Metro Atlanta family helps Ukrainian refugee start new life in Georgia

MARIETTA, Ga. — It has been 100 days because the first Russian troops invaded Ukraine, setting off a battle that has left million of Ukrainians with no house.

But the conflict has additionally introduced many individuals collectively. Actually, households in Georgia and the US have taken in lots of refugees.

However a few of the refugees have misplaced every part and plenty of are having bother constructing a life right here within the U.S.

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Channel 2′s Justin Wilfon spoke to a Ukrainian refugee presently dwelling in Marietta to debate the issues he’s dealing with.

Regardless of every part he has gone by means of, the 23-year-old Ukrainian informed Wilfon that he’s grateful.

Aleksey Sorokolet mentioned he used to name the bombed-out metropolis of Mariupol house however for now, he calls Marietta house.

The 2 cities couldn’t be extra totally different, however to date he says he’s having fun with it whereas additionally dealing with some obstacles.

“All of my life… my dream…was to come back to America,” Sorokolet mentioned.

He doesn’t communicate a lot English however he doesn’t must. It’s nonetheless clear that Sorokolet is joyful, and that he has discovered a peaceable place.

“I like Marietta. It’s a small, lovely metropolis. All of the bushes are good,” Sorokolet mentioned.

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Hundreds of miles away from his new house in Cobb County, his outdated house painted a unique image. It’s now a bombed-out condominium constructing in Mariupol, Ukraine.

As an alternative of getting Sorokolet face the prospect of heading house, Janelle Schultz and her husband Wealthy invited Sorokolet to their house in Marietta.

“He left Ukraine on the twentieth of February to go to a marriage in Poland, and by the point he was prepared to return house, the Russians had already bombed Mariupol, which is the place he was dwelling,” Janelle Schultz defined.

Schultz informed Wilfon that there’s a language barrier however they’re working by means of that.

The Schultz’s discovered Sorokolet by means of a brand new U.S. program referred to as Uniting for Ukraine, which permits Ukrainians to stay within the U.S. for as much as two years, so long as an American is prepared to host or sponsor them.

Schultz informed Wilfon that after arriving three weeks in the past, Sorokolet is dealing with some challenges. It’s attainable he can wait as much as 9 months for his U.S-issued work allow.

“It means we’re doing issues like volunteering at a horse camp to maintain him busy, to extend his language abilities to make it possible for he’s not bored. As a result of he actually needs to be engaged and helpful,” Schultz mentioned.

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Sorokolet additionally doesn’t have insurance coverage however requires dental work after sustaining an harm whereas coaching canines for the Ukrainian navy.

“Sharpnel got here and hit him within the mouth so he has a tooth that in all probability must be changed,” Schultz mentioned.

Sorokolet finally hopes to coach canines within the U.S.

However for now, he informed Wilfon that he’s adjusting properly to American life and having fun with American meals.

“He’s a giant fan of hamburgers and Pop-Tarts”, Schultz mentioned.

There are nonetheless many Ukrainians on the lookout for properties tonight.

The U.S. expects to confess as much as 100,000 Ukrainians into the U.S. by means of the Uniting for Ukraine program.

If you want to host considered one of them, you may apply right here.

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