UW Ukrainian Student Organizes Campus, Community Events in Support of Her Home Country

Anastasiia Pereverten, a Ukrainian exchange student at the University of Wyoming, is doing her best to educate the UW and Wyoming communities about what is taking place in her home country. She is taking the lead to help organize several local events to raise awareness of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This week denotes the nearly 50-day mark of Russia invading Ukraine, where the country has seen mass destruction and countless lives lost, including civilians.

“Ukraine heroically defends its independence and freedom in the war with Russia,” says Pereverten, who is from the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. “Our warriors, volunteers and civilians are fighting with unbelievable power and courage. Supporting Ukraine in this battle is important for every community worldwide because, in the globalized world, this war affects every country now.”

Two free public events -- one on campus and the other in downtown Laramie -- are scheduled.

The UW Center for Global Studies will host a panel discussion about Ukraine at 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 8, in Room 127 of the UW College of Business Building. Richard Holwill, retired U.S. ambassador, and Alexandre Skiba, a UW economics associate professor, will discuss the current state of Ukraine, with a question-and-answer session to follow.

To express solidarity with Ukraine, “Stand with Ukraine -- Laramie” is scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Laramie’s First Street Plaza. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the war; the differences between Ukraine and Russia; how to stay informed; and how to stand with Ukraine.

Pereverten and UW graduate student Katherine Fitch, as well as Feeding Laramie Valley AmeriCorps VISTA member Allen Gonzales-Willert, will distribute flyers and share information about the origins of the ongoing war. Fitch and Gonzales-Willert are former Peace Corps volunteers who served in Ukraine for multiple years.

For more information, visit the Facebook page here.

Pereverten was among several Ukrainian students who recently discussed with USA Today how they are trying to keep up with their studies in the U.S. while their home country is at war with Russia. Pereverten plans to apply for temporary protected status after she finishes the spring semester at UW, where she is studying cultural studies.

In addition to the upcoming events, the Alibi Wood Fire Pizzaria in Laramie is donating 20 percent of its proceeds every Sunday to the World Central Kitchen, which is currently helping Ukrainian refugees in Poland. For more information, visit the Facebook page here.

For more information on how to support Ukraine, email Pereverten at aperever@uwyo.edu.