"I Know the Country. I Can Make a Difference.”
Feature Story • Community Journalism • Immigration • Human-Interest Reporting
A feature story written for a regional newspaper about a Nebraskan whose work trip and visit to family in Kyiv unexpectedly coincided with the outbreak of war in Ukraine. After helping his in-laws escape to safety, he turned his attention to assisting others affected by the conflict, supporting refugee relief efforts and advocating for those impacted by the war. Published in print and online, the story used personal experiences to illuminate the human side of an international crisis.
Client
Scottsbluff Star-Herald
Type of Work
Feature Story • Community Journalism • Human-Interest Reporting
My Role
Interviewing • Reporting • Writing
Excerpt
Four people loaded up the Toyota SUV with four 10-gallon cans of spare gasoline, three suitcases, some noodles, canned food, drinking water, candles, matches and passports, and then they headed for the Poland/Ukraine border.
They looked for a crossing that had the least number of vehicles and pedestrians, which was at the northwestern border near Belarus. While that seemed like a bad idea, since Russia was attacking via Belarus as well, it turned out to be the best option.
“We crossed the border in five hours,” Tkachenko said. “Crossing into Poland was taking people three or four days of sitting in the car during February, while it’s still bitter cold outside, maybe running out of gas, etc. It was a blessing to cross in five hours.”
Project Highlights
This story used one individual's experience during the outbreak of war in Ukraine to bring an international event closer to home for a Western Nebraska audience. Through personal interviews and narrative reporting, the piece explored themes of service, resilience and connection while highlighting how global events can have a profound impact on local communities. By focusing on a community member's firsthand experiences helping family members and supporting refugee relief efforts, the story offered readers a personal lens through which to understand a complex international crisis.
Localizing a Global Story
Narrative Community Storytelling
Service & Humanitarian Impact
