I had previously sent various kinds of aid to Ukraine through different organizations. One night at home, I watched a documentary about the war in Ukraine, and a strong feeling came over me that I needed to do something more. Possibly even on-site. After that, I began to research the situation and learn what was truly needed in Ukraine. FinEst quickly came into the picture; I submitted my application, and soon enough, I was in an interview. After that, the desire to go on the journey only grew, and we received good advice from FinEst about what items to bring and what was expected of us on-site. As the departure approached, we also received helpful instructions for crossing the border and reaching our destination.

In the end, a very warm welcome awaited us in Ukraine from other volunteers and locals. It was nice to see where the items we had collected ended up and to be more concretely helping the defenders of Ukraine. The impact of one person on the entire course of the war is negligible, but through the actions of several locals, including soldiers, we heard how important it is for them to feel solidarity from elsewhere. Hearing this from a soldier who was leaving for the front the next day was touching and made the entire volunteer work feel much more meaningful.

In between working, I managed to visit nearby towns and learn more about the country. Overall, the trip exceeded expectations! At the same time, it was certainly palpable how raw and exhausting it is to live in a country that is at war.

-Antti