The conflict in Ukraine: “Death and ruination can be overcome only by compassion and love”
Our appeal with USPG has raised over £400,000 for those affected by the conflict. We met some of those at the projects in Helsinki and Budapest, and share some of their stories with you below.
Bishop David said: "When you view these short clips you will be reminded that these are human lives, not statistics. They are stories of those who have escaped from death, but whose husbands, fathers, and brothers are still defending their homeland. You will also hear moving words of gratitude for friendship, welcome, safety, and a sense, even temporary, of home”
The Voices of Ukrainian Refugees: A year on from the crisis
The war has claimed at least 40,000 people's lives, 140,000 buildings have been reduced to rubble, and approximately one-third of Ukrainians have been displaced.
In this video, we spoke to some of those affected by the conflict, including displaced Ukrainian refugees, and asked them what they would like to share with the world, one year on.
"It saved my life": Ukrainian Help Centre in Helsinki
Refugees tell heart-breaking and hard-to-listen-to stories at the help centre. But those stories help us understand the incredible resilience of so many people from Ukraine, and how much still needs to be done for those fleeing their homes due to war.
Watch Natalia’s story, a refugee and help centre volunteer in Helsinki.
Snowdrops: One child's story days before fleeing Ukraine
Ukrainian Space offers a variety of activities for children and parents, including art classes. One child drew her story in the days before she and her mother fled Ukraine; you can hear their story here.
A prayer for all those affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine
A prayer for all those affected by the ongoing conflict by Revd Tuomas Mäkipää, Chaplain of St Nicholas, Helsinki.
Please continue praying for Ukrainian refugees by praying the words on the diocese website, or watch on the Diocese in Europe YouTube channel.
Ukraine Aid Project: Bucharest, Romania
Filmed by Ukrainian filmmaker Elena, this video focuses on the work of the Church of the Resurrection, Bucharest and their Ukraine Aid project. The chaplaincy used a grant from the Diocese in Europe and USPG joint appeal to fund a programme whose focus is on alleviating additional stress for Ukrainian refugees in Bucharest. The programme allows refugees to focus on getting jobs and on their families not on where their next meal comes from and healthcare costs. Funding also went towards a school for Ukrainian children to learn their language.
