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Transcript/Script((TITLE: TV US TOLOKA SEATTLE – Shevchenko
HEAD: Seattle center for ‘friends all of Ukraine’ hold broad range of projects
TEASER:
DATE: 09/12/2024
PUBLISHED AT:
BYLINE: Khrystyna Shevchenko
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Seattle, Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Dmytro Savchuk
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA + TBD
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs;
PLATFORMS: TV only
TRT: 2:24
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: ))
((INTRO:))
[[The Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka near Seattle, Washington, is home for “friends of Ukraine” say its founders. Just over a year ago, it began offering a wide range of activities, including aid for refugees, language workshops, art classes, cultural events and more. Khrystyna Shevchenko has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((Mandatory courtesy: Tolokacenter.com))
((NARRATION))
Olena Bedenko and her friend Oksana Krivizuk are unpacking material for children at the Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka near Seattle, Washington.
((Mandatory courtesy: Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka))
They founded the center – which dubs itself “a
((End courtesy))
home for all friends of Ukraine” - in September of 2023.
Oksana Krivizuk says the idea was born after the pair started a Ukrainian school for children a few years ago.
((Oksana Krivizuk, Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka)) ((UKR))
“School was supposed to be only on Saturday. And we realized renting a space that would only be used on Saturdays was a waste of money. So, we decided to expand and have lots of various projects people may want – and try and organize all that!”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka))
Since August of last year, the center has hosted yoga and art classes, a children’s theatre, language classes and more. And, Krivizuk says, it’s still growing.
((Oksana Krivizuk, Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka)) ((UKR))
“We have Ukrainian
((End courtesy))
as a second language groups – one for kids and another for adults; this year, we’ll have another group – for teenagers.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka))
Most of the activities offered are free. They say some require a small fee to join.
((End courtesy))
((NATS))
((NARRATION))
Yulia Pershyna-Tsipino is a Ukrainian refugee whose children attended the center’s school. Now she helps with bookkeeping.
((Yuliia Pershyna-Tsipino, Toloka Center Member)) ((UKR))
“It was very important for me to be part of my community, to feel Ukrainian even here in the US… Because when you are abroad, surrounded by different people, different nationalities, that makes you feel lonely, especially at first.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka))
That’s a simple and key way the center helps, says Bedenko
((End courtesy))
((Olena Bedenko, Toloka Co-Founder)) ((UKR))
“Many don’t have emotional support after they arrive here, they simply have no one to talk to apart from family members. Chat in Ukrainian, have fun, have a coffee…”
((NARRATION))
Members do volunteer work, the space is provided for free and private donations keep it going, says Krivizuk, who like many here, simply calls the center “Toloka.”
((Oksana Krivizuk, Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka)) ((UKR))
“Toloka will exist while the local Ukrainian community needs it.
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka))
The founders say their next step is organizing English-language events to help the Ukrainian community integrate into the US society.
((End courtesy))
((For Khrystyna Shevchenko in Seattle, Washington, Anna Rice, VOA News))
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