Sofia Tereshchenko

Sofia Tereshchenko
Born	(1989-10-22) 22 October 1989 Yevpatoria
Nationality	Ukrainian
Alma mater	Panteion University
Known for	animal rights activist, politician, fashion model, dancer
Religion	Church of England (bapt. Greek Orthodox)
Parent(s)	Valentina Tereshchenko, George Harakas
Relatives	Raisa Tereshchenko, Nikolai Tereshchenko, Galyna Horner, Val Torkanievsky Horner
Modeling information
Height	1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)^[1]
Hair color	Blonde^[1]
Eye color	Brown^[1]

Sofia Tereschenko (Ukrainian Софія Терещенко; born 22 October 1989) is a Greek-Ukrainian fashion model, dancer, politician and entrepreneur. She's best known for being an animal rights activist, conservationist, environmentalist and founder of the international social project "Let's Talk". She currently lives in Athens, Greece and voluntarily works for WWF team as a legal advisor.^[2]

Family

Sofia is the only daughter of a Ukrainian former model and now fashion designer, Valentina Tereshchenko, and an economist George Harakas, and granddaughter of Raisa Tereshchenko and Nikolai Tereshchenko. The Tereshchenko family owned textile mills, sugar factories and Kherson Oblast salt mine, under the company name "Tereshchenko Brothers".

Mother, Valentina Tereshchenko, Ukrainian former model and now fashion designer. Born to military family, her father was a Russian pilot and then Navy officer, stationed in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. She then moved on permanent station with her parents and sister to Crimea, where she was actually born, but received her education in Yerevan, Armenia, as a designer. She worked for many years in the architects state office as an urban construction and projecting designer, in Yevpatoria, Crimea.

Grandmother, Raisa Ivanovna Tereshchenko, daughter of Ivan Simonovich Tereshchenko, the son of Simon Tereshchenko. Holodomor survivor. World War II survivor. Wife of Russian military officer.

Grandfather, Nikolai Ivanovich Tereshchenko, son of Ivan Simonovich Tereshchenko, grandson of Simon Tereshchenko. Holodomor survivor. Participated in the Great Patriotic War. He served as the secret service agent (scout) at the reconnaissance squadron 897 Mountain Rifle of Sevastopol Order of Suvorov Regiment 242 Mountain Rifle Taman Red Banner Division, 4th Ukrainian Front. He participated in the battles at Polish and Czechoslovakia frontlines and other fronts. He was badly wounded on September 19, 1944 by German sniper and was hospitalized to Poland. Awarded with Order of Glory III degree,^[3] Order of the Patriotic War II degree,^[4] Order of the Patriotic War I degree^[5] and many more. He was then famous landowner and land entrepreneur in Crimea.^[6] He and his wife had their own homestead and factories in Crimea. He passed away in 2003.

Father, George Harakas, twice diplomaed Greek native expert in economics, works at the Statistics office in the National Emergency Center of Ministry of Health, in Athens, Greece.

Brother, Valentin Torkanievsky, American-Ukrainian, student, hospital worker, professional scuba diver, water sports expert and yachtsman. Inspirational traveller.^[7]

Aunt, Theoni Velli (also known as Theoni Velli-Spyropoulos), Greek-American,^[8] Doctor of Psychology,^[9] received her doctorate in the United States. She was also Professor of Cognitive-Experimental Psychology. Author of many scientific books.^[10]^[11] Professor at Panteion University in Athens, Greece.^[12]

Early life

Sofia Tereshchenko was born in Yevpatoria, Crimea. She completed German educational complex Gymnasium of Ilya Selvinsky, she was also spending most of her time in Athens, Greece, where permanently live her parents. Sofia grew up in multicultural family, in Greek-American and Ukrainian cultures. She was speaking three languages, Greek, Russian and Ukrainian, since she was a child. While the time she was attending school in Crimea, and lived with her grandmother, she was also trained at the International Children Theatre "The Golden Key", a part-time theatre school where she studied classical ballet, singing, acting, poetry, speech training, theatrical play, painting, and English language.

Education

She's graduating from the International Relations Department of Panteion University. After she took school examinations, she achieved A grades and was invited to study at Panteion University, as a desirable student. By that time, on the faculty of International and European studies of Panteion University, the competition was 92 students per place. She speaks seven languages, Greek, Russian, Ukrainian, English, German, French and Latin. She holds Δ level of Attainment in Modern Greek from Hellenic American Union examination (Old CGL level – Δ, New CGL level – Γ1 Very good knowledge, CERF level – C1, Level Δ).^[13]

Sofia has also attended a several important educational events, such as 2012 Hours Against Hate Campaign, the seminar had taken place in the Institute of International Relations^[14] in Athens, Greece, held by a special envoy Hannah Rosenthal together with special representative Farah Pandith; 2013 American Studies Seminar,^[15] a certificated seminar "Coming Together: How Diversity and Tolerance Can Build a Stronger Nation", with a special guest, Ambassador of the United States of America Daniel B. Smith, a seminar with David Goldfield (University of North Carolina at Charlotte), Lecia Brooks^[16] (Director of Outreach, SPLC, Montgomery, Alabama), Harry Papasotiriou (Professor of Strategic Studies, Department of International and European Studies, Panteion University of Athens) etc. in April 15 to April 19, 2013, at American College of Greece, Athens;^[17] International Conference: "Greece amidst regional crises" with opening address by Dora Bakoyannis, which took place on December 1, 2014 at King George Hotel;^[18] and QS World Grad School Tour & World MBA Tour in October 16 & 20, 2014 at Divani Caravel Hotel.^[19]

Besides her basic studies, she was attending dance and acting schools such as Piraeus Drama School^[20] at the department of Acting School, Acting and Theatrical Lessons by Gennadios Patsis^[21] in 2006-2007, and the department of classical ballet and contemporary in 2011-2012. But her main dance school was at Palaio Faliro with legendary Stammis Chris. She's believed to be called “Stammis Chris creation”. Stammis is a founder of Throw Down crew.^[22] It's one of the most famous and unique crews during the late 80s. Stammis is still holding seminars and lessons at schools. He's also known for his brother Nico, who is one of the most influential b-boy worldwide, he danced for Madonna at the tour. Sofia has also attended dance lessons with Jean-Pierre Falone in 2012 and breakdance workshop with Donnie "Crumbs" Counts^[23] from Step Up 2: The Streets movie, in 2009.

Career

Sofia has interned at several Ukrainian governmental institutions such as Administration of Defense Mobilization, Interaction with Law Enforcement and Regulatory Agencies and Civil Protection in 2012; Headquarters of Investment Policy and Foreign Economic Relations of the City Council at the department of Strategic Planning and Investment Policy in 2008; and Executive Committee of the City Council at the department of Internal Policy and Media Relations in 2007.^[24]

She was also a reporting analyst and journalist at Kontra Channel in Athens, Greece for a short period of time in 2012.^[25]

Right now she's helping her mother at launching the gallery-atelier Valentina Tereshchenko Designs.

Volunteering work

Sofia has served for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an English-speaking assistant during the period of June 29, 2013 - August 11, 2013, in Yevpatoria.

Entrepreneurship

From 2014, Sofia is Business and Entrepreneurship trainee. She is certified in Entrepreneurship by Hewlett-Packard courses. She is also working on her three business projects.

Conservation and animal welfare work

Sofia is running her own international project “Let's Talk”, which impacts the environmental and legal subjects. She's writing a Declaration and working under the bill with her team. Sofia has been certified in Conservation by United For Wildlife^[26]^[27] courses in 2016. She has also attended a scientific event “Development, environmental ethics and animal protection” from European Center for Environmental Research and Training of Panteion University^[28] & Hellenic Animal Welfare and Environmental Federation^[29] and been awarded a certificate. And she's also engaged now in work with WWF as a legal advisor, from April 2016, in Athens, Greece.^[30]

Accolades

She has been called the real-life Legally Blonde in the article for an American magazine based in Los Angeles, California.^[2]

References

External links

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