2 Years On

Good morning 

I thought that I would do a few words of update. 

This week was the 2nd Anniversary of my trip to Poland. 

Lots has happened since then. 

I'm still in contact with my Ukrainian families - albeit infrequently. 

I still feel an connection to 'my' Ukrainian families and want to do whatever I can to help them.

The Dancer now wants to be a fashion designer, is about to finish her first year at high school and turned 12 a few days ago. Her dad is now with the family having undergone major eye surgery.  He had it done in Ukraine as the NHS waiting time was long. Mum works hard. They are trying to improve their English.  The Dancer is fluent and has the usual teenage circle of friends.  The Dancer's mother went back to Ukraine to see family - elderly parents - and get a dental appointment. Crazy that it's part of the reason for taking the risk of going back to a warzone.  This appears to be a problem that Ukrainian families have. Surely the NHS should be better than that. 

They are hoping that the UK Government will allow visas for over 60s to come to the UK will be brought in. They are not far from the border with Russia and suffer missile attacks and air raid warnings daily.

The aftermath of doing a humanitarian trip has been interesting.

I've been asked to source a few things - I don't know of any sources for sets of body armour or field medical kits.  I did look at sourcing RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) which are taken to Ukraine, converted and used by paramedics to evacuate casualties across the Dnipro river.

I've heard of volunteers who went to Ukraine having their finances targeted by cyber attacks.

The mother and son that I helped with English language tuition went home. I have a picture of them in Dnipro during an air raid. The fear is palpable - the audio that goes with it very frightening.

This conflict is still very real - the media are blurring their focus on it with other crises - equally just as serious but distracting from their plight.

Going back to do more remains an itch that I struggle not to scratch.

Slava Ukraini!

Am I tempted to go back  this time - yes but not sure if I'm brave enough