February 2025 will mark three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, displacing millions and causing destruction across the country. While many young Americans may be unaware of how they can affect change in worn-torn Ukraine, it’s a different story for New Jersey high school student Christina Rekeda.
Christina is closely involved with Unity for Freedom, the nonprofit co-founded by her father, Alexander Rekeda and his colleague Alex Gouzenko, in 2022. The organization assists the people of Ukraine with urgent needs such as food, shelter, and water, as well as long-term rebuilding efforts. It’s aided by fundraisers like Christina, who sells original paintings and crafts to raise money for the cause.
Moreover, eighth-grader Christina is further involved with Tutors Without Borders, a second organization focused on supporting war-torn Ukraine, established by her sister, Anna.
Tutors Without Borders
Since 2022, Christina has been assisting Unity for Freedom in gathering donations to support the victims of Russian aggression in Ukraine. However, after spending most of her spare time during 2022 and 2023, she felt compelled to contribute more personally and meaningfully. Together with Anna Rekeda, her older sister, she began tutoring several Ukrainian high school students living near the front lines.
Artist and fundraiser Christina Rekeda’s sister Anna started the organization after independently volunteering to tutor a pair of students from Kyiv and Obukhov. A teacher in Sumy, located around 25 miles from the Russian border, then reached out to her with a list of local high school students who were also interested in learning English.
Soon after, the sisters encouraged more friends to join. Today, their group, Tutors Without Borders, has grown to support nearly twenty students, with plans to expand further. For these Ukrainian students, the lessons go beyond learning English; they offer a connection to a world beyond the conflict, a reminder that someone cares about them.
Tutors Without Borders members is a group of dedicated high schoolers from Hoboken, Jersey City and Paramus, New Jersey, who now regularly volunteer their time to the cause. Established by Anna and Christina, the initiative proudly tutors an ever-growing number of students.
Hope for the Future
Inspired by their father, Alexander Rekeda, and his efforts with Unity for Freedom, sisters Anna and Christina Rekeda have great hope for Ukraine’s future and its youngsters. Providing educational support via Tutors Without Borders represents a crucial lifeline for students in the midst of war, offering valuable knowledge, friendship, and peer support.
Younger sister Christina hopes her efforts will continue empowering her Ukrainian peers with invaluable skills like proficiency in English, which will no doubt open future doors to opportunities at home and overseas in the years ahead.
With that, the Rekeda sisters represent a beacon of light in an otherwise dark time. As volunteers for Tutors Without Borders and Unity for Freedom, they and their friends exemplify what today’s youth can do when they become involved with causes that matter and focus on affecting positive change around the world.
