Three years ago, on 24 February 2022, Russia started its attacks on Ukraine. Since then, the whole country has been suffering from terror. Constant missile alerts, attacks on the power supply and school lessons in underground metro stations are now part of everyday life in many places.
‘Despite the missile attacks, exhaustion and mourning for the dead, people are finding the strength to rebuild cities, support those at the front and care for each other,’ says Vasyl Savka of Kolping in Chernivtsi, when describing the situation in the country. ‘Volunteers, doctors, soldiers, teachers, farmers – everyone is keeping the country alive in their place. We find strength in our families, our friendships, our history and our collective dream of a free future. We have learned to live without light, but not without hope. We are exhausted, but we are not broken.’
The ongoing solidarity that Kolping Ukraine is experiencing is a great help: Since the beginning of the war, the solidarity of the Kolping community has been enormous. People help with donations, and relief transports from Kolping families or neighbouring Kolping Associations regularly reach Ukraine. Food, emergency generators, medication, wheelchairs, clothing, toys and much more are gratefully received. Kolping distributes the donations in kind to people in need and forwards them to the regions in the embattled east of the country. Psychologists help the refugees, offer consultations at Kolping and provides training to self-help groups. The Kolping Family of Chernivtsi runs a kitchen preparing 500 meals a day. It also supplies food to refugee shelters and hospitals. With the ‘Wings of Hope’ Foundation, Kolping is currently training 30 people to become trauma therapists, who will treat the mental wounds of the people.
The small National Association of Ukraine works to the point of exhaustion. Nobody is considering giving up. Ludwig Markjulak, president of the Kolping Family Chernivtsi, is still optimistic: ‘I have great hope that Ukraine will win against the Russian invaders and that good will win over evil for the benefit of future generations. We pray to God for help through our loyal friends from the Kolping community and partners.’
As difficult as the situation is in these days and weeks: ‘We are supported by the great solidarity we experience every day’, says Vasyl Savka. ‘In these difficult times for Ukraine and the whole world, we feel the solidarity of our Kolping brothers and sisters in their efforts to help the Ukrainians who are suffering from this bloody war. Please keep us in Ukraine in your hearts and prayers. We can only hope and pray together that this war will finally come to an end.’
