How have Ukrainians changed during the war?
"During the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine, every Ukrainian was able to feel how exactly he can influence the fate and future of his country. Ukrainians were covered by a wave of indifference. We realized that something depends on us. We felt that more important and responsible the moment can no longer be.
We managed to convince ourselves that we cannot and will not remain on the sidelines.
Instantly, fashion designers learned how to sew body armor. Marketers were able to quickly deliver medicines from pharmacies to the elderly. TV presenters have been able to build transport hub systems to bring medical supplies from other countries. Singers entertained children with songs at subway stations that became temporary housing and bomb protection. PR specialists of major brands have become chefs of delicious food, which is now eaten every day by fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Troops. Directors and actors began to carry humanitarian supplies to hot spots. Accountants and lawyers have suddenly become a reliable support for four-legged shelters. Bloggers greeted the refugees in shelters and wrapped them in blankets so they could rest.
We have learned to be the most dear to strangers. Became the closest to those whom we see for the first time.
Every Ukrainian became a philanthropist or volunteer. I follow the stories when Olena from Ternopil makes a donation on the dobro.ua charity platform, and after a few days Olga from Kherson receives medicines and food for her little children.
Svetlana from Kyiv worries about her relatives from Chernihiv and makes a donation so that we can purchase a generator for the oncology department of the city and provide chemotherapy to dozens of Chernihiv residents.Charity has become a chance for strict Victor from Dnipro to show his feelings and take care of women with children who left the Donetsk region and now live in a shelter in the Lviv region. Thanks to Victor, they now have blankets and pillows.
Never before has one Ukrainian been able to influence the life of another so strongly. We have never been so caring towards each other.
Thanks to benefactors, we were able to purchase several dozen animal carriers, and they were needed in order to carry away the tailed animals from the shelter in the Kharkiv region, over which shells literally flew. Imagine the courage and dedication of people who were ready to pick up the four-legged ones to the sound of explosions and take them to a safer place. By the way, now these dogs are abroad, they were sheltered in Germany, while the war is going on in Ukraine.
The war forced us to open our eyes and realize that sometimes we are surrounded by real superheroes. Our platform cooperates with dozens of proven charitable foundations across the country, but we could not even imagine that there were those among them who would continue to help local residents not only under shelling, but also when the territories of some regions were temporarily occupied by the Russian army, like this happened in the Kherson region. The local charitable foundation put aside fear and, despite the occupation, continued to work, because families with many children and families raising children with disabilities need help.
Charity is about slow but systemic changes for the better. Now we have learned to be different.Now charitable donations instantly turn into infant formula for perinatal centers. 100 hryvnias become medicines for hospitals in different regions, and the desire to make a donation turns into a food package for residents of the eastern and northern regions.
Charity and volunteering is the struggle that is really available to everyone. Support your local volunteers or foundations, or donate funds through charity platforms like dobro.ua, but don't stop helping and then we will definitely never be defeated by anyone".
Source: dobro.ua PR manager Bohdan Berdnyk's column for Liga.net.
*Photo credit: Emilio Morenatti, source.
