A New Life for Our Parents

Hello, my name is Tetyana.

My sister Liliya and I would like to ask for help for our parents. We both live in Benalla. Liliya is married and has 3 boys, the youngest being 10 years old and I also am married and I have 15mth old triplets.

Our parents names are Ivan & Larysa and they arrived in Australia on the 12th March after their life dramatically changed when the town they lived in, Mykolaiv in Ukraine, was bombed and under attack by the Russian armed forces.

They found a way to get out of their town and fled to Poland. They had to leave everything behind and didn’t even have time to pick up treasured family photos. They have lost everything that they have ever worked for: their car, their apartment, and all their belongings. Ivan has lost his small business and Larysa her job. All they could bring was the clothes they were wearing and some toiletries.

After a very difficult journey to Poland, they managed to travel to Germany, where distant relatives were able to help with the printing of travel documents and visas that we had arranged for them, and they got them on board a plane for Australia.

Our parents are stressed and traumatized and don’t wish to be a burden on us or anyone else. Living with us for the last month has been difficult but they are very thankful that they are alive and here safely with their children and grandchildren.

We have been offered a unit for them to live in for $280 a week, so that they can have some quiet down time to themselves and live more independently. We are seeking a humanitarian visa and are under the impression that they will be available on the 1st July. Until then, we need to find the money for their rent.

We thank you for taking the time to read our story and we hope that you can find it in your hearts to help.