get this far. Asylum is still “pending.” )

I've been so proud to see the outpouring of love and help people are providing for refugees like Anastasiia from all over the world. AND their realities are, there's MUCH they still need support for in establishing them in their new lives here. Life is hard for many of us, but being a refugee is that much harder and more complex. Let us support all the fellow humans we can in our communities.

I am so proud of and inspired by Anastasiia too. She is a hardworking, motivated, caring, incredible human. Despite all her own challenges to overcome, she also helps others in any way she can and wants to give back more once she's able.

I hope you will join me in supporting her new life journey by contributing in any way you can too. This educational opportunity will greatly aid her in her career, therefore, aiding in her financial self-sufficiency and support of others in the community too.