Hi,
We are Susannah & Tim from Ashford, Kent. We met Lisa & Anastasiia (both 17) when they were 10 in 2015 as we hosted them as part of a Chernobyl respite programme. Over the years, we have taken the girls on some holidays and spent time with the girls and their families at their homes.
Now the girls are escaping their war-torn country as their home town in Korosten has been badly shelled. Nearly, three weeks ago the girls had the opportunity to get on a bus to Prague. The girls and their parents asked whether we would collect the girls and take them back to the UK. We were encouraged by the news of a quick turnaround visa application system for affected refugees. However, despite uploading all the documents and filling in the lengthy forms with the girls by March 21st, we still have no visas. We are stuck in Prague in a small accommodation, which we cannot afford to keep paying for, having already spent in excess of a month's earnings on this rescue (transport, accommodation and other costs for the girls). We are now in the unenviable position of perhaps them needing to go back to Korosten or us trying to find accommodation for them elsewhere. The UKVI will not give us a date when they will likely get this sorted despite us visiting their office four times. Any money raised through this site is not for the two of us; it is for the girls. We need to secure accommodation for them while the visas are awaited, pay their transport costs and also to be able to get them the necessary items for college and generally as they only have one small bag with them each. Both girls had secured places at universities in Kyiv to commence in September 2022. It is unlikely they will be able to take up those places, but we would like to use any money left from this fundraiser to start saving for their university life.
Any amount you can contribute to this fundraiser is gratefully received!
With best wishes from Susannah, Tim, Anastasiia and Lisa xxx