For more unique perspectives, new voices, and innovative storytelling, check out our Short Docs playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLyBdAUI4LX9jRNc2Ep5mc5qtLDMJdmX7o.html
All that time and effort put in when they are children surely they could support the older children as they leave. The last year should be spent getting them ready to cope as an adult
Read an update online: When this premiered at a film festival - Canada granted her a temporary visa which she used to visit Arina. She has since gone back to Ukraine to continue her studies, she's still in school, with hopes of graduating and moving to Canada permanently.
As a foster mother, I make it a RULE to NEVER separate siblings. If there are too many children for me to take, I just won’t take them. I would be devastated without my siblings. It’s the last bit of comfort they have, after being ripped from their homes. And shame on those, who separate twins.
“Even if my life dont work out.. maybe her’s will” that broke my heart💔💔 i hope that you were reunited with your sister and have a wonderful successful life vika♥️
I think she meant it like the girl has a family life now. Once she's 18, the people won't disappear from her life like Vika's friends and mentors have once she graduated.
She was living in one of the poorest countries with a recently deceased drug addict mother and a sister away at boarding school... yeah..... neither of the girls had a family system at all
Edit: Nevermind, it was just clumsy editing. They went from the sister talking to the mother talking in the same sequence without explaining it... I now notice the voice changes.
Jon Castillian it’s for the little sister’s sake. What kind of person can sleep at night knowing they could help make someone’s life and future better but decided not to do it because they didn’t want to separate her from her sister?
Perhaps the adoptive parents' financial situation did not allow them to adopt both. We don't know. And it was stated in the film that boarding school rules changed such that the younger sister could not join her older sister at the school. It would seem just prior to being adopted the younger sister was in a precarious situation.
Exactly. We were thinking; so just trim the budget so two sisters can share a new life because the chances for the orphan in Ukraine is heartbreakingly less certain. Imagine though the endemic cruelty expressed against a mere child who happens to be orphaned.
Principal, "I can make exceptions for war veterans and refugees, but not for orphans, that's the law." - Incredibly sad! As a society we have failed orphans. Generally orphans are unwanted. Girls and young orphaned women are the most vulnerable. As a society we need to change right here in Canada and hopefully other countries will follow, to give priority to orphans because they are the most vulnerable. I pray and wish Vika will do well in life.
Well thats Ukrainian law I am 100% sure all nations in the west have much more humanitarian laws, Ukraine is a very poor nation torn apart by the West and Russia also the refugee part is actually a UN law that applies in every country refugees are protected under certain rights no matter what nation they reside in and I am 100% agreeing with you about how sad that law is and I am not excusing anything I am just saying with Ukraine's current situation everything else is just impossible
What a brave young girl. I can't imagine making such big changes at such a young age without anyone really helping you to get through it. I really hope she gets reunited with her sister permanently and gets to live the life she wants to live. She definitely deserves it after all of that.
So sad at the end with Vika walking away toward her new adult life with a giant teddy bear...As an orphan myself, even growing up here in the US, this program was hard to watch. I understand the loneliness and I just want to hug her. She is a smart and beautiful young lady. I wish all the opportunities open up, her dreams come true and she does find the love and family she seeks....
True,she’s an amazing sister,i hope all her dreams do come true so that she can go to her sister in the future,losing a parent is already very hard but she’s so brave at a very young age,fending for herself and for her sister,her maturity is beyond her years,i can understand her fully because my mother died after giving birth to me so growing up is very hard but i did not give up until i finished College and up until now i’m working in another country...so i hope she will not give up on studying and pursue her dream...
wow. my heart absolutely broke when watching Vika leave the orphanage, on her way to school. the fact she doesn't resent her sister or their family at all when they clearly could have looked into adopting both is just so unbelievable.
I live in Canada and my family is from Ukraine and I am so upset for Viktoria. She is sitting in a village as an orphan with no opportunity in Ukraine. Her sister is in Canada with all of the opportunity and they were separated???? Why?!! This is so cruel and unfair.
I hope when she is done her schooling she can immigrate or get sponsored to move near her sister. Even though she is older she still needs a family and I hope her sisters adoptive parents treat her like a daughter as well. Much love!
I myself am in the process of adopting a teen girl from Bulgaria. I can’t do much for Vika but I can save one orphaned girl. Please keep me in your prayers that all goes well. Thank you.
Tomás Kantor Nagel Canada actually gave her a visa after hearing about the story and she was able to come to Toronto for the premiere of this documentary but she’s back in Ukraine no and continuing her studies.
here's from one of the comments: Mike Gendron 1 year ago A lot of people have been wondering how Vika is doing. This is an update from the Go Fund Me for Vika. I wish her well on her journey!! Hey everyone, It's almost been a year since Vika's story first premiered at Toronto's Hot Docs film festival and the outpouring of support that she's received since then has been unbelievable. We all wanted to thank each and everyone of you for your kind words and generous support. We wanted to give everyone an update on Vika's journey because a lot of time has passed since we started filming with Vika and she's matured significantly in those three years. Over the course of the last year, Vika's plans have changed significantly. Although she once desperately wanted to move to Canada to reunite with her sister, she's since made the decision to stay in Ukraine and start a family of her own. Vika is now expecting a child and has plans to settle down in the only town she's known since she was a young girl, the village of Raivka in Ukraine. Vika has asked us to donate a portion of the funds towards helping her support her family's future. We understand that many of you pledged financial support specifically for Vika's move to Canada and her reunification with her sister. Since those plans have changed, we wanted to make it clear that if anyone would like their donation refunded, to please let us know. Keeping in the spirit of the GoFundMe a portion of the funds will still be reserved for Vika’s education. While it won’t be in Canada, Vika’s goal is to return to school in Ukraine after her maternity leave and complete a Master’s Degree. As well, any funds being donated from this point on will go towards helping Vika and her family in this new stage in her life. While this was something we did not foresee when starting this GoFundMe, as I'm sure you can all understand, things change quickly at her age. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Thank you everyone for your continued support and generosity! You are amazing! Help spread the word!
There was an update on Vika's go fund me page 8 hours ago saying that she has decided to stay in the only place she's ever known because she's pregnant with her first child. I'm so happy for her. Vika, if you ever watch this video and stumble upon this comment I want you to know that you deserve every ounce of love you now have from your new family. Everything you have been through and worked hard for has led to the life you now have. Your story has inspired many as I'm sure you will continue to do throughout your life. Congratulations.
So sad to watch this kind of doc. God bless you Vika all the best for your studies. Such an amazing young woman. We can see your love for your sister. I hope you find happiness too.
That Canadian family is heartless how can they just separate these sisters and the mom said she has a family now ????? *WHAT ABOUT HER SISTER THAT YOU LEFT ALONE????*
Jojo Alrabeia they were separated already! The orphanage wouldn’t take Ariana. If you listened to the beginning of the video you’d know this. Plus the family couldn’t afford to adopt to both girls. It’s also said in the video. Vika also said she was ok with it and wanted what was best for her sister!!
Brandy Neff bruh I know but at least they were in the same freaking country they could see each other hug each other talk to each other (face to face) like they were already in pain and that family saved and left one for the worse
I noticed that Arina only speaks English and Russian while Vika, when narrating and answering questions speaks Ukrainian. She speaks Russian with Arina. It must be because Arina's adoptive mom was from another part of the country and can't speak Ukrainian so Vika has to switch to Russian while talking with her sister since Arina probably has forgotten much of her Ukrainian.
Depending upon what part of the country they are from, many people continue to speak Russian as their first language. They then learn Ukrainian in school. Arina probably wasn't in school very long and didn't learn much Ukrainian. Her adoptive mom speaks Russian, so she continues with that, whereas Vika has been through school and has fully learned Ukrainian.
@@tpaycheck8377 But Vika narrates and answers questions in Ukrainian. If she was more comfortable with Russian, then she would have just done it in Russian and used Ukrainian only with people that don't speak Russian.
@@mchobbit2951 her Ukrainian is actually so so. You can clearly hear that she is a native Russian speaker who is forced by Ukrainian Nationalistic Authorities to give up her mother tongue and speak Ukrainian all the time.
Is there a big difference between Ukrainian and Russian language? to my ear it sounds very similar but I wonder if its a difference between like spanish and portuguese.
People are bad mouthing the adoptive mother. Yeah, in an ideal world she could have adopted both, but perhaps she didn't have the money to pay for the adoption paperwork, immigration & transport of another child. That's big money. I'm glad that the adoptive mother is encouraging her daughter to keep in touch w/ her sister in her native language. When the girl was drawing her pictures the mom encouraged her to add more hearts & send photos. I'm sure that Vika loves getting those things & it keeps her going. Do hope that Vika is able to reunite w/ her sister in the future.
Oh.my God, Iam so heartbroken seeing her situation. Wish she was also adopted with her sister. Hope she can go to Canada soon. Lots of love to this kid from India.
What happened to Vika? You really need to do a follow on documentary on her sad journey. I pray that she made it to Canada but it would be lovely to know for sure.
When the adopted mother said ‘you have to fight for your family, for what is left’ seriously lady - you should have fought to keep the sisters together!!! If you couldn’t take them both, then you should have adopted a different child. Rubbish you couldn’t afford to take both! So what if Arinas sister is grown up - she still needs love and a family. Sisters should be together - siblings should be together. You seem like a very selfish lady
😢 so many people who needs to be reunited...Stay strong Vika! You are a beautiful girl from the inside out. wish you all the best! Sendig you a big hug!
Такая красивая девочка... такая тяжёлая судьба.. Тёзка, я очень надеюсь, что у тебя всё получится! Сама живу в Канаде.. надеюсь, что тебя сюда пустят и ты будешь жить близко к сестре и сможешь устроиться здесь в Канаде!
CBS. You can’t help this girl get to Cananda to see her sister and attend university there? She could study abroad I know there are programs for that. Also on a personal level. Feeling a bit let down. Thought she would have gotten to see her sister.
young, single people can come to study in Canada...it's pretty much the only way..but it costs a LOT of money.. there are some links in the comment section to help raise money for Vika to come to Canada.
the image of 'The vulture and the little girl' is an interesting cases imo to show that the main role of journalist is only an observers eporters and not as participants. It's wrong to put all the burden on CBS alone while we sit here wiping our tear.. with that in mind here is the GoFundMe page that the filmakers had created: www.gofundme.com/vika-reunification-fund
Universities are free in Ukraine, Russia and many other European countries, so she would probably be better finishing her studies there, especially considering her situation.
You and your sister are really pretty Vika. I am so proud of you and all you plan to achieve in life so that you and your sister can be together. I am sure you will make it. All successful people in life have gone through pitfalls. Take one day at a time. God bless you and your dear sister. And the lovely family who took your little sister. God bless her too. Love and prayers from Zambia- Africa
What??!! That's it? No follow up!? What has happened to Vika? Has she made it to her sister? Has she finished her education at the college? So many loose ends in this documentary. How does it end!!!!!????? The suspense of these two sisters is killing me here!!
CBC Docs Hello to my friends north of the border. I am not in the Great White North. Lol. I live in Wisconsin. Can I still get the follow up? It's such a great docu. I was curious to its ending. Thanks! On Wisconsin! God bless America and our friend Canada!!
"..break the mold " ...I would dearly love to see how Vika is progressing .. this is a heartbreaking story.. As a child growing up in the West Indies, I always bristled against parental authority, but, now in my later years, I treasure the Love and dedication of my parents...my best friends..
Vika, I'm sorry that you were deprived of a normal family life. Parents are not perfect beings. Your mother did the best she could and even a difficult life is better than no life. I pray that your future will make up for all you suffered in the past. You are a beautiful , young girl. Even the richest person cannot buy youth or beauty. I was blessed with both parents but they grew old and left me. So I am alone like you and facing life by myself. God bless you. I know He is father to the fatherless. He has a plan for your life. Trust in Him!
If you ask the sisters they would want each other more then things. If the adoptive parents have sibling they would understand. This is not about judge mental or anything else. It is about two hearts who have been broken by being separated
A lot of people have been wondering how Vika is doing. This is an update from the Go Fund Me for Vika. I wish her well on her journey!! Hey everyone, It's almost been a year since Vika's story first premiered at Toronto's Hot Docs film festival and the outpouring of support that she's received since then has been unbelievable. We all wanted to thank each and everyone of you for your kind words and generous support. We wanted to give everyone an update on Vika's journey because a lot of time has passed since we started filming with Vika and she's matured significantly in those three years. Over the course of the last year, Vika's plans have changed significantly. Although she once desperately wanted to move to Canada to reunite with her sister, she's since made the decision to stay in Ukraine and start a family of her own. Vika is now expecting a child and has plans to settle down in the only town she's known since she was a young girl, the village of Raivka in Ukraine. Vika has asked us to donate a portion of the funds towards helping her support her family's future. We understand that many of you pledged financial support specifically for Vika's move to Canada and her reunification with her sister. Since those plans have changed, we wanted to make it clear that if anyone would like their donation refunded, to please let us know. Keeping in the spirit of the GoFundMe a portion of the funds will still be reserved for Vika’s education. While it won’t be in Canada, Vika’s goal is to return to school in Ukraine after her maternity leave and complete a Master’s Degree. As well, any funds being donated from this point on will go towards helping Vika and her family in this new stage in her life. While this was something we did not foresee when starting this GoFundMe, as I'm sure you can all understand, things change quickly at her age. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Thank you everyone for your continued support and generosity! You are amazing! Help spread the word!
A lot of orphans end up being kidnapped and trafficked. She needs to stay low key if she doesn't want to be targeted!...I truly hope that she is ok right now!
God bless the family that gave a home to the little girl. It doesn't seem that it was that simple to bring both girl to Canada. Very sad that they were separated but hopefully they can be reunited soon.
I can’t even imagine what it would be like to turn 18 and what I considered my home and the people there who I considered my family where no longer anything to me. They all say goodbye and good luck. To move somewhere where u don’t know a soul and be and adult. There is no one to fall back on. It’s only you. It has to be terrifying. No wonder the statistics aren’t good!!!! There should really be a better program set up for children who age out of foster care or orphanages. I did read that she did make it to see her sister and is still in university. So hopefully she will not be a statistic. She gets an education and moves to Canada to be closer to the only family she has.
It sucks when people split up families. I had two friends in elementary school, they were twins. After we reached middle school they were put into foster care. At first they were both homed together but then one of the parents couldn't put up with Shirley's anger issues. So Shirley was sent to a group home and Eddie was adopted. Shirley went right back to living with her mom after she aged out of the system, shes a drug addict, and now has a baby in the exact same home she was taken from. Eddie went into the military and now they still don't see each other often. Over the course of 8 years I've made a point to visit her and check up on her, even in middle/highschool when I lived on the other side of the US. But it just feels harder and harder to go visit her because shes like a completely different person and every time I see her I feel like it's worse and worse. I honestly hated that foster mother one for separating a family and two because I remember Shirley's outbursts, she did have a bad temper but if you were patient and kept trying to comfort her or get her attention she would always cry and apologize and give me hugs. Her anger issues were not something to abandon her over.
Watching the whole thing and I can't get over the selfishness of the adoptive "mom" . Really? vika was "grown"? She was 10 when you took away her little sister, her only biological family. They don't do that anymore. I don't know how she was able to and it's just heartbreaking. I hope Vika was able to have a happy life. It is my understanding now that if children age out of the system there they cannot leave Ukraine.
I pray for this young lady's future .. May the Father in Heaven be with her in every step she takes in life... Here in the U.S.A these young girls complain about life .. They take everything for granted..
I think her mum would be so proud of her. I hope she realizes how amazing she is to have got to an adult under those hard circumstances. Keep going Vika and stay safe so you can go back to Canada again to see your little sister again.xx
My heart goes out to them. I can totally relate to their story and I pray something good will come out this. As for those judging the family that adopted the young sister, SHAME ON YOU! Shame on you a million times🤬. They have done what they could. They clearly make effort to keep in touch and the young sister is healthy and thriving, which makes her big sister happy and gives her hope. Do you know how many people who adopt kids only to abandon them later because they couldn’t cope, I rather they do what they did. They were honest with themselves, they did what they could. May God bless them all🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Vika, have faith in our God, ask him to get you closer to your sister. With Faith Nothing is impossible for God. I cant believe the Canadian couple did not adopt the 2 sisters together. How can someone seperate siblings like nothing. I will be praying for Vika for God to guide her & move her close to her sister& 2 protect her from all evil & harm. Does anyone know if there is a fund or anything set up for Vika? I would love to donate to it. This is a sad story, I wish I knew what happens after this. Stay strong Vika. U got this!!
Heart broken for children and their atachmrnt to family even though some where small when seperated from family.Just as my brother and I were and others were we knew back when we were seperated during our child hood.
If I could, I'd adopt this girl in a heartbeat, her story is so sad & what makes it worse is that the family that adopted her sister didn't want her, for sure they could afford her if they can afford all of the holidays & other activities that the younger sister enjoys. So very sad for this girl, I hope the 2 girls reunite & remain in the same country for good!
To see a follow-up on how Vika and Arina are doing, watch here: www.cbc.ca/shortdocs/blog/how-a-documentary-helped-reunite-these-two-sisters-who-had-been-separated-b (viewable only in Canada)
Curious if the adoption agency for the young sister charged the adoptive family. What those fees were and if that also influenced seperating these girls? Selling children since it also seems to be tied to an orphanage? Did anyone make a profit from that transaction? Just curious. Questions that never get asked.
"In Ukraine, many internats house orphans or those without parental care. Only a small percentage of orphans integrate into society after graduation. The majority fall victim to poverty, drugs, alcohol, crime, trafficking and suicide." *That broke my heart!*
I've watched so many documentaries where poverty is the root cause of the social problems in countries like the Ukraine. What causes the poverty? Corruption. The only way to stop the horrific poverty, is to stamp out the corruption from the very top down.
Darling Mika you look BEAUTIFUL in your special dress! I hope you can come to Canada soon. My grandparents were born in Ukraine, my mom, her sister and brother were born in Canada.
Que tristeza... en verdad no se imagina uno la cantidad de almas solitarias, los niños y jóvenes que sufren desde que nacen y crecen con la incertidumbre de qué será de ellos en el futuro... Cómo quisiera solucionar tanto dolor 😭
Ukraine does not allow for the separation of siblings, except under certain circumstances. I'm surprised that Vika was not adopted with her sister. I know in the US, you must file immigration paperwork before the child's 16th birthday. I wonder if it is the same in Canada (or possibly this is a Ukrainian law, too)? It's such a terribly sad situation. Please consider adopting from this country. These kids have little hope once leaving the orphanage.
For more unique perspectives, new voices, and innovative storytelling, check out our Short Docs playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PLyBdAUI4LX9jRNc2Ep5mc5qtLDMJdmX7o.html
How do we find Vika? She could live with me.. 1 hour from Toronto!
@@andreakretz8429 UPDATE: ua-cam.com/video/c1jfWvVDQT8/v-deo.html ♡♡
maisonneuve.org/post/2018/05/21/vika-two-sisters-reunite/
All that time and effort put in when they are children surely they could support the older children as they leave. The last year should be spent getting them ready to cope as an adult
Moving😢
Mam hi u rso beautiful girl
Read an update online: When this premiered at a film festival - Canada granted her a temporary visa which she used to visit Arina. She has since gone back to Ukraine to continue her studies, she's still in school, with hopes of graduating and moving to Canada permanently.
Share a link next time
ADANAC 1993 why did you want it?
personal research
Most people share sources when updating others is all. It's just nice to read the article/watch the video yourself.
Thanks
As a foster mother, I make it a RULE to NEVER separate siblings. If there are too many children for me to take, I just won’t take them. I would be devastated without my siblings. It’s the last bit of comfort they have, after being ripped from their homes. And shame on those, who separate twins.
She is so selfless, caring more about her sisters life then her own.
“Even if my life dont work out.. maybe her’s will” that broke my heart💔💔 i hope that you were reunited with your sister and have a wonderful successful life vika♥️
she eventually did :) check out another CBC vid:
ua-cam.com/video/c1jfWvVDQT8/v-deo.html
Big sister has such a beautiful and valuable personality
I hate how the mother said she has family now. Then what was her sister?
Bella Mays right!
I think she meant it like the girl has a family life now. Once she's 18, the people won't disappear from her life like Vika's friends and mentors have once she graduated.
She was living in one of the poorest countries with a recently deceased drug addict mother and a sister away at boarding school... yeah..... neither of the girls had a family system at all
Edit: Nevermind, it was just clumsy editing. They went from the sister talking to the mother talking in the same sequence without explaining it... I now notice the voice changes.
What kinda person can sleep at night knowing they separated two sisters and left one completely alone
Jon Castillian it’s for the little sister’s sake. What kind of person can sleep at night knowing they could help make someone’s life and future better but decided not to do it because they didn’t want to separate her from her sister?
Perhaps the adoptive parents' financial situation did not allow them to adopt both. We don't know. And it was stated in the film that boarding school rules changed such that the younger sister could not join her older sister at the school. It would seem just prior to being adopted the younger sister was in a precarious situation.
Jon Castillian They were already separated. It's all there in the video description. Understand all the information before you comment.
Exactly. We were thinking; so just trim the budget so two sisters can share a new life because the chances for the orphan in Ukraine is heartbreakingly less certain. Imagine though the endemic cruelty expressed against a mere child who happens to be orphaned.
Jon Castillian Lady who adopted i ukrainian and perhaps not so warm-hearted
Principal, "I can make exceptions for war veterans and refugees,
but not for orphans, that's the law."
- Incredibly sad! As a society we have failed orphans. Generally orphans are unwanted. Girls and young orphaned women are the most vulnerable. As a society we need to change right here in Canada and hopefully other countries will follow, to give priority to orphans because they are the most vulnerable. I pray and wish Vika will do well in life.
Well thats Ukrainian law I am 100% sure all nations in the west have much more humanitarian laws, Ukraine is a very poor nation torn apart by the West and Russia also the refugee part is actually a UN law that applies in every country refugees are protected under certain rights no matter what nation they reside in and I am 100% agreeing with you about how sad that law is and I am not excusing anything I am just saying with Ukraine's current situation everything else is just impossible
I can't agree with you more!!!
What a brave young girl. I can't imagine making such big changes at such a young age without anyone really helping you to get through it. I really hope she gets reunited with her sister permanently and gets to live the life she wants to live. She definitely deserves it after all of that.
Separating the two sisters was so wrong.
So sad at the end with Vika walking away toward her new adult life with a giant teddy bear...As an orphan myself, even growing up here in the US, this program was hard to watch. I understand the loneliness and I just want to hug her. She is a smart and beautiful young lady. I wish all the opportunities open up, her dreams come true and she does find the love and family she seeks....
True,she’s an amazing sister,i hope all her dreams do come true so that she can go to her sister in the future,losing a parent is already very hard but she’s so brave at a very young age,fending for herself and for her sister,her maturity is beyond her years,i can understand her fully because my mother died after giving birth to me so growing up is very hard but i did not give up until i finished College and up until now i’m working in another country...so i hope she will not give up on studying and pursue her dream...
"Because even if my life doesn't work out, maybe hers will."
She must be love her sister so so much. Hope they already reunite by now.
wow. my heart absolutely broke when watching Vika leave the orphanage, on her way to school. the fact she doesn't resent her sister or their family at all when they clearly could have looked into adopting both is just so unbelievable.
I live in Canada and my family is from Ukraine and I am so upset for Viktoria. She is sitting in a village as an orphan with no opportunity in Ukraine. Her sister is in Canada with all of the opportunity and they were separated???? Why?!! This is so cruel and unfair.
I hope when she is done her schooling she can immigrate or get sponsored to move near her sister. Even though she is older she still needs a family and I hope her sisters adoptive parents treat her like a daughter as well. Much love!
Vika is one of the bravest woman I have ever “met”! Great documentary! I hope Vika and Arina both have beautiful lives.
What a beautiful documentary. Bless their hearts. I hope she finds a way to join her sister in the future.
I think you mean HALF a documentary. I was so disappointed when it ended. It was like they ran out of film!
I immediately thought of Vika as Russia is invading Ukraine today. I hope she and her baby will be okay. This story always moved me.
Is there a way to help Vika reunite with her sister in Canada?
UPDATE: ua-cam.com/video/c1jfWvVDQT8/v-deo.html ♡♡
maisonneuve.org/post/2018/05/21/vika-two-sisters-reunite/
ADANAC 1993 Thank you for these links 💛
@@veggiebea anytime (:
Olivia Clutterbuck Here’s a gofundme to raise money for Vika to move to Canada to be with her her sister... www.gofundme.com/vika-reunification-fund
ua-cam.com/video/c1jfWvVDQT8/v-deo.html
I myself am in the process of adopting a teen girl from Bulgaria. I can’t do much for Vika but I can save one orphaned girl. Please keep me in your prayers that all goes well. Thank you.
Stay hopeful Vika. Be strong. God bless you and keep you safe.
How is Vika doing now?? Please continue the story!
Tomás Kantor Nagel Canada actually gave her a visa after hearing about the story and she was able to come to Toronto for the premiere of this documentary but she’s back in Ukraine no and continuing her studies.
here's from one of the comments:
Mike Gendron
1 year ago
A lot of people have been wondering how Vika is doing. This is an update from the Go Fund Me for Vika. I wish her well on her journey!!
Hey everyone,
It's almost been a year since Vika's story first premiered at Toronto's Hot Docs film festival and the outpouring of support that she's received since then has been unbelievable. We all wanted to thank each and everyone of you for your kind words and generous support.
We wanted to give everyone an update on Vika's journey because a lot of time has passed since we started filming with Vika and she's matured significantly in those three years.
Over the course of the last year, Vika's plans have changed significantly. Although she once desperately wanted to move to Canada to reunite with her sister, she's since made the decision to stay in Ukraine and start a family of her own. Vika is now expecting a child and has plans to settle down in the only town she's known since she was a young girl, the village of Raivka in Ukraine.
Vika has asked us to donate a portion of the funds towards helping her support her family's future.
We understand that many of you pledged financial support specifically for Vika's move to Canada and her reunification with her sister. Since those plans have changed, we wanted to make it clear that if anyone would like their donation refunded, to please let us know.
Keeping in the spirit of the GoFundMe a portion of the funds will still be reserved for Vika’s education. While it won’t be in Canada, Vika’s goal is to return to school in Ukraine after her maternity leave and complete a Master’s Degree.
As well, any funds being donated from this point on will go towards helping Vika and her family in this new stage in her life. While this was something we did not foresee when starting this GoFundMe, as I'm sure you can all understand, things change quickly at her age.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
Thank you everyone for your continued support and generosity! You are amazing!
Help spread the word!
I can see how The older sister is such a strong person! She will be okay and she will for sure can find a way to meet her younger sister.
There was an update on Vika's go fund me page 8 hours ago saying that she has decided to stay in the only place she's ever known because she's pregnant with her first child. I'm so happy for her. Vika, if you ever watch this video and stumble upon this comment I want you to know that you deserve every ounce of love you now have from your new family. Everything you have been through and worked hard for has led to the life you now have. Your story has inspired many as I'm sure you will continue to do throughout your life. Congratulations.
So sad to watch this kind of doc. God bless you Vika all the best for your studies. Such an amazing young woman. We can see your love for your sister. I hope you find happiness too.
Am i the only one who wants to give her a hug and say that everything will be ok.
What an absolutely beautiful girl. 💙
That Canadian family is heartless how can they just separate these sisters and the mom said she has a family now ?????
*WHAT ABOUT HER SISTER THAT YOU LEFT ALONE????*
Jojo Alrabeia they were separated already! The orphanage wouldn’t take Ariana. If you listened to the beginning of the video you’d know this. Plus the family couldn’t afford to adopt to both girls. It’s also said in the video. Vika also said she was ok with it and wanted what was best for her sister!!
Brandy Neff bruh I know but at least they were in the same freaking country they could see each other hug each other talk to each other (face to face) like they were already in pain and that family saved and left one for the worse
@@Starzsannnie Canadian? You mean Ukarainian family living in Canada?
Math Lover ???
@@mathlover4994 I was thinking the exact same thing!
I noticed that Arina only speaks English and Russian while Vika, when narrating and answering questions speaks Ukrainian. She speaks Russian with Arina. It must be because Arina's adoptive mom was from another part of the country and can't speak Ukrainian so Vika has to switch to Russian while talking with her sister since Arina probably has forgotten much of her Ukrainian.
Depending upon what part of the country they are from, many people continue to speak Russian as their first language. They then learn Ukrainian in school. Arina probably wasn't in school very long and didn't learn much Ukrainian. Her adoptive mom speaks Russian, so she continues with that, whereas Vika has been through school and has fully learned Ukrainian.
@@tpaycheck8377 But Vika narrates and answers questions in Ukrainian. If she was more comfortable with Russian, then she would have just done it in Russian and used Ukrainian only with people that don't speak Russian.
@@mchobbit2951 I'm sure she could have done it in either language, her Russian sounded just fine.
@@mchobbit2951 her Ukrainian is actually so so. You can clearly hear that she is a native Russian speaker who is forced by Ukrainian Nationalistic Authorities to give up her mother tongue and speak Ukrainian all the time.
Is there a big difference between Ukrainian and Russian language? to my ear it sounds very similar but I wonder if its a difference between like spanish and portuguese.
I cried the whole time 😭 I'll pray for everything workout well and you can go live next to you little sister. ❤
People are bad mouthing the adoptive mother. Yeah, in an ideal world she could have adopted both, but perhaps she didn't have the money to pay for the adoption paperwork, immigration & transport of another child. That's big money. I'm glad that the adoptive mother is encouraging her daughter to keep in touch w/ her sister in her native language. When the girl was drawing her pictures the mom encouraged her to add more hearts & send photos. I'm sure that Vika loves getting those things & it keeps her going. Do hope that Vika is able to reunite w/ her sister in the future.
Oh.my God, Iam so heartbroken seeing her situation. Wish she was also adopted with her sister. Hope she can go to Canada soon. Lots of love to this kid from India.
What happened to Vika? You really need to do a follow on documentary on her sad journey. I pray that she made it to Canada but it would be lovely to know for sure.
I got really sad watching this story. I really hope the two sister can be reunited. They love each other so much.
Wow her sister is a sweet beautiful young lady and deserves a chance as well.
The Ukrainian government must protect their young they are the future of Ukraine especially the orphans. I'll pray for them
When the adopted mother said ‘you have to fight for your family, for what is left’ seriously lady - you should have fought to keep the sisters together!!! If you couldn’t take them both, then you should have adopted a different child. Rubbish you couldn’t afford to take both! So what if Arinas sister is grown up - she still needs love and a family. Sisters should be together - siblings should be together. You seem like a very selfish lady
😢 so many people who needs to be reunited...Stay strong Vika! You are a beautiful girl from the inside out. wish you all the best! Sendig you a big hug!
When Vika finally left the boarding school heading to some new place she reminded me of the novel Jane Eyre.
Такая красивая девочка... такая тяжёлая судьба.. Тёзка, я очень надеюсь, что у тебя всё получится! Сама живу в Канаде.. надеюсь, что тебя сюда пустят и ты будешь жить близко к сестре и сможешь устроиться здесь в Канаде!
I'm appalled they separated those siblings. Smh
I feel for the older sister.Realising for the first time that you are an adult is heartbreaking.
CBS. You can’t help this girl get to Cananda to see her sister and attend university there? She could study abroad I know there are programs for that. Also on a personal level. Feeling a bit let down. Thought she would have gotten to see her sister.
She has visited her sister. See above comments to find the follow up video.
young, single people can come to study in Canada...it's pretty much the only way..but it costs a LOT of money.. there are some links in the comment section to help raise money for Vika to come to Canada.
the image of 'The vulture and the little girl' is an interesting cases imo to show that the main role of journalist is only an observers
eporters and not as participants. It's wrong to put all the burden on CBS alone while we sit here wiping our tear.. with that in mind here is the GoFundMe page that the filmakers had created: www.gofundme.com/vika-reunification-fund
Universities are free in Ukraine, Russia and many other European countries, so she would probably be better finishing her studies there, especially considering her situation.
You and your sister are really pretty Vika. I am so proud of you and all you plan to achieve in life so that you and your sister can be together. I am sure you will make it. All successful people in life have gone through pitfalls. Take one day at a time. God bless you and your dear sister. And the lovely family who took your little sister. God bless her too. Love and prayers from Zambia- Africa
CBC, can you release the score for this doc... please please please it's so heartbreakingly beautiful.
What??!! That's it? No follow up!? What has happened to Vika? Has she made it to her sister? Has she finished her education at the college? So many loose ends in this documentary. How does it end!!!!!????? The suspense of these two sisters is killing me here!!
Hi, Shawn! If you're in Canada, check out the link we posted in the comment above yours to see where they are now.
CBC Docs
Hello to my friends north of the border. I am not in the Great White North. Lol. I live in Wisconsin. Can I still get the follow up? It's such a great docu. I was curious to its ending. Thanks! On Wisconsin! God bless America and our friend Canada!!
You should be able to view it here: facebook.com/cbcdocs/videos/10156425584636950/
CBC Docs
Hello again everyone. Well, I tried but to no avail. I can't get the follow up. I just hope they were reunited. Thanks anyway.
ua-cam.com/video/c1jfWvVDQT8/v-deo.html
"..break the mold " ...I would dearly love to see how Vika is progressing .. this is a heartbreaking story.. As a child growing up in the West Indies, I always bristled against parental authority, but, now in my later years, I treasure the Love and dedication of my parents...my best friends..
Vika, I'm sorry that you were deprived of a normal family life. Parents are not perfect beings. Your mother did the best she could and even a difficult life is better than no life. I pray that your future will make up for all you suffered in the past. You are a beautiful , young girl. Even the richest person cannot buy youth or beauty. I was blessed with both parents but they grew old and left me. So I am alone like you and facing life by myself. God bless you. I know He is father to the fatherless. He has a plan for your life. Trust in Him!
Wonderfully produced documentary & very moving story!
If you ask the sisters they would want each other more then things. If the adoptive parents have sibling they would understand. This is not about judge mental or anything else. It is about two hearts who have been broken by being separated
If I was younger, I would try to adopt this beautiful loving girl. My prayers and love to you and your sister from Connecticut, USA.
Got me in the feels! Vika - I have a spare den in Toronto! -- Wish I could help you....
She seems to be a great girl, so smart...
Have somebody an update about Vika? Please! How sad story! How sad time for Ukraine!!! Great Vika, I hope today she is in safe in Canada! 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
I wonder if Vika ever flee her home country to escape war and head to Canada to reunite with Arina.
What kind of person can be happy and peaceful by separating two sisters ?
A lot of people have been wondering how Vika is doing. This is an update from the Go Fund Me for Vika. I wish her well on her journey!!
Hey everyone,
It's almost been a year since Vika's story first premiered at Toronto's Hot Docs film festival and the outpouring of support that she's received since then has been unbelievable. We all wanted to thank each and everyone of you for your kind words and generous support.
We wanted to give everyone an update on Vika's journey because a lot of time has passed since we started filming with Vika and she's matured significantly in those three years.
Over the course of the last year, Vika's plans have changed significantly. Although she once desperately wanted to move to Canada to reunite with her sister, she's since made the decision to stay in Ukraine and start a family of her own. Vika is now expecting a child and has plans to settle down in the only town she's known since she was a young girl, the village of Raivka in Ukraine.
Vika has asked us to donate a portion of the funds towards helping her support her family's future.
We understand that many of you pledged financial support specifically for Vika's move to Canada and her reunification with her sister. Since those plans have changed, we wanted to make it clear that if anyone would like their donation refunded, to please let us know.
Keeping in the spirit of the GoFundMe a portion of the funds will still be reserved for Vika’s education. While it won’t be in Canada, Vika’s goal is to return to school in Ukraine after her maternity leave and complete a Master’s Degree.
As well, any funds being donated from this point on will go towards helping Vika and her family in this new stage in her life. While this was something we did not foresee when starting this GoFundMe, as I'm sure you can all understand, things change quickly at her age.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
Thank you everyone for your continued support and generosity! You are amazing!
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Oh! I wasn't expecting that but I guess it was to be expected in reality.
They shouldve been adopted together:( theyre sisters. Adopt both or none. Im sorry it just seems cruel.
A lot of orphans end up being kidnapped and trafficked. She needs to stay low key if she doesn't want to be targeted!...I truly hope that she is ok right now!
I worry about that too... What if someone offers her a flight and job in Canada with all the wrong intentions...
God bless the family that gave a home to the little girl. It doesn't seem that it was that simple to bring both girl to Canada. Very sad that they were separated but hopefully they can be reunited soon.
I can’t even imagine what it would be like to turn 18 and what I considered my home and the people there who I considered my family where no longer anything to me. They all say goodbye and good luck. To move somewhere where u don’t know a soul and be and adult. There is no one to fall back on. It’s only you. It has to be terrifying. No wonder the statistics aren’t good!!!! There should really be a better program set up for children who age out of foster care or orphanages. I did read that she did make it to see her sister and is still in university. So hopefully she will not be a statistic. She gets an education and moves to Canada to be closer to the only family she has.
saddest thing in vika prob doesn't know and won't even find out how many people on here are offering to help her :(
Thank toy for telling this story. It inspired me to do more and be more for others...
It sucks when people split up families. I had two friends in elementary school, they were twins. After we reached middle school they were put into foster care. At first they were both homed together but then one of the parents couldn't put up with Shirley's anger issues. So Shirley was sent to a group home and Eddie was adopted. Shirley went right back to living with her mom after she aged out of the system, shes a drug addict, and now has a baby in the exact same home she was taken from. Eddie went into the military and now they still don't see each other often. Over the course of 8 years I've made a point to visit her and check up on her, even in middle/highschool when I lived on the other side of the US. But it just feels harder and harder to go visit her because shes like a completely different person and every time I see her I feel like it's worse and worse. I honestly hated that foster mother one for separating a family and two because I remember Shirley's outbursts, she did have a bad temper but if you were patient and kept trying to comfort her or get her attention she would always cry and apologize and give me hugs. Her anger issues were not something to abandon her over.
This breaks my heart leaving the older one behind. I think they would have understood if they didn't have luxury things but have each other
The two little girls in the back 😂😂 17:08
Watching the whole thing and I can't get over the selfishness of the adoptive "mom" . Really? vika was "grown"? She was 10 when you took away her little sister, her only biological family. They don't do that anymore. I don't know how she was able to and it's just heartbreaking. I hope Vika was able to have a happy life. It is my understanding now that if children age out of the system there they cannot leave Ukraine.
I pray for this young lady's future ..
May the Father in Heaven be with her in every step she takes in life...
Here in the U.S.A these young girls complain about life ..
They take everything for granted..
She's beautiful
That poor sweet girl/ Good luck from U.S.A
It broke my heart when she spoke about her mother but she kept herself from crying and you could see the effort...
Hello Vika my heart goes out to you!!! Sending you so much Love from Canada 🇨🇦 I really hope all will work out for you and your sister 😊
Wow what different experiences they had.
I think her mum would be so proud of her. I hope she realizes how amazing she is to have got to an adult under those hard circumstances. Keep going Vika and stay safe so you can go back to Canada again to see your little sister again.xx
I hope alot of Canadian step up this young women
I do really hope VIKA will be forever be with ARINA.
My heart goes out to them. I can totally relate to their story and I pray something good will come out this.
As for those judging the family that adopted the young sister, SHAME ON YOU! Shame on you a million times🤬.
They have done what they could. They clearly make effort to keep in touch and the young sister is healthy and thriving, which makes her big sister happy and gives her hope.
Do you know how many people who adopt kids only to abandon them later because they couldn’t cope, I rather they do what they did. They were honest with themselves, they did what they could. May God bless them all🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Love.
Vika, have faith in our God, ask him to get you closer to your sister. With Faith Nothing is impossible for God. I cant believe the Canadian couple did not adopt the 2 sisters together. How can someone seperate siblings like nothing. I will be praying for Vika for God to guide her & move her close to her sister& 2 protect her from all evil & harm.
Does anyone know if there is a fund or anything set up for Vika? I would love to donate to it. This is a sad story, I wish I knew what happens after this. Stay strong Vika. U got this!!
The couple is Ukrainian. They live in Canada.
How's Vika? I hope she is safe and ok now.
Any update on this ?
This is something that Lumos fights for. That families are not separated and children grow well.
Hope both are doing well... Vika is cute, I don't know why girls in some parts of this world always sound more mature than they really are.
Heart broken for children and their atachmrnt to family even though some where small when seperated from family.Just as my brother and I were and others were we knew back when we were seperated during our child hood.
Siblings shouldn't be separated
If I could, I'd adopt this girl in a heartbeat, her story is so sad & what makes it worse is that the family that adopted her sister didn't want her, for sure they could afford her if they can afford all of the holidays & other activities that the younger sister enjoys. So very sad for this girl, I hope the 2 girls reunite & remain in the same country for good!
To see a follow-up on how Vika and Arina are doing, watch here: www.cbc.ca/shortdocs/blog/how-a-documentary-helped-reunite-these-two-sisters-who-had-been-separated-b (viewable only in Canada)
Curious if the adoption agency for the young sister charged the adoptive family. What those fees were and if that also influenced seperating these girls? Selling children since it also seems to be tied to an orphanage? Did anyone make a profit from that transaction? Just curious. Questions that never get asked.
"In Ukraine, many internats house orphans or those without parental care. Only a small percentage of orphans integrate into society after graduation. The majority fall victim to poverty, drugs, alcohol, crime, trafficking and suicide."
*That broke my heart!*
YOU ADOPT JUST HER LITTLE SISTER? THAT'S CRUEL. Not only did she lose her sister she's also completely alone. What a horrible thing to do.
@tonepaw Glad to be a part of your life! lol
I've watched so many documentaries where poverty is the root cause of the social problems in countries like the Ukraine. What causes the poverty? Corruption. The only way to stop the horrific poverty, is to stamp out the corruption from the very top down.
22:03 part got me in tears :'
Darling Mika you look BEAUTIFUL in your special dress! I hope you can come to Canada soon. My grandparents were born in Ukraine, my mom, her sister and brother were born in Canada.
Is there an update on VIka?
What has happened to this precious teen?
I would like to see an update about these sisters
Que tristeza... en verdad no se imagina uno la cantidad de almas solitarias, los niños y jóvenes que sufren desde que nacen y crecen con la incertidumbre de qué será de ellos en el futuro... Cómo quisiera solucionar tanto dolor 😭
is there a way one can help vika to move to canada for studying etc so she can spent little time with her sister?
Yes as Canadian we have good heart
A gofundme has been started to help Vika get a visa to study in Canada! www.gofundme.com/vika-reunification-fund
Oh, kid. Dont you worry. Fight for your everyday, never give up.
Ukraine does not allow for the separation of siblings, except under certain circumstances. I'm surprised that Vika was not adopted with her sister. I know in the US, you must file immigration paperwork before the child's 16th birthday. I wonder if it is the same in Canada (or possibly this is a Ukrainian law, too)? It's such a terribly sad situation. Please consider adopting from this country. These kids have little hope once leaving the orphanage.