Help Olha to fulfill her college education dream

Hello everyone,

My name is Val Ivanova, and I am starting this fundraiser for Olha Chorna, who I sponsored to find a refuge in the USA from the horrors of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Daily air-raids and missile attacks have led to death and destruction, profoundly traumatizing Olha and her mom and leaving them with no choice but to leave their beloved country. The post-traumatic stress from what she’s witnessed is evident when she gets startled by the slightest of sounds and is terrorized by the sound of planes flying overhead. They arrived in the United States with nothing but the clothes on their backs and a few personal belongings in a suitcase.

Olha lost her father when she was 14 years old. He sacrificed his life to save her from drowning. He was her world, her role model. After his death, she and her disabled mom were left to fend for themselves. Olha worked part-time while finishing high school to help her family as they were facing incredible financial hardship. As an honor-roll student, she was able to secure a financial Scholarship to Khmelnytskyi National University in Ukraine. She was a third-year student in a Physical and Occupational Therapy program when she had to abruptly interrupt her education and leave for safety.

A true testament to her determination, she was able to successfully complete her school year by attending online classes from the United States. The time difference made doing so especially challenging: she was attending classes from 1:00 am–8:00am. After her classes, she would go to volunteer at a physical therapy center, returning home to study in the evening and do her assignments for school. Nevertheless, despite getting only a few hours of sleep a day, she persevered. Olha is working odd jobs to help support herself and her mother, but she has never lost track of her goal to complete her education.

Her future seems uncertain, but she is determined to start her life in this great nation and become a valuable member of society by contributing her skills and talents as a Physical Therapist. Her life goal is to be able to help injured civilians, soldiers, and veterans that have suffered trauma from the many unjust wars over the years, so they can live to their fullest potential.

Olha was delighted to be accepted by Duquesne University Physical and Occupational Therapy program for the fall semester starting in August 2023. Duquesne University has been very supportive and helped her secure the maximum financial scholarships offered, but unfortunately it is insufficient to cover the entire cost of tuition. Options like Federal Assistance are not available as her immigration case is still being processed.

Her dream is so close, yet so far! She remains $25,000 short to cover the education cost.

Considering all of the challenges that she has faced, I truly admire her perseverance, dedication, persistence and optimism to further her educational and professional goals.

Her college acceptance offer is in danger of slipping away, but I believe that with your help we will be able to prevent this. We hope to, one day, see Olha walking up the stage to receive her Physical Therapy diploma and see the sparkle in her eyes as this determined, brilliant, hardworking, and passionate young woman fulfills her dream.

We humbly ask that you help us make this dream a reality.

Thank you in advance for your contributions.

Sincerely, Val