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A refugee household that fled Ukraine after Russian troops invaded final yr has discovered a brand new life and a novel group within the Bay Space.
After fleeing japanese Ukraine and touring for a month, Yuilia Karpenko, her husband and 5-year-old son Volodymyr, who goes by Vova, landed in Redwood Metropolis.
Vova was admitted to the varsity on the St. Francis Middle. It was totally different than something the household knew earlier than.
Vova was scared after seeing a lot again residence. He by no means wished to depart his mother and did not converse any English as he entered kindergarten.
“He’s been afraid till now of an enormous noise,” Karpenko stated. “That may [make him afraid] in a short time.”
Months later, Vova is prospering and has clearly assimilated.
“I’m very happy with him as a result of he has large success and progress,” Karpenko stated.
The St. Francis Middle isn’t just a faculty. It offers meals and garments. There are 259 housing models serving low-income households, largely Latinx.
However when Sister Christina Heltsley heard Vova’s story, she knew they needed to take the household in.
“In a single sense, their tales are the identical,” Heltsley stated. “There may be a variety of violence that they’ve witnessed and skilled. They’re latest immigrants. They wanted us to welcome them, and we do.”
The varsity is free however requires one dad or mum to be on website as soon as every week. Karpenko spends it brushing up on conversational English.
“We wish to increase up the entire household when it comes to literacy, not simply the blessed fortunate child that bought in right here,” Heltsley stated.
Since many of the mother and father solely converse Spanish, Karpenko is studying it as nicely.
“Once they textual content message and chat in Spanish, I want to make use of vocabulary each time and Google translate,” Karpenko stated. “I made a decision that it may very well be helpful.”
The household just isn’t solely grateful for his or her new group, they’re serving to it develop.
“That now we have met them, that they’ve discovered us,” Karpenko stated. “Very appreciated from the underside of my coronary heart.”
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