“On August 29, 2006, both of my parents suddenly died in a car crash. I was a young 19 years old student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Analytics at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy. On that one day, all my life was set upside down. When the car crash happened, I had to rush from Kyiv to home (in the Donetsk region) to arrange a funeral and help my little sister, who miraculously survived the crash, to recover. Her ribs were broken, and her nose was completely smashed. She went through multiple surgeries, including a plastic one on her face. To cover the medical expenses I had to sell everything my parents owned - our farm animals, the furniture, clothes, books. A year later we lost the house because it was a state property (our father was a state worker, so the house we lived in belong to a state). I and my sister were left with nothing. And we both were so young. My monthly stipend was barely enough to cover basic food. I couldn’t afford coffee, medicine, or books.

After my parent’s death, I was introduced to a non-profit organization Priyateli Ditey, where I met Maryna Krysa, Dmytro Samarsky, Tatiana Gruciv, and many other amazing people and volunteers who became my new family during that tough time. They introduced me to Irka Tkachuk and UCARE (Ukrainian Children's Aid and Relief Effort), a sister-nonprofit organization helping children in Ukraine. UCARE sponsorship allowed me to get books and supplies I needed for studying, and warm clothes, but more important - they gave me the feeling that I’m supported, the feeling that I am strong and I can get through this difficult time.

I had a chance to participate in different workshops, seminars, and summer camps run by UCARE and Priyateli Ditey. I was part of the “Look into the future” (“Погляд у майбутнє”), “Vist”, “Remembering Kobzar” and many-many other programs during 2006-2010. As a stupendiat, I lead seminars and lectures during student meetings and held training sessions at orphanages and boarding schools about the danger of substance abuse, and also about AIDS prevention and human trafficking.

In 2010 I finished my Master’s Degree and moved to San Franciso, California for an internship and then eventually, my first job at Change.org, the world’s largest platform for petitions and social change. More than 10 years later, today I’m a Head of Product Analytics at MyFitnessPal, and writer of Data Analysis Journal, a technical and educational journal about data analysis and business intelligence with over a thousand readers around the world. I am also a volunteer at PyLadies, Women Who Code, and Women in Analytics, organizations that support and encourage women to pursue a career in technology.

Earlier this year I co-authored a book Analytics Interpreted: A Compilation of Perspectives - a curation of leadership and perspectives across analytics. Proceeds of the book went towards the Data Science Summer Camp and analytics programs curated by the Women In Analytics community to provide free resources to young women. Last year I was included in the Top 25 Data Science and Analytics influencers and content creators by IBM.

I’m grateful to have the possibility today to support another student in Ukraine who goes through the difficult times I went through myself. The sponsorship and support I received from UCARE not only allowed me to finish my studies but more importantly, it also set a mindset of care and giving back.”

-Olga Berezovsky

August, 2021