Alina Chernyakova spent weekdays in a bomb shelter within the Ukrainian metropolis of Sumy when Russia first invaded the nation final yr.
The metropolis is lower than 20 miles from Russia and was one of many first to be occupied by Russian forces after warfare broke out. It was a harmful place to reside, Chernyakova stated, and her scenario was made tougher as a result of her late husband was coping with most cancers.
But on Thursday, Chernyakova landed at Logan and walked into the worldwide arrivals space with a job lined up in Needham and a military of volunteers prepared to assist her settle into a brand new life in Massachusetts.
Holding a small Ukrainian flag, Chernyakova stated “I stand with Ukraine” as she laid eyes on a gaggle of individuals ready for her.
“I would like to begin in a new way in my life, because I have no job in Ukraine,” she instructed reporters on the airport. “But the difficult situation may be temporary. I hope it will be okay soon. I hope.”
Chernyakova is in line to work as a trainer at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham due to a program facilitated by the humanitarian group Alight, The Shapiro Foundation, Social Finance, Talent Beyond Boundaries, Bright Horizons, JFS Metrowest, and Miles4Migrants.
The Ukrainian migrant has a background in schooling, having earned a PhD in pedagogy whereas in Ukraine.
Candidates for the relocation program are recognized in Ukraine and Poland by means of social media, digital surveys, and European-based Alight employees. Their data is saved in a job catalog made accessible to employers within the United States and maintained by Talent Beyond Boundaries.
People are then matched with U.S.-based employers in the event that they meet particular job necessities. If the corporate or group agrees to rent the particular person, Alight facilitates sponsorship paperwork and works with locals to assist the migrants as soon as they’re on U.S. soil.
Miles4Migrants helps the migrants get to the U.S. from Ukraine and resettlement companies safe housing and enroll the newcomers in assist providers. Alight says resettlement assist is most intensive within the first 45 days.
Chernyakova can have assist from two members of Temple Beth Shalom who got here to the U.S. from the previous Soviet Union once they had been younger.
One of them, Igor Khislavsky, 39, moved to West Hartford, Connecticut from what’s now Kyiv, Ukraine in November 1989.
“There were volunteers that helped us when we first got here. We didn’t have any family. We didn’t really have anybody,” Khislavsky stated. “And so over time, we’ve been able to do well in this country. We’ve been able to create a really great life for our families, our kids. And so I think that’s certainly a part of why it seemed like a no-brainer to participate in things like this.”
Irene Berlinsky, one other volunteer, got here to the United States from Minsk, Belarus when she was practically eight years outdated. She stated she by no means had a extremely sturdy connection to Ukraine however felt related to the immigrant expertise from the previous Soviet Union.
Berlinsky stated she and Khislavsky spoke with Chernyakova over video chat earlier than her arrival, helped put together an house, and introduced a bag of small presents to present her at Logan.
“We’re grateful that she’s going to be teaching our children and excited that we get to be part of this groundbreaking program that helps do so much good to fill these needed early childcare jobs, and help refugees,” Berlinsky stated.
U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, whose district contains Needham, was additionally readily available for Chernyakova’s arrival.
“This event today, it represents the best of the United States,” he stated. “We’re welcoming refugees, helping them build new lives for themselves and their families here in the United States. This has happened for over 400 years before this, helping them contribute to the economy and to society.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”