Family and friends,

 

This summer a lovely Ukrainian family will be staying with us. Leanne and I self-matched with Denys (Den), Viktoriia (Vika), Polina (15) and Yelisiei (8) on a great Facebook page called Ukrainian Settlement Helpers Ottawa. Over the past month we have been assisting them with their plans to move permanently to Ottawa.

 

When the Lavrynenko's arrive on May 24th they will move in with us - fair warning was given that it can get a little crazy/noisy at times - taking over the finished basement and, for those who know our house, the converted garage "three season room".

 

The family is currently in Georgia, having fled almost two months ago from Melitopol, one of the first Ukrainian cities taken by the Russians in the early days of the invasion. They could take very little with them when they fled and see no jobs and no future for the family in Georgia. So they set their sights on Canada.

 

I have been in touch with Den and Vika most days over the past month as we chased their passports and visas through the system to the Canadian Embassy in Turkey and back (Ambassador Khokar was super helpful - big kudos to him).

 

They are working on their English, looking for jobs, and have somehow maintained a positive attitude amidst the nightmare that has wrenched them from their former lives. There remains a hard and uncertain road ahead. They do need all the help they can get.

 

And so I am asking my family and friends who feel a connection to this cause to make a donation to support the Lavrynenko family as they begin their new lives in Canada. To be clear, they are not government sponsored refugees (a program that does not yet prioritize Ukrainians fleeing the war) and so receive very little support from any level of government. They need to quickly find jobs and pay their own way.

 

The goal of $10,000 represents an amount that will help get them into their own apartment by September (ideally before school starts) and have a small buffer to help manage the ups and downs of the coming year. Every dollar will go to Den and Vika directly. I do hope you can give - but of course respect completely if you don't! :)

 

Den and Vika are hugely thankful for everyone's thoughts, well-wishes and support. And they are even more excited to meet everyone over the coming months.

 

Thank you sincerely from me, Leanne, Ronan, Malcolm and Oscar!!