Ukrainian refugee in Las Vegas rebuilds life with charity's help
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A woman left her home country, Ukraine, three years ago and has since rebuilt her life in the Las Vegas valley with the help of Lighthouse Charities.
Liudmyla Inozemsteva left Ukraine with her daughters. At the time, her husband stayed behind to fight against the Russian army, but he has since reunited with them in Las Vegas.
'When I came here I was like a high school student, you know without credit, without a debit card, you can't even rent an apartment or do simple things,' Inozemsteva said. 'I am so grateful for Lighthouse Charities; they help a lot for me with my first car, with my apartment, with my food.'
Cindy Trussel Founder and CEO of Lighthouse Charities has assisted many refugee families by teaching them English and providing basic needs and job skills.
'There is nothing I could possibly tell you in words that I could describe seeing someone reach their goals to give back to the community,' Trussel said. 'Become self-sufficient and ultimately become an asset to our community. It's essentially why I do what I do and why I get out of bed every morning and come and do this work.'
Inozemsteva is now working full-time at Frosted Bakery and continuing to rebuild her life.
'I have a job. I have money and I pay my taxes and I just step by step want to have a better life when everything was destroyed,' Inozemsteva said.
She says that despite being in America, she worries about the state of Ukraine.
'I'm so grateful and thankful for all American people, but I'm just feeling… the situation in the Oval Office I feel like that it's destroyed all independence of Ukraine and all the people of Ukraine.' Inozemsteva tearfully said. 'When you have something and left everything and now you feel like something's changed.'
The goal is to continue to move forward, and she says she's lucky to have found a home away from home in Las Vegas.
'My English is more improved, and it's easy to understand and speak and just to have a community and to have friends and to have a job and to have everything I need in my life,' Inozemsteva said.
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