Ukrainians who have fled the war in their home country are finding shelter and community in an apartment complex in Elkhorn, Nebraska. One such Ukrainian, Karolina Ohnivchuk, a 31-year-old mother of three, has been taking English classes with her neighbors, Oleksandr and Varvara Babishkevych, at the complex’s clubhouse.
The classes, taught by Kathy McCormack, focus on practical English phrases, such as those used to refill prescriptions or get test results from the doctor’s office. Karolina and her neighbors also practice reading English sentences from children’s books, including “Because of Winn-Dixie.”
Uncertain Futures Ahead
According to local reports, over 2,500 Ukrainians have been resettled in Nebraska since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. However, their future remains uncertain, as the two paths they used to come to the U.S. legally offer no direct path to citizenship and could be ended by the president with little notice.
The apartment complex, Elk Hills, has become a hub for the Ukrainian community, with roughly 1 in 5 tenants being Ukrainian. The residents have formed a tight-knit community, with many helping one another adjust to life in the U.S. and providing support during difficult times.
Lynnsey Danker, the property manager, has played a significant role in helping the Ukrainians settle into the complex. She was approached by a Ukrainian man, Nikolay, who had previously worked on the complex’s construction and was now seeking help for his family and friends who had fled the war.
Danker’s efforts have helped create a sense of community among the Ukrainian residents, who have started working for Nebraska companies, joining churches, and enrolling their children in local schools. The residents have also formed a network to help one another, with many providing support and assistance to those in need.
Read Also: Meta’s cute AI assistant could hide surveillance risks
Community Support Grows
McCormack, the English teacher, has seen the impact of this community firsthand. She has watched her students, including Karolina and Varvara, form strong bonds and support each other through difficult times. McCormack has also seen the residents come together to help new families arriving at the complex, including a new resident who is set to join in December with a baby.
The community has also been supported by local Nebraskans, who have provided assistance and resources to help the Ukrainians adjust to life in the U.S. This support is essential, as many of the Ukrainians face significant challenges, including language barriers and uncertainty about their future.
Varvara, a 70-year-old Ukrainian woman, has found a sense of purpose in the community, cooking traditional Ukrainian dishes, such as pirozhki, and sharing them with her neighbors. Her husband, Oleksandr, has also found support, despite struggling with health issues and the loss of Medicaid benefits.
As the residents of Elk Hills continue to face uncertainty about their future, they remain grateful for the support and community they have found. Karolina, who will begin college English courses in January, is determined to become proficient in English for her children’s sake, and McCormack is committed to helping her and the other Ukrainians for as long as she can.
Oleksandr and Varvara’s story is just one example of the challenges faced by the Ukrainians at Elk Hills. They fled Ukraine after the war began, traveling through Poland, Germany, and Mexico before arriving in the U.S. They have made the apartment complex their home, but they still miss Ukraine and face significant challenges, including Oleksandr’s health issues and the loss of benefits.
Oleksandr’s words, spoken through an interpreter, sum up the feelings of many residents: “You arrive in Mexico and you’re not sure that they aren’t going to tell you, ‘Get out of here. Go back where you came from.'” But in Elk Hills, they have found a place to call home, at least for now.
