On April 12th, 2023, the Thrive Refuge team organized a storytelling assembly at West Point Grey Academy, an independent school in Vancouver, BC. Thrive invited Oleksandr (Sasha) Luchkov - an outstanding pianist part of Thrive’s Refugee Support Program - to share his story to students in Grade 8-12.
“Right before my birthday, I said goodbye to my grandmother and left Ukraine with nothing but 2 suitcases of my most valuable possessions. Crossing the border on a bus with other Ukrainians, the carriage was quiet and filled with emotions. Some had tear stains on their clothes. Others looked numb. I felt guilty. I know in my heart I can’t use my hands for holding a weapon rather than playing keys on a piano. It was then I made a promise to myself - I will help my fellow Ukrainians by sharing their stories and my passion for music.”
“Sometimes telling this story feels like a dream; my journey to Canada was truly a miracle.”
— Sasha Luchkov, Ukrainian Refugee, Pianist