Along the Victoria bike path near Jane Street, a 9-year-old girl named Meliia runs a lemonade stand that has captured neighborhood attention.
The Ukrainian refugee, preparing to enter fifth grade, arrived in the United States less than three years ago fleeing war.
Meliia sits at her stand alongside her grandmother, the same woman who helped her navigate bomb shelters and later, armed only with a handwritten note, enrolled her in an American school where neither spoke English.
"Meliia was born and lived in Ukraine. Then the war began. Six months after it started, we moved to the United States," said her mother, Alina. "During rocket attacks, she would go down to the basement with us, hearing and seeing explosions in the sky. I truly hope that, in time, she will be able to forget all of this."
The family arrived in the United States in October 2022, when Meliia knew virtually no English "except for the names of colors and animals." They lived in a Motel 6 for months, unable to rent an apartment without credit history, while Alina and her husband worked cleaning jobs from dawn to dusk.
One particularly challenging day stands out in Alina's memory. With both parents working and unable to take time off, Meliia and her grandmother had to enroll her in school alone.
"I had printed out a note asking the school to accept Meliia and explaining that neither her grandmother nor she spoke English," Alina recalled. "I knew how difficult this task would be for them."
When the parents returned home that rainy evening, they found Meliia looking sad on the motel bed.
"I immediately started to comfort them, saying that nothing terrible had happened and that it wasn't their fault," Alina said. "But then they surprised us! Grandma and Meliia suddenly jumped up and happily announced that she had been accepted to the school and that everything had worked out."
The academic journey proved challenging. After moving to Tustin, school officials suggested transferring Meliia to a school with translators.
"My husband and I discussed it and decided not to do that. For Meliia, it is very important to know that she is the smartest, the kindest, and the most capable," Alina said. "At first, her grades were low, but after 6 months she became one of the few students receiving awards, praise from teachers, and good grades."
The Tustin experience was difficult socially as well.
"I lived in Tustin and honestly, the kids in there were real mean, but here, when I came, they're pretty nice [and] the city is much cleaner," Meliia said about her current home in Riverside. "Also, it's actually, it's not too quiet, it's not too loud, and I like that."
Now fully adapted to Southern California life, Meliia says her favorite restaurant is In-N-Out, a California institution that represents how completely she's embraced her new home.
That same determination that carried her through academic struggles now drives her entrepreneurial spirit.
"Meliia had long dreamed of trying to sell lemonade. She knew that in America children often do this, and she really wanted to try as well," Alina said. "In Ukraine, children don't usually run businesses, so this was a completely new experience for her."
The venture didn't start smoothly.
"On the first day, she only had one customer, and she was very upset and didn't even want to continue," Alina recalled. "But I explained to her that she needed to make several attempts and not give up."
The persistence that carried her through war and immigration served her well. The stand has become a popular stop for cyclists and families using the recreational path.
"Now Meliia is very enthusiastic and wants to go to her 'job' both in the morning and in the evening," her mother said.
The young entrepreneur has already experienced the satisfaction of earning her own money.
"Recently, we went on a short trip, and Meliia spent her own money on everything she wanted. She bought toys, sweets, and even souvenirs for us," Alina said. "She gave me a Coca-Cola pin, it was such a sweet gesture!"
"Meliia's main goal is to save enough money to go to Disneyland," Alina said, noting her daughter has never been to the theme park. "By the way, Meliia dreams of becoming a police officer and making the world a kinder place."
For the family, Meliia has been a source of strength.
"Meliia is our little lighthouse, lighting up the darkest days," Alina said.
