Ukranian Student Fund

Hi, my name is Julie Ferreira. I hope to raise money to support my young friend Anastasiia Protsenko, a Ukrainian refugee.

Separated from friends, country, and other family members, Anastasiia and her mother, father, and five-year-old brother have been living in Lublin, Poland, adapting to ever-changing circumstances since their world was turned upside down by war. More than 3 million people have emigrated to Poland, so Anastasiia’s parents have struggled to find jobs. Their life in exile has not been easy.

Anastasiia has graduated with a General Education certificate which lasts 11 years in the Ukrainian system. Anastasiia has dreams of coming to the U.S. to go to college, but at 16, she is too young to apply. Luckily, like a puzzle of miracles with all the pieces falling into place, I have been able to arrange a full scholarship at a Waldorf School in Upstate New York where my daughter attended. She will attend the 12th grade studying and perfecting her English. Thankfully, a wonderful local family with children at the school has stepped up and will host Anastasiia for the school year.

Arranging the paperwork, the visas, and plane tickets will cost well over $1700. These are Anastasiia’s words---

"We are already spent all money for VISA, hence my parents will find this money, they want to borrow some money. Anyway, I can’t take winter clothes with me, because baggage is expensive. Can I somehow buy second-hand clothes in America? Julie said, that she can give me some money, when we will meet. Also my parents can’t give me pocket money with me, so I won’t able to get from airport to Ghent."

I plan to meet Anastasiia at JFK, rent a car to drive upstate, and help her settle into her new home and school. I would also like to help her family in Poland avoid the crushing cycle of payday loans.

I am collecting donations to send to Anastasiia’s family in Poland to help pay off their loan and to help Anastasiia with winter clothes, a cell phone, school lunches, pocket money, and all of the ordinary expenses associated with attending school in the U.S.

Thank you!

Julie