Two years ago, in March 2020, I wrote a blog post with the title: Stop the time; I am getting off!
With what’s happening now in the world, I am speechless, and I have constant thoughts about how this is yet another pandemic.
Because history repeats itself, I titled today’s post with a quote from Tolstoy. He is considered one of the giants of Russian literature. He wrote two masterpieces in 1865: War and Peace (1865–69) and Anna Karenina (1875–77), which are commonly regarded as among the finest novels ever written. Both are great books/volumes that I will strongly encourage you to read or watch the equivalent series on Netflix.
Since the outbreak of the conflict generated by the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, over 1.000.000 Ukrainian citizens have crossed the Romanian border, and more than half are asking for refuge in Romania. Romanians have been doing an outstanding job helping and volunteering in any form they can. From the first day after the conflict started, Romanians have been waiting in their personal vehicles to pick up refugees at our borders with Ukraine. There have also been resources developed specifically for Ukrainians, such as:
Dopomoha.ro: reliable information about documents and legal rights https://dopomoha.ro/uk
Refugees.ro: free transportation, food and lodging https://refugees.ro/
Groups on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/maramureshostingukraine/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/unitipentruucraina
https://www.facebook.com/Alaturi-de-ukraina-103535772281468
Not sure if, how and when will Canada be able to bring in Ukrainian refugees here, but our stronger supporter Beffa Law https://www.beffalaw.ca/ is offering immigration applications pro bono for all Ukrainians wishing to immigrate to Canada!
We are all lost for words, and from the first day, even communities far away from Europe took action. In moments like this, we ask: what can we do, how can we help?
People donate to different organizations, but our focus since we registered the not-for-profit was always to help women and children.
And we picked our own THREE PLACES where your donations will go in share parts, and we will give you the story of why we are supporting them:
- Mandra Chic/ Fundatia Inima de Copil: In no time, they put together a kit with Storybooks and crayons for the children speaking Ukrainian. They realized that we do not have such a book on the Romanian market, so they translated one while adapting the storylines. The book is called: GOOD ALWAYS WINS! (not just in fairytales). After the ideas sparked in Alina’s https://www.linkedin.com/in/alina-zar%C4%83-prunean-8a95013b/?originalSubdomain=romind, she sought to find a translator on social media focused on Romanian to Ukrainian translations. I messaged her and suggested to translate from Romanian to English, since I could assist with finding a Ukrainian translator in Canada. I put the request on my LinkedIn page, and in no time, one of my former colleagues, Dragos https://www.linkedin.com/in/dragosdutulescu/, contacted me, giving a name of a former colleague — Olga https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-urina-arroyo-861a99/— that could do it. I told Olga that we needed the translation in no time, and she promised me that when Alina woke up in Romania, the book would be in her inbox. Olga now lives in Brazil. And she kept her promise; the book was delivered in the morning. Now the kits are travelling to centres, orphanages and schools sheltering Ukrainian children. Here is the KIT STORY, unfortunately, just in the Romanian language. https://www.facebook.com/136689276422326/photos/a.322079497883302/5428858467205354?fbclid=IwAR3QhNn9A3CoCCubeJnw2jEnOQfKtAtTFoGcxzOWhVCFpqUjpF9PiBHPDnw
“Fundatia Inima de Copil” is fully involved in helping mothers with kids seeking refuge in Braila. All the books will go to them since they are dealing with 1000/day. https://inimadecopil.ro/
- Sorin Onisor, a teacher and photographer, is married to a Romanian/Ukrainian woman and volunteers at the Siret custom. Sorin is a former university colleague with one of our board members. Sorin is the one who generously sent us his picture that is making our collage posting page. The last time we checked on his Facebook page, he was with international students from India in Miclaus. https://www.facebook.com/sorinonisor
- Our last story is about the only school with boarding capabilities for deaf children. It was another connection from one of our members. We will update the posting as soon as we have the confirmation that we can share the school’s name with you. We spoke with one of the teachers, but she needs to ask permission to share the name on social media. They told us they are overwhelmed, and it is a long red tape to access any funding support now.
We picked these three causes as they are not getting anything from any Red Cross or other refugee support organization. They are trying to self-fund and help people in need now because no one can wait. This is why we need your support! 100% of everything you are donating is going to them. Our not-for-profit doesn’t have any overhead costs; we are volunteering!
It is custom in Europe on March 8th to celebrate the women in your life, mother, grandmothers, teachers. Today, instead of flowers, on International Women’s Day, consider donating and helping so many organizations that are doing, without any government support, an amazing job in assisting Ukrainian refugees. In the globalized world we live in, we have friends, former colleagues or family members living in Ukraine.
The call for helping Ukrainian refugees was started by the Metis and First Nations people in Canada back in 1870. The Red River area welcomed refugees here from Ukraine during the Russian occupation. Ukrainians knew firsthand about genocide and showed immense respect to indigenous people. The Ukrainian scarves – khustka – are worn proudly by indigenous people to this day.
Please consider donating and helping us to help them, as our ancestors did in 1870 with very few resources but with a spirit that is still remembered today.
You can donate by etransfer to arts4peoplemovement@gmail.com.
Thank you for all your support!
PS: If you know anyone that needs support in Romania, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
UPDATES: A step by step Q and A in English:
