Let's help Ivan enrol into UWA

Hi everyone,

I'm Tunners's mum, Annabel, and I'm appealing to the Scotch Leaver's 2024 parent's group, and the wider Scotch community, to see if we can club together to help fellow Scotch peer Ivan Berdychevskyi fulfill his dreams of going to UWA.

At 'Lights Out', when I was misty eyed from the lone piper on the roof, I caught sight of an equally teary Ivan and went over to give him a hug. Ivan's parents are still in his war torn homeland, and he hasn't seen them since he and his sister escaped over the Hungarian border in February 2022.

Ivan has been looked after by his sister and by Scotch College who gave him a full boarding scholarship. He threw himself into Scotch life, eventhough he had no English at all, and he has excelled academically. He has been the photographer for our sporting and cultural events, he designed the beautiful leaver's rugby shirts and he completed six ATAR subjects (one extra, Russian, at Perth Mod).

'Lights Out' was very moving for us all but it must have brought feelings that we can't imagine for Ivan, seeing his friends with their mums and dads.

I have spent some time with Ivan over the year because in Britain, as a child, I had close friends from his homeland and I loved their culture and kindness. Ivan's main hope and dream has always been to study a double degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics with Commerce at UWA.

On the moonlit lawn I said to him 'Are you looking forward to University?' And he replied 'I'm excited but I have a big obstacle...the fees.' I was concerned for Ivan, he was completely playing down this enormous problem, and I immediately felt compelled to do something about it.

Ivan has to pay (up front) the first $20,000 towards his course in two week's time. He has applied for the one humanitarian scholarship at UWA but cannot rely on it being granted. He is on a bridging visa but has applied for a Resolution of Status visa. Without the latter, he is considered an international student and the course will be $160,000 for the 4 years but hopefully, as a domestic student, all being well, the course will be $40,000.

In each case, he still has to find $20,000 in two weeks. As a refugee, he simply does not have access to funds like this.

Sometimes, you just need someone to give you a helping hand. Ivan was very reluctant to let me help when I said to him on the lawn, 'Can we help you?' (signalling towards all the parents standing around with their sons) 'We will all make sure you get to University.' He has relented and allowed me to fundraise for him within our Scotch Community because his options are running out.

I know that Ivan will do very well with his degrees, he has huge potential both here and in his homeland. I can't bear the thought of him giving it all up and having to work in a menial job for the sake of $20,000.

If 100 of us can just put in $200 each, we can prop him up and help change his future. Let's do it!