In this airplane, I sit and reflect on the last three weeks on my way home to Finland. I have never undertaken such a meaningful journey before.

The beginning of the story is similar to that of most who joined the effort, a pure desire to help more and more concretely.

During the application process, I was nervous about whether it would be enough that I am just an ordinary Finnish person with no special skills that could perhaps be utilized on-site. However, I knew that I had a big and humble heart and hands that would do whatever is needed, as well as a high stress tolerance and resilience, so I hoped that would be enough. And indeed, the anxiety turned out to be unnecessary, as after a call from the contact person at FinEst, it felt like we were very welcome to help. This call propelled my partner and me into a meaningful journey where I also got to know myself better.

We wanted to bring aid supplies, only those that are truly needed in Ukraine. The lifespan of vehicles on the front line can be just days or weeks, so they are needed; we received information about what was required. We bought a car that we drove to Ukraine, and of course, it could be taken empty. We donated, received donations, and raised funds through handmade crafts. I became quite passionate, and the car quickly filled up; however, I noticed that our Land Rover has a tow bar, so we also needed to buy a trailer to fit everything in.

We traveled by car through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. In the early morning hours, we crossed the border, a somehow magical moment.

At the house, we were warmly welcomed with morning coffee. Where there are Finns, there is also a sauna. There were volunteers from three different countries during our weeks—amazing people all. The girls had their own room, and it was wonderful to have that old-school camp vibe in the evenings, whispering in the girls' room.

We did various things at the house. We braided nets, sorted and packed aid supplies, taught English at a school, and my favorite activity was helping at the animal shelter. The shelter keepers live with the animals and take good care of them. These people are the real heroes in my life.

We had the honor of driving to Kyiv to hand over the car to the soldiers; I will never forget this experience. We met many locals, soldiers, and other aid workers, all incredibly friendly, yet there was fatigue and sadness in their eyes.

The most precious lesson and words I will never forget came when I was talking to a soldier.

I said that my contribution feels so small, and he looked firmly yet warmly deep into my eyes and

said, "Zero is nothing, one is already a lot. Even one donated item, like a chocolate bar,

can save someone's day.

And just knowing on the front line that someone is standing by you helps you endure in defending."

I will never forget this conversation, and it really encapsulates very well that even

a small act or help is important.

In the FinEst application process, as is usually the case, there was no warning text in

the product description: "Going on a trip may cause severe addiction"?

Because this trip, which hasn't even ended yet, has indeed led to the planning of a new aid journey.

To anyone contemplating whether to join the association's activities or to become a donor, I say that if you throw yourself into it, you will gain the most meaningful experience of your life. This experience also helps me act in Finland and has provided me with the skills needed. Due to the geopolitical situation in the world, expertise is needed in Finland for preparedness and for doing work like this.

-Mirva