Teaching English to Ukrainian Refugees
I dropped in on Dr. Keith Madsen as he taught an ESL class to refugees from the war in Ukraine in Douglas County this week
“Head, shoulders, knees, and toes! Knees and toes,” the group of about 14 adults sang in the multipurpose room of the First Slavic Baptist Church in East Wenatchee, Wa. on the afternoon of Nov. 11, 2022.
Dr. Keith Madsen, a retired minister and author, led about 11 Ukrainian refugees in song before transitioning to a conversation focused on parts of the body and how to describe how they feel.
Madsen has been working with the group for about two months now and said the goal is to get them fluent enough to be able to get jobs and support themselves in this new and unfamiliar place about 5000 miles away from their home. He’s a board member of the Friends of Ukraine Refugees volunteer committee, which has helped more than 50 refugee families in Chelan, Douglas and Grant counties find housing, clothing, food assistance, educational resources, medical attention, legal aid, and more since the war in Ukraine started.
I’m working on a short documentary about the refugees who have come to the North Central Washington region, as well as the volunteers who have stepped up to help get on their feet in America.
You can watch a short interview I did with Madsen and see him in action as an ESL teacher in this video:
Other folks, like Joe Gluzinski, the owner of Blue Skies Food Shack, have been putting on fundraisers and raising thousands of dollars to benefit Ukrainian refugee families in North Central Washington.
In this interview, he explains what Halupki for Hope is and he's so committed to helping Ukrainian refugees.
There are many ways to get involved, and the need is great. So we set up the website friendsofukrainerefugees.org where folks can learn more and donate their time, talent and/or their treasure to help Ukrainian refugees in North Central Washington.
Save the Date: 2023 Campaign Kickoff Event
To kick off a fundraising campaign next year, the Friends of Ukraine Refugees committee will be having a public event on Ukrainian Christmas, Jan. 6, 2023 at the LocalTel Events Center at Pybus Public Market.
There will be door prizes, a silent auction, a dessert dash, live music, speakers and more, so if you’re interested in the work the Friends of Ukraine Refugees group is doing, save the date and join us.
