Support Yan and Yuliia's Journey to Independence in the USA

We are Emma and Jonathon, a couple living in rural North Carolina. Back in January, we were contacted by a young couple from Ukraine, asking us if we might be willing to sponsor them on the government-run program ‘Uniting for Ukraine’. With little deliberation, we started the process, and in almost no time at all, they were approved to come to the USA.

‘Uniting for Ukraine ’ is a government program that helps Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war in their country find refuge in the USA for up to two years.

Yan and Yuliia, our new Ukrainian friends, were forced by their families, still living in Kyiv, to evacuate to Germany for their safety back when the war first started. Yan, still a minor at the time, was protected by the German authorities until he turned eighteen when he found himself having to find his own way in a foreign country alone.

Thankfully, Yan and Yuliia met during this time, became friends then a couple, and have since been trying to find their way together while war wages in their country.

Yan and Yuliia arrived in the USA in mid-April ready to start their lives over again. They arrived with one small suitcase each, having left everything and everyone they know behind.

We have, with pleasure, invited Yan and Yuliia to live with us while they save money to get a car and eventually their own place.

We live in a very rural place, 45 minutes from the nearest town, and gaining employment is almost impossible without transportation. We have tried our best to get them jobs with friends who can find them some work hours that they can either walk to or where we can take them to work with us, but hours are slim.

They desperately want to find their own way and have independence, and for this, they need a car. Both of them have been studying every day for their written test at the DMV because, with driver's licenses, they can find other job prospects and save for their own place.

We hope to raise funds for them to afford a first car and some car insurance. Any funds after that would go a long way in helping them put a deposit down on an apartment, maybe even pay their first couple of months' rent so that they can get ahead.

They are a super sweet couple and just want to make the most of the opportunity they have been given. They haven’t asked for any of this and just want to thrive and live their lives to the fullest.

Any help you could give would go a long way in helping Yan and Yuliia get on their feet and make their time in the USA a great one.