Let’s Help Ukraine

It’s been over a month since the Russian invasion in Ukraine began and now, as you may know, the risk for millions of refugees is that the war is slowly turning into old news. This is precisely the time when we need to step up and provide more relief to those in need. I’ve compiled here in this article a number of ways we can help Ukraine from Luxembourg.

I’ll start with my small contribution to the cause: I’ve prepared 3 posters that you can buy and show your support for Ukraine. If you’re not a fan of printed paper, you can also license any of these 3 images, in which case you will receive the full resolution photos to use in your communication. All the proceedings collected will be donated to the organizations helping the refugees right now, and I will announce all the buyers about the donations made. So, I will support the production costs, packing and delivery from my own pocket. Please note that it takes about a week for the money to enter my account, so you need to act fast.

>ORDER HERE<. My goal with this action is not necessarily to raise a lot of money, as whatever I can raise won’t be enough anyway, but mostly to inspire you to do something as well, anything that you can, to help. If you choose my way, please allow 7-10 days for the posters to arrive.

There are more ways to help Ukraine from Luxembourg:

You can make a direct donation to the Ukrainian community in Luxembourg, they are obviously more connected to the events and will know better how to distribute the help you’re providing.

If you need a certificate for tax purposes, make your donation to the Fondation Lions Luxembourg.

If you have enough space, think of hosting the refugees in your house. Lots of other useful information in that Facebook group. There’s also a listing platform for those offering or looking for a host.

You can also donate laptops or smartphones and tablets that you no longer use, the refugees may need them.

If you have jobs available for Ukrainian refugees, post them on the dedicated job boards and help them support their families.

Make a donation to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders). They are active in Ukraine and surrounding countries and probably need more funds to continue.

Make a donation to UNICEF, who are focusing on helping the kids affected by this humanitarian crisis. SOS Villages d’Enfants is also working to help the kids and war victims.

Help the Red Cross organization provide more relief in Ukraine.

Participate in protests against the Russian invasion, voice your opinion on social media or your website, anything, but don’t ignore what’s happening.

So, as you see, there are plenty of ways to help Ukraine and its people overcome this humanitarian crisis. All you need to do is choose one or more and act now! The world needs peace, but more urgently, the war victims and refugees need relief.

If you know of other meaningful campaigns to help in this horrible time, feel free to share them in the comments.

And a quick one about the action that you’re expecting from Russian nationals, in their country of from abroad:

I was born in communist Romania, under the rule of dictator Ceausescu. I was only a child when the revolution took place, but I remember very well.

Before the revolution, we weren’t allowed to talk about Ceausescu or his regime, no matter where we were. If we were in the countryside, playing on a field, we were still not allowed to talk about it, because, the adults said, “they” can hear us through the electricity wires. Whether they believed this or not, the message was clear, we don’t talk about it!

After the revolution, and Ceausescu’s execution, people were still afraid to talk about it for months! The man was dead, we all saw the execution on TV, yet everyone was still afraid to talk about it. That’s the kind of terror an autocratic regime can bring to a country.

So, I wouldn’t expect much from regular Russian people in terms of dethroning Putin, I understand what’s involved for them if they take a stand (they would put themselves and their families at risk), all I know is that nobody asked them if the invasion should start. And, if they live abroad, they probably don’t love the regime in their country and don’t approve its actions. Don’t expect them to speak up, to “clean up their own mess”, it’s almost impossible for them to protect their families from abroad.

I know it’s hard to understand, when you lived in a democracy and freedom all your life, but what we consider normal now, to voice your opinion, protest or whatever, it’s almost unthinkable for most Russians.

So, try to not fall for xenophobia, it would only make everything worse.