After several blows, it must seem like a miracle for one 18-year-old Ukrainian scholar.
After several blows, it must seem like a miracle for one 18-year-old Ukrainian scholar.
Mykyta Ivanchuk, a gifted student with near perfect marks in high school, was studying law in Ukraine at a university in Kyiv when his homeland was invaded by Russia.
It was not the first time the family had encountered trauma. In 2014 his family fled western Ukraine to Kyiv when Russia annexed Crimea.
In the years in between, Ivanchuk ran the model United Nations at his school, taught English and history to high school students, was heavily involved in theater and worked part time.
His achievements caught the eye of Lisa Matlovich, a volunteer with Sarnia-Lambton Ukraine relief who helps Ukrainian refugees settle in Canada. She took up the fight to let Ivanchuk continue his studies here.
The United Nations estimates 5.8 million Ukrainians have fled their country since the Russian invasion in late February, and millions more are displaced within their homeland.
Canada has approved the resettlement of tens of thousands of Ukrainians in this country, where they can work and live for up to three years as temporary residents.
Precise numbers are difficult to pinpoint, but it’s thought that dozens of Ukrainian families have settled in the immediate London area and more in the wider region.
“He stood out as an exceptional person,” Matlovich said. “His parents shipped him (to Poland) to save his life. I felt an obligation to his mom. I thought his mom isn’t here to fight for him, so I’m going to do it.”
But Matlovich knew that even if she could get Ivanchuk to Canada safely, a post-secondary education would likely be out of his grasp.
Ukrainian scholars in Canada, many who fled their country with nothing but their suitcase, are considered international students and charged tuition costing thousands of dollars more than domestic students.
Matlovich first met Ivanchuk when he shared his photo and story on Facebook and his story “broke my heart,” she said.
He had told her because of his chaotic upbringing in Ukraine he “never had a childhood.”
Now, living in Poland, Ivanchuk is waiting for documentation to come to Canada to go to school at Lambton College, but only because Matlovich pushed hard for it.
“The only reason he got in (to college) was I fought like hell,” Matlovich said. “Ultimately after many, many phone calls and emails and calling in favors, we were able to get admittance to Lambton College.”
Lambton says he has accepted six Ukrainian students this coming school year in programs that include power engineering technology, business and accounting. Lambton’s support includes tuition and textbooks for the entire program.
“At this time, we’ve utilized all available funding to support Ukrainian students, but are continuing to look at other ways to support the need,” said Diana Forbes, Lambton’s director of marketing, communications and brand management.
Ivanchuk will take liberal studies in Sarnia, where he will be hosted by well-known local singer and performer Missy Burgess.
Though he says he’s “very thankful” to be awarded a post-secondary scholarship, other Ukrainian youth are not so lucky.
Sarnia resident Viktoriia Zhaivoron, 18, settled in Sarnia three months ago after abandoning her studies in marketing at a Kyiv university when the war broke out.
In a strange coincidence, Zhaivoron is also Ivanchuk’s best friend from Ukraine. They learned just recently they would both end up in Sarnia.
The up to $20,000 required for her to enroll as an international student in post-secondary education in Ontario is out of her reach.
In Kyiv, she paid $1,000 for a semester to study, she said.
“There is no space (in the programs) and it’s too expensive,” she said. “I am really worried. I’m trying to apply for any college. I’m trying. I know it’s impossible for me to study in my university in the Ukraine.
“It’s really important for me to get my education and start working here.”
Matlovich says she wants to know why the Ontario government is not offering more support to Ukrainian students.
“At least waive the international fees and let them in as Canadian students,” she said. “The international fee is prohibitive.”
Ivanchuk says he’s disappointed his friend will not get the same opportunity he has.
“We are not from rich families; we need support,” he said.
Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities says Ukrainian post-secondary students can access a $1.9-million Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship announced in April that provides up to $10,000 per student.
Students should contact their postsecondary institution’s financial aid office later this summer for more information on how to apply, ministry spokesperson Tanya Blazina said in an email.
“It will provide support to students affected by the conflict in Ukraine that are studying at one of Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges and universities,” she said. “Funding will be provided to post-secondary institutions who will make awards available to recipients starting in September.”
In addition, Blazina said, financial support of up to $28,000 is available through the province’s Better Jobs Ontario program, for basic living allowances, tuition, transportation and other critical needs.