Hi, my name is Ollie (Olga) Barabanshchikova and I am fundraising for my colleague, Ievgeniia Rozhenko who needs help getting her 9-year-old brother Oleksii Rozhenko from Ukraine to Vancouver.

 

Ievgeniia is from Kyiv, Ukraine working in Canada since 2021. All her family, including her parents and her brother, are currently in Ukraine. They had to flee several times following the start of the Russian invasion. Like for millions of Ukrainians, sleeping in basements and waking up to the sounds of falling rockets has become part of their everyday life.

 

Unfortunately, Ievgeniia's parents are unable to leave Ukraine. After very careful consideration, they made a difficult decision for Oleksii to leave the country without his parents, and join Ievgeniia in Canada.

 

Both of Ievgeniia's parents lost their source of income after the war started, as the work at their workplaces stalled and Ievgeniia has limited financial means as she only recently started working in Canada after being a student. She knows that it will be challenging providing for her brother in a country where life is considerably more expensive than in Ukraine, but the biggest expense that will be the most difficult for Ievgeniia to manage at this time is the airfare. Ievgeniia would appreciate any financial support to purchase them and she can manage the rest.

 

At the end of March, Ievgeniia will be flying from Vancouver to Europe to pick up her brother and fly back to Canada together. The air tickets to Europe and back to Canada cost approximately $2500 CAD, plus she will need about $500 CAD for additional commute and hotels while waiting for the visa.

 

Any money collected above this amount will be donated to the people in the village of Markhalivka outside Kyiv, Ukraine, whose houses were bombed. Some were left without a roof above their heads. This money would help them rebuild their houses or support themselves while they are sheltered outside their homes. The village has been home for Ievgeniia's family for generations and the Rozhenko family knows many of the people in person and will be able to transfer the money to them.

 

Please consider donating for Ievgeniia's family and the people of Markhalivka, any amount helps and will be much appreciated.