Anna Starodubtseva never imagined owning her own business. In her hometown of Kharkiv, Ukraine, she began sewing clothes for her daughter when she was born, but it was her swimsuit designs for young girls that quickly gained popularity.

But when war broke out near Kharkiv on the morning of Feb. 24, the fate of her business and familyB次元官网网址檚 lives were forever changed.

B次元官网网址淲e got up at 4:50 am and heard the sound of bombs,B次元官网网址� her husband Nick Starodubtsev said in a phone interview, from their home in the District of Saanich. B次元官网网址淲e understood this is a war.B次元官网网址�

Soon after the Russian invasion began, the couple and their 10-year-old daughter, made the decision to flee their home country.

Leaving behind everything and everyone she knew wasnB次元官网网址檛 easy B次元官网网址� but for her, it was just as hard leaving behind the business she started from her home eight years ago.

The family set their sights on Greater Victoria when the Canadian government announced new immigration pathways for Ukrainians. But with little money and no direct route, their journey wasnB次元官网网址檛 simple.

StarodubtsevaB次元官网网址檚 husband had to sell the car gifted from his father-in-law just to purchase plane tickets B次元官网网址� the same one his daughter was born in. B次元官网网址淚t was more than just a car. It was a part of our family.B次元官网网址�

After spending two months anxiously waiting in Germany, they finally obtained their visas and arrived in Victoria on June 21. Now Starodubtseva is aiming to relaunch her swimsuit brand, BabyLadySwim, on the Island.

Back in Ukraine, her business started small B次元官网网址� with three household sewing machines, a few pieces of fabric and just nine square metres of space to work in.

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It wasnB次元官网网址檛 long before her operation successfully expanded to include eight industrial sewing machines, thousands of yards of fabric and a new office.

Now living with a host family in Cordova Bay, she needs equipment B次元官网网址� industrial sewing machines, cutters, printers and a heat press B次元官网网址� if thereB次元官网网址檚 any hope of reviving her business.

Last week she because sheB次元官网网址檚 unable to receive a business loan to purchase all the necessary equipment to set up manufacturing.

SheB次元官网网址檚 asking the Vancouver Island community to help her reach her goal of $35,000 to re-establish her manufacturing operation.

Despite the challenges of rebuilding their lives in a foreign country, Starodubtseva and her husband are grateful for the warm welcome theyB次元官网网址檝e received in their new home.

B次元官网网址淲e knew that starting over in British Columbia would be hard,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut the community in Victoria is amazing. This isnB次元官网网址檛 our home, but we feel like it is.B次元官网网址�

austin.westphal@saanichnews.com
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