Refugee Support and Emergency Aid

When Ukraine gained independence from Russia in 1991 and communism was a thing of the past, despair hung over the country like a dark cloud. Jobs and income disappeared, and people became hopeless, turning to alcohol for comfort. Alcohol weakened families, and children suffered as a result, forcing them to deal with many difficulties: neglect, poverty, lack of opportunity, sexual abuse and worst of all, human trafficking.

Rev. Sergiy and Larisa Rybakova wanted to help at-risk girls and in 2012, they became foster parents to four girls. Having no children of their own, they did a trial to see how things would go. Everyone quickly realized they were well suited to fostering girls, and before long, they had ten girls in their care.

Now, Russia is invading Ukraine and there is an urgent need to help this family and others escape the war zone in Odessa to a place of safety.

Southgate Church has helped care for at-risk girls in Ukraine for many years, supporting the work financially and sending volunteers. Southgate wants to continue its involvement by supporting refugees and mobilizing others to help.

We are asking for help to expedite the immigration process for refugees so Southgate Church (North Grenville) can sponsor refugees and bring them to safety in Canada. We want to be a Community Sponsor to raise funds for transportation to Canada, to help people settle and re-start their lives in Canada.