THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (07/19/98)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

Sisters who fled war-torn Bosnia look forward to new life in U.S.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Sisters Oksana and Tatjana Bobrek, formerly of Potocani (near Banja Luka), Bosnia, became members of the Ukrainian National Association soon after their first steps on American soil. They say they have been blessed by the realization of a dream they thought would never come true.

Soon after the war began in Bosnia, the sisters, then still teenagers, escaped to Lviv (Tatjana in 1992 and Oksana in 1994) and were granted the status of refugees. There they completed two years of nursing college and improved their knowledge of the Ukrainian language. Once they were in Ukraine, however, they had great difficulty obtaining refugee visas in order to be reunited with relatives in the United States.

Their uncle Peter Bobrek of Tennessee filed all the necessary papers to sponsor the girls. Oksana and Tatjana appealed to the International Rescue Committee, which ultimately came to an agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. The INS conducted interviews with the girls in Vienna, and subsequently the girls received permanent residence status.

Finally, after five years of attempts and many days and nights of prayer, in February the girls arrived in Knoxville, Tenn., where they joined the family of their uncle. They have begun to intensively study the English language in order to take the next big step in their lives. They have taken the exams required to be certified nursing assistants and plan to take the TOEFL exam (Test of English as a Foreign Language) in August. Then they hope to enroll in college to continue their nursing studies.

The sisters have found work as nursing assistants at a Knoxville nursing home. Both Oksana, 23, and Tatjana, 21, say they want to participate in Ukrainian community life in this country.

The girls are new members of UNA Branch 83, the Philadelphia-based Ivan Franko Society, whose secretary is Stefan Hawrysz, a member of the UNA Auditing Committee.

Young UNA'ers

Carly Anne Prowe, 3, daughter of Donna and Mark A. Prowe, is a new member of the UNA. She was enrolled by her grandparents George and Katherine Prowe, who is the secretary of Branch 26 in Toms River, N.J.

Dylan M. Roberts and Stephanie M. Roberts, children of Nancy M. and Glen Roberts, are new members of UNA Branch 267 in Westbury, N.Y. They were enrolled by their mother. The secretary of the branch, Gloria Tolopka, is their grandaunt.

Jennifer M. Bilyk, seen above at the age of 3 months, is the daughter of George and Sharan Bilyk. The new member of UNA Branch 170 in Jersey City, N.J., was enrolled by her grand parents Wolodymyr and Halyna Bilyk.

Matthew Alexander Handzy, son of Damian and Renata Handzy, is a new member of UNA Branch 88 in Kerhonkson, N.Y. He was enrolled by his grandparents Dr. Jerry and Lesia Handzy.

Victoria E. and Ronald McCarthy, children of Annastasia and Kevin McCarthy of Wawarsing, N.Y., are new members of UNA Branch 88. They were enrolled by their grandparents Victor and Eva Nowicki.

Paul Matthew Bylen, son of Peter and Lillian Bylen of Westchester, Ill., is a new member of UNA Branch 17. He was enrolled by his father, who is branch secretary.