Ukrainian refugee Tymofii is just 18 years old, but he and his parents, Viktoriia and Mykola, have lived through not one, but two wars, having twice fled their home.

Once in 2014 they fled their home in Sloviansk, as armed men seized the neighborhood. When the full fledged invasion began in 2022, they hid in a basement for 11 days surrounded by incessant tanks and gunfire.

Eventually, they joined the miles-long caravan of cars trying to flee the city, inching forward for hours on icy roads, with fear in mind but dream in hand.

Reflecting on those days, Tymofii said:

“I might be dead already — but because I’m alive, I will grow, evolve, and honor God’s gift.”

After two difficult years in Poland, where anti-refugee sentiment made it impossible to feel at home, the Shamotas were able to resettle in Spokane, Washington through a U.S. sponsor. Here, they’ve finally found safety and kindness.

Through all of this, Tymofii never let go of his dream. Since he was 4 years old, he has loved fashion—draping fabric, sketching, and creating. Against all odds, that passion steadied him through years of displacement. And now, he’s been accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, one of the world’s top fashion schools.

But starting from scratch in a new country means the family doesn’t have the resources for tuition, housing, and necessities.

We’re raising funds to cover:

The Shamotas have shown extraordinary resilience. Supporting them now means giving a young refugee the chance to turn survival into purpose, and to build the future he has dreamed of since childhood.

Please join us in helping Tymofii begin this next chapter and use his art to make a difference. Every contribution, large or small, helps him do that.

Thank you for standing with this family.