Our Families
The refugee experience is a journey marked by challenges and resilience. Forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or other crises, refugees often face uncertainties, displacement, and cultural adjustments. Organizations and communities play a crucial role in providing support, resources, and opportunities for refugees to rebuild their lives. The situation in Ukraine is complex and dynamic. Ongoing geopolitical tensions have led to a challenging environment. We were able to welcome two families from Ukraine to Hancock County in 2023, relocating them from this horrific situation.
The Artemchuk Family
We are the Artemchuk family from the south of Ukraine – the city of Kherson. My name is Marina, 36 years old, I worked for more than 10 years in government bodies: tax, in local self-government, since 2018 I have a hobby – I organize children’s festivals-art competitions in the city of Kherson, over time, my festival has acquired the status – international. My husband – Serhiy, 41 years old. He worked as a private entrepreneur, had his own two tire fitting stations, and a workshop for the production of tin products.
Together we raise three wonderful children: Artem is 18 years old, a future sailor, speaks Polish and English – at a high level, is interested in history and psychology, is fond of basketball. Dasha is 16 years old, speaks English, Spanish and Polish well , has been singing since childhood and took part in famous Ukrainian competitions and TV shows. Yaroslava is 6 years old, she loves to draw and already has a small collection of her own artwork, an active and cheerful girl.
The Kleshnev Family
I am Yulia Kleshneva, our family is from Ukraine, we have been living in the picturesque town of Bar Harbor, Maine, since May 2023. If someone had told us two years ago that we would be living in the USA, we would have called this person crazy.
We lived all of our lives in the city of Lisichansk in Eastern Ukraine. We had a house with a beautiful garden, where our daughters Sofiia and Solomiia grew up with love and happiness. We had good jobs and career prospects, our family and friends were nearby. Once in 2014, the war was already knocking on our doors, but the city survived and our little happy world remained twenty kilometers from the military demarcation line.