Re-settlement and assistance of a Ukrainian family
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Artem, people who know me that will be reading this know me as Art, and I'm creating a fund on behalf of my Uncle, Volodymyr Shvets. His daughters, Alina and Alisa. And his wife, Olena. On February 24th, The Russian Federation deemed it necessary and, in their words, "left no other choice" but to invade my country from all sides. I'm writing this from the comfort and the safety of San Antonio, Texas. I'm completely and utterly helpless in doing anything to stop this conflict while my family's home is being bombarded, shelled and ripped apart from inside out. I've been an American citizen for five years now and have lived in the United States for almost fifteen years; I consider myself an American for all intents and purposes.
However, my family does not have the same privilege as I do. My uncle, his wife and daughters are currently residing in their home of Odesa, Ukraine. My uncle is a dentist, and his wife is a nurse; Alisa was a student admitted to the University of Kyiv before COVID, and the war began, and Alina is still in high school. My uncle and his family do not have the privilege of considering future possiblities because they are focused on the present. There is too much uncertainty about what will happen to Ukraine after the war is over. Will it be a war to decapitate the Ukrainian government swiftly and install a puppet regime on behalf of the Russian Federation? or will it be a prolonged war to inflict as much damage on the civilian population as possible? My family will use the money raised through this fund for the following: In the event of the Russian occupation of my country, the money will be used to make sure that my family gets across to the border of Moldova or Romania. From there, it will be used to give them peace of mind and a roof over their head as they find new occupations and new communities.
When my uncle called me this week and told me that they woke up at five in the morning to missile strikes outside their home, I could not believe it. Growing up, we were dirt poor. But we had liberty and freedom, a family in a developing country living in one of the most historically rich and beautiful cities. Whatever the outcome is for Ukraine, I know from experience that it will NOT be a hospitable place for two young women to lead productive lives. I know my uncle and his wife want better for their daughters, and I would trade places with them in a heartbeat if I could. But this is the only thing I can do right now to ensure that their future has some glimmer of hope. For those of you reading, I'm fully aware that a donation to a single Ukrainian family is a drop in a bucket compared to the millions of Ukrainians displaced by this conflict. And if this prevents you from donating, fair enough. However, if you still wish to assist the Ukrainian people, I will leave links below to reputable organizations that take donations to help people on a broader scale. Thank you for reading, Слава Україні!
Artem T.
Organizer
Artem Tsebrenko
Organizer
San Antonio, TX