The short version: Hi I’m Liz Willock and I need the help of my community and yours too! Help us raise some serious funds for this beautiful family as they tackle their biggest hurdle yet - preparing and applying for Permanent Residency in Alberta . Pavliuks are SO deserving of your gift and we will make sure every red cent goes towards immigration consulting, lawyers, fees, exams, and many more hidden costs.

The longer story: in early February 2024, I prayed a simple prayer and the answer I got was so immediate, out of left field and bizarre - that I couldn’t deny it. Within 24 hours I had agreed to host a family who were fleeing their home in Kyiv to start fresh and far from the war, in Edmonton. All I knew was that they were waiting in Warsaw, he had fought in the army, their kid had a heart condition and they were taking English lessons. We had one, fairly broken, conversation on Facebook calls with a colleague of mine serving as translator. In between the onslaught of thank-you’s, we worked out that he was an electrician, she was a hairdresser, Luka was 9yrs old and that we had a good pair of snow boots for the kid. A few weeks later, I’m picking them up at the airport and witnessing both breathtaking beauty and bravery and the heart breaking and harsh reality they were facing. My neighbours poured in with clothes, toys and gift cards. My brother in law was able to connect Igor with Electrical work. My friends and family became Liuda’s first hair clients and we got Luka settled into the local school. It felt like such a privilege to give these people a soft place to land and witness how quickly my circle rose up to help. It felt like what we’re meant to do for each other and put real faces and tender lives in place of headlines. These are kind, funny, wholehearted Ukrainians - and receiving “handouts” is not something they could easily accept (AT ALL) but I told them over and over - “Too bad. This is how you become a real Canadian. We help each other for no reason and don’t get tired of this.”

1 month turned into 3, into 6 and here we are 2 years later; I’ve had a front row seat to Pavliuks love and struggle in what they are desperately trying to make their settlement story. The decisions and challenges they have faced are massive and I think we’re at the hardest part. There is a lot riding against them with time, work permits, legislation, policy, and a significantly discouraging amount of road blocks outside of their control. They’ve done everything possible to get to this point, and now they need money.

Please consider giving and share this like it was for your own family. In this wild season of (did I really just type out worldwide devastation and grief and not hyperbolize?) pretty terrible times, you can make a real difference and have a life changing impact for Igor, Liuda and Luka.

Be a little light in someone’s dark and help this family hold onto the life they would like to keep in Canada. If you know me personally, I’ve never go-fundied before and 1000% vouch for them. Thank you for giving and thank you for sharing!!! Let’s go viral.

A bit about them:

Igor passed his journeyman exam on his 3rd try (omg those months were painful) and has stayed on with AltaPro who hired him in that first year. If he’s not fixing something or “helping” Luka with LEGO or studying or reluctantly snuggling with Clover, he’s trying to conceal concern and shore up hope and strategy for their future. Tough guy exterior for one of the biggest hearts I know.

After 2 yrs volunteering with a non profit, Liuda just got a paid position!!! With their thrift shop during the week. She still spends a lot of evenings and weekends seeing hair clients here at home or travels to them. (If you need a mobile hairdresser, she’ll always take more clients). She is also the most fearsomely loving and devoted Slavic mama and wife. I cannot get over her tiny, tireless self. She is joy and generosity and also, don’t mess with her.

Luka is in grade 5, has some good lil buddies, loves Grogu, Lego, games, reading, reading, reading, and 3D Printing stuff for his friends as a little side hustle. He’s really into math, can draw insanely well and can play Smoke on the Water on the ukulele.

Let’s blow their freaking minds with generosity and help them cross the finish line! It’s been a very long and tiring race and we want them to stay ; )

with love - Liz