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Ukraine-Russia war: Stevens alumna’s personal story in resilience and hope

“Because now it’s not just some story, it becomes your story.”

From left to right Aleksandra Malantchouk, Sawka’s mom. Gregoriy Malantchouk, Sawka’s grandfather, who fought in the Ukrainian resistance army in WWII, got caught at 18 and spent the next 10 years in the prison camp. He worked hard and eventually made it back to his beloved Ukraine to build a home for his family. Natalia Sawka (Malantchouk)’08 – moved to US in 1999 as a freshman in High School. She currently work as a Global Program Manager for a chemical company, Infineum

Too often, we choose to become desensitized to the human side of wars—seeking facts and statistics—unaware of the historic changes battle brings in our education and culture decades down the line. Especially in the current environment with the Ukraine-Russia war, for those of us who have not lived through such events in our lifetime, it can be difficult to understand the fear, concern, and resilience of those on the ground. The Stute had the opportunity to share the personal story of Stevens alumna Natalia Sawka (Malantchouk) ‘08, who immigrated to the U.S. when she was a freshman in high school, as well as her family’s history with Ukraine, and how our community can get involved in aiding Ukrainian refugees.

Sawka was born into the Soviet Union (USSR) and witnessed the Soviet Union break up when she was six years old. When the USSR fell apart, Ukraine was independent and her family was able to celebrate holidays without the fear of retaliation from the USSR government. She grew up in the city of Chervonohrad, which was about 30 miles away from the Polish border. Sawka has very fond memories of growing up in Chervonohrad, and when educating the gravity of the current Ukraine-Russia war to friends and colleagues, Sawka shares the personal story of her grandfather’s journey to freedom during World War II. 

During World War II, Ukraine was engaged in conflict against the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany (1942-1949). Ukraine was a strategic location for surrounding countries and a resistance army rose up to reclaim the country’s identity as an independent nation. Sawka’s grandfather, Gregoriy Malantchouk, fought in the Ukrainian resistance. However, at the age of 18, he was caught by Russian forces and spent nearly ten years in a prison camp in Kazakhstan. While in Kazakhstan, he met Sawka’s grandmother, and her father and his sister were born in Kazakhstan. Malantchouk “worked very hard, and took a long train trip from Kazakhstan to Ukraine.” Once in Ukraine, he worked as a security guard at school at night because that is “how the system worked to get an apartment in the city.” 

Sawka also cherishes the hard work of her parents to provide her and her brother a safer and brighter future in the U.S. After living in Ukraine for a while, her parents immigrated to the U.S. to search for a better livelihood for their children to grow up in. Sawka reminisces how she was unable to contact them for five years, but knew they had to make that decision and worked very hard so as to “provide better opportunities for the next generation.” When her parents came back to Ukraine, they brought Sawka and her brother back to the U.S. 

Sawka was a freshman in high school and only had four years to learn English in order to get into university. Like many immigrant students, Sawka was adamant to not be put in ESL classes—despite her guidance counselor’s belief that she would fail without it—and spent “every night with a dictionary, and used the writing lab at school” to improve her English skills. For Sawka, it was essential for her to get to university. Against all odds, she graduated Top 10 of her class and went on to attend Stevens for the next five years. This was the first milestone in her academic career where Sawka’s hard work came to fruition — to her, America became the place where “if you work hard, your hard work pays off.” To her parents, seeing her and her brother succeed showed them that their hard work to immigrate to the U.S. had ultimately worked.

Sawka attended Stevens from 2003 to 2008, earning a B.E. in Chemical Engineering and an M.E. in Systems Engineering. She was also involved in the varsity Track and Field team, Alpha Phi Omega, and Engineers Without Borders. She had the unique opportunity to build a hydroelectric station in the Dominican Republic, exposing her to the cultural experiences that she continues to hold dearly in her professional and personal life. 

After graduation, Sawka went on to work for an engineering firm, setting up various plants across the world. She currently works as a Global Program Manager for a chemical company, Infineum, who she has been with for the past 12 years. Growing professionally and working her way up, Sawka’s roles involved global teams, allowing her to embrace a piece of her Ukrainian culture she had to leave behind when she moved. Part of her still misses the Ukrainian culture, “that is European, warm.” Even if she cannot be in Ukraine to experience her culture, being immersed in other international cultures is reminiscent of her experiences back home. Sawka furthermore appreciates the international effort to deliver a great project. 

When she sees the news of the war, Sawka says it’s imperative for the community to understand that Russian oppression is not something new, it has been fought against for decades. Her parents, her grandparents, are seeing history repeat itself — “it was what they did as kids 80 years ago, it is what they see again.” Furthermore, “oppression has been there longer than even the current presidents have been born.” 

When she speaks with friends and family in Chervonohrad, and listen to what they experience and what we see in the news, their stories feel that much worse because you hear “the fear in their voice when you hear them tell you they spent the night in the bomb shelter.” Because now “it’s not just some story, it becomes your story.” 

Despite everything, Sawka finds hope and comfort in the overwhelming support Ukrainians are getting from around the world, the resilience and high spirits of those fighting on the ground, and the Ukrainians’ unity in preserving their country’s future. Because of this history of oppression and the history of resistance, Ukrainians have united together “determined to fight with strong fundamentals in resilience.” Seeing their unity both “warmed and broke” Sawka’s heart; when Russia invaded Ukraine, Sawka “felt terrible. I felt like I was a part of the whole situation, and should be there with them. [However], having two little kids, it wasn’t a feasible idea.” 

So, with the support of family and friends, Sawka and her family decided to develop the Friends of Chervonohrad, as the scale of the crisis was so overwhelming they found that “supporting the community that raised us would be a good start.” Sawka shares that “overwhelming would be an understatement,” for the support she and her family have received so far with donations and awareness. When they started the fundraiser they posted a list with supplies, and in a matter of days were able to raise $25,000. Weeks later they were able to raise $60,000. Through supply chains in Poland, they were able to get the supplies and provide the funds to family and friends on the ground in Chervonohrad. They are therefore able to provide some form of stability to their hometown by providing the necessary supplies. Sawka states that this “gave them an opportunity to fight with [Ukrainians], and support them, making [her and her family] feel engaged in their community.” Her uncle moved to Ukraine earlier this month to volunteer with the supply logistics team to deliver supplies. 

“That kind of hope helps one day at a time, and [with that] same hope, they will get through this situation. It’s unfortunately a high price but will have a brighter future.” 

Overall, Sawka is very grateful for the positive support and is hopeful that her home country will overcome the war, and “rebuild a better country than it has ever been.” The price of freedom “is unfortunately a high price,” but Sawka is confident that Ukraine “will have a brighter future.” 

Friends of Chervonohrad are still looking for volunteers and support. Currently, they have developed an Amazon wish list that lists all the needed supplies and is updated as soon as family and friends on the ground let them know what is needed. At the moment, they are in need of medical supplies and power banks for phones. With the damaged electrical infrastructure impacting communication, these are important for them to get a hold of. Sawka would like to further highlight that “monetary donations go a long way,” and information about what a $10, $20 donation provides is available on their website, Friends of Chervonohrad. For example, $10 can provide a trip to Poland, and $100 will feed a family of four for a month. 

Children, more importantly, are in need of tablets that can continue their education remotely. Sawka underscored the importance that these kids left their homes with nothing on them, and education can provide them the “much needed stability” during this crisis. 

The Stute was grateful for the opportunity to highlight the personal story and journey of a Stevens’ alumna and relief efforts to support Ukrainian refugees. Sawka wanted to share that, “We would like to continue this support, and in a situation like this, when you have so many skills to help others, being able to help the community and hometown that raised you, seems like the very right thing to do.” 

If you are interested in supporting the relief effort, here are resources you can engage with:

Website: Sawka and her family developed the website, Friends of Chervonohrad, which includes the donation link and information on other opportunities to help. 

Amazon Wishlist: This is continuously updated based on the needs of family and friends in Chervonohrad. This list includes baby food, hygiene products, medicine, and more. More than tens of thousands of boxes of goods have been shipped. 

Socials: Stay connected with the developments, events, and how donations are directly aiding those in need through their Instagram. You can follow them at @friendsofchervonohrad 

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