Participants
Ukranian Children
Matvii Terek
Mariupol, Ukraine
A survivor with a quiet presence. Matvii escaped the bombing of Mariupol after witnessing the horrors of war firsthand. His trauma surfaces in the stories he tells the Seniors at KleinLife. He misses his older brother in Ukraine and reaches out through late-night calls.
Yelysei Dudkin
Melitopol, Ukraine
A natural performer and quiet caretaker. Yelysei came to the U.S. with his single mother, now a staff member at the center. While other kids play, he helps her work. Theater and karate are his escapes. He misses his father in Ukraine and connects with his half-brother through late-night calls.
Yuliia Puhachova
Chuguev, Ukraine
Soft-spoken and guarded. Yuliia fled Ukraine with her mother who now works at KleinLife. Yulia appears shy on camera, but her memories of war are vivid and raw. When she chooses to speak, her words carry quiet power.
Elder Survivors
(Intergenerational Storytellers)
Betia Bendel
Odessa, Ukraine → U.S.
A living archive of history and heartbreak. Betia has survived both the Holocaust and the war in Ukraine. Her stories are harrowing and deeply personal, bridging past and present for a new generation of refugees.
Valery and Margarita Lomazov
Kyiv, Ukraine → Israel → U.S.
A musical soul and fierce mother. Margarita arrived with her husband, Valery, and two sons, first landing in Israel and then Kentucky. Together with her husband, she now performs weekly for the children and seniors, turning grief into melody and memory into resilience.
Anna Tsiger
Kharkiv, Ukraine → Israel → U.S.
A trilingual guide across cultures. Anna’s life has been one of reinvention—first in Israel, now in America. She knows what it means to lose a home, and how to build a new one. Her wisdom and warmth are a bridge between generations.
The KleinLife Team
Inna Gulko
Director of Senior Services
A Ukrainian refugee who turned her own journey into a mission. For over two decades, Inna has been the lifeline for thousands of seniors—navigating benefits, building trust, and carrying wisdom only a fellow survivor can bring.
Mariya “Masha” Keselman-Mekler
Counseling & Program Manager, Art Therapist
A trauma therapist with the heart of an artist. Masha leads KleinLife’s healing programs, using art to help children and survivors process the unthinkable. A refugee advocate and expert in trauma-informed care, she bridges generations through creative therapy and deep compassion.
Victoria Faykin
VP, Camp & Community Programs
From refugee to powerhouse, Victoria arrived from Russia and began as a volunteer. Now, she oversees everything from summer camp to Jewish life to refugee support—touching lives with unwavering purpose and grit.
Andre Krug
President & CEO
A refugee at 18, now the visionary behind KleinLife’s evolution, Andre blends financial savvy with a deep commitment to service—building a community rooted in resilience, cultural pride, and hope.