My first field trip is an experience that will stay with me forever. The trip was carefully planned in advance, and alongside our partners, Together for You, from Denmark, we delivered aid to the Dnipropetrovsk region and Zaporizhzhia.
Our first destination was Nikopol. Even as we approached the city, we saw the scars of enemy artillery strikes and plumes of smoke. At that moment, we had to put on our bulletproof vests and helmets to continue our journey. The way people live in such conditions left an unforgettable impression on me. This isn’t just life; it’s a constant struggle with danger. It’s astonishing how people can adapt to what’s happening around them. They are true heroes.
We met with the pastor of the local church, Roman, who immediately warned us to move quickly and to get out of the car immediately if we heard the sound of drones. He treated us to bread baked and shared by local residents. This bread seemed to carry the taste of war and sorrow, which permeates all of our lives. But what struck me the most were the eyes of these people – they radiated warmth and love, despite all the hardships.
We delivered clothes, toys, and pillows and continued on to Zaporizhzhia. As we entered the city, I was struck by the sight of buses with the sign “Evacuation.” These were ordinary people forced to leave their homes due to constant shelling. Life there can no longer be “normal.” I wondered: Where are they going? What awaits them? How will they cope with all these challenges? These are families – from the elderly to the young, from the old to the small. War knows no age – it changes everyone.
In Zaporizhzhia, we met Natalia and Daniil, who have been evacuating people since the first days of the war. Now they have created a shelter for elderly people who have lost their homes, documents, and protection. There we met a couple who after losing everything decided to “officially” get married, starting a new life from the ashes of the past.
Later, we had a warm meeting in the village of Lyubymivka, where we delivered desks for the local school so that children could continue their studies, even in shelters during air raids. Despite the war, they now have the opportunity to learn in better conditions. We were treated to delicious pizza, and only then did I realise it was already 9:00 p.m. The day was filled with journeys, encounters, emotions, pain, and hope. We were tired, but our journey was not over yet.
The next day, we delivered mattresses and medical splints to the local hospital in Dnipro. The people we met and their stories are something that will stay with me forever.
I eagerly await our next trip, and now I know for sure: what we do is incredibly important. The war has left no one untouched, and the most important thing we can do is help – help where we can and with whatever we can. Even the smallest contribution can be life-saving for someone. Our mission of assistance and support is not just work; it’s a vital cause, without which many people would be left in despair.
Dana Ivantsova
Director – Ukraine
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