Big Help Project team arrive in Ukraine
On Monday, three members of staff from Big Help Project arrived in Ukraine. As an organisation which , since the outbreak of the war, has been committed to supporting local and displaced Ukrainians in Liverpool since the escalation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Big Help have made the decision to take our efforts further afield by talking with those on the ground in Ukraine to further understand how to shape all future support.
Making the trip to Ukraine is our Ukrainian Engagement Officer, Anna Ekvist, accompanied by our Senior Executive Officer and Strategic Ukraine Liaison, Alex Molton, and our Senior Project Officer Ukraine Liaison, Peter Cribley.
Here, they’re keeping us updated on their activities:
Monday 5th June 2023 - Arrival to Lviv:
On Monday, the team arrived at Lviv train station. Due to it being Orthodox Pentecost holiday, they took the day to get acquainted with the city prior to meeting with organisations over the next few days. In coming to understand the measures already existing Ukraine - such as the UNICEF Safe Space pictured in the train station - the team have already formed a better picture of the situation and atmosphere amongst those living in the area. There are statues (as pictured) with photographs of the statue covering the sight, saying 'You will enjoy the view of the statue after the victory’. Anna, Alex, and Peter have also they have visited a number of cathedrals to pay tribute to Ukraine.
Tuesday 6th June 2023 - Stryi:
On Tuesday, the team had their first day of meeting with on-the-ground organisations who are working to support Ukraine and Ukrainians. In the morning, they met co-founder of Move Ukraine, Andy Kuznich, who offered to take them to visit projects either completed or ongoing by Move Ukraine.
As pictured, the team visited a building which was previously a children’s hospital where the capacity was 40, but had taken in 90 orphaned children. Carers remained with them 24 hours a day and rotated every two months, a true testament to the support amongst Ukrainians but also incredibly demonstrative of the severity of the invasion and the lives impacted. Whilst the children were only supposed to have stayed there for 1-2 months, they ended up being there for a year. One of the projects that Move Ukraine have taken on is the refurbishment of the new site that the children will be staying in, which the team were lucky enough to see for themselves. There are play areas, a reception, and sensory equipment, alongside the ongoing building of bedrooms, facilities, and additional play areas for the children. Pictured is Oksanna, a doctor and local councillor who presented the issue to Move Ukraine whom now collaborates with them on this project.
The team visited the sanitorium which the children had been moved to in the interim. There were approximately 125 orphans aged 0-7 . They spoke to the Women there who ran the centre and were taught about the fostering process, how very few were being adopted, donations they'd had, and operations at the centre. Following this, they then went to a school building that Move Ukraine had been involved in renovating a number of floors for.
Wednesday 7th June 2023 - UCU:
On the 7th of June the team were invited to UCU (Ukranian Catholic University) after Fr Taras - the Ukrainian Parish Priest with whom Big Help have a great relationship - introduced them to the University.
Kateryna, a final year student and Assistant to the Rectors office, had kindly put together an itinerary and showed them around the campus, including the University's aid raid shelter’s which were well equipped with facilities and learning areas. Then, they spoke to the First Vice-Rector, Taras Dobko, about the Universities involvement in supporting Ukraine during the war, including partnering with organisations and alumni to deliver services, training and education programmes and encouraging current students to volunteer and support the war effort.
Pictured is the them speaking to Kristina from ‘Building Ukraine Together’, an organisation focussed on re-building and renovation in areas most affected by the war, bringing together volunteers across Ukraine, empowering young people and promoting leadership.
Then the team met with Natalia Klymovska, Vice Rector for Development and Communications who discussed the Universities leading role in communication with students, support for people with disabilities and the facilities they have available and their ambitions to grow the number of practical physiotherapists in the country. This was evident as they were due to open a new rehabilitation clinic on campus soon.
Then they spoke to Ostap Machynskyi, the Head of Rectors Office, about donations and humanitarian aid they had been organising and sending to the frontline. The team found it interesting to understand how communication lines were formed between the students and those working near the frontlines, to inform them of the needs which were ever-changing. They also focussed on bring students together that wanted to volunteer and help put aid parcels together. Following that, they spoke to a gentleman called Andrii Nemyrovskyi, who was the CEO of a logistics company. When the war started, he diverted activities and set up the charity called ‘Center for Volunteering and Protection’ which focussed on delivering humanitarian aid to areas that needed it the most. During the teams visit when the damn broke in Kahovka, the charity responded immediately sending aid parcels to civilians in the affected areas. Since the start of the war they had sent over 1300 trucks full of aid to effected areas. The University had recognised Andrii’s efforts and partnered with the charity to support.
The team then spoke to Oleg, one of the physiotherapy teachers who will be the Lead at the rehabilitation center. He also led on the launch of the Physiotherapy master's programme, a presentation at the University which the team attended. UCU hoped this would promote more students to train in physiotherapy and help support veterans and civilians effected by the war, providing scholarships for a high proportion of students.
Thursday 8th June 2023 - Katya’s Medicine Fund and Andrii’s Centre
On the morning of 8th June, the team met with Katya and Joel from Katya’s Medicine Fund. They had set up an operation responding to civilian medical needs in areas effected heavily by war. Katya is a journalist and used her connections to fundraise and find volunteers to help her deliver the medicine in these areas. Katya is also involved in sending water filters which is particularly necessary since the disaster in Kahovka. The work they’re doing is vital in ensuring that those who are sick or have long-term illnesses, get the medical supplies they need as quick as possible.
In the afternoon, the team visited Andrii’s distribution centre and Oleksander showed them round the facility. The team saw donations from people and organisations across the world including goods such as food, medicine, medical equipment, generators and clothes. This is one of several centres across Ukraine. The team were able to speak to some of the distribution team who were due to take goods to the Kahovka region that same day who showed them the trucks which were packed with aid parcels containing vital supplies during this time. The dedication and bravery of this team of people was admirable, as people risked their lives on a daily basis to help others in need.
Big Help Project are extremely grateful for the kindness, hospitality, and knowledge shared with the team throughout their time in Ukraine. As an organisation, we are committed to providing as much support as possible to Ukrainians, which you can read about here.