THE ABILITY TO HELP OTHERS IS WHAT MAKES US HUMAN

Dasha is a young mother living in Balti, Moldova, just 250km from Odesa, Ukraine When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Dasha did not hesitate to offer her modest home to welcome families fleeing the conflict that had erupted in their home country

Natalia and her nine-year-old son fled Odessa with one backpack, carrying what they could fit in it with them They headed for the closest border, with neighbouring Moldova, and made their way towards Balti, which is a city with a strong Ukrainian community, and one where Russian is spoken by many of its residents

Hundreds of Moldovans had made their way to the border to meet and assist arriving refugees, and Natalia was able to be linked with Dasha through this informal network

“When Natalia and her son arrived at my door, it was night,” Dasha recalls “Her eyes were wide, full of fear That made it easy for me to make my decision to welcome her How could I not?”

In the year since her arrival at Dasha’s home on February 28, 2022, Natalia’s sister and her child, as well as Natalia’s mother have joined her in Dasha’s home The families get along very well today, caring for each other and supporting each other

But the early weeks were more challenging “In the first days, Natalia was glued to her phone, constantly watching the news of the war Her son was anxious, asking why there was a war, why they had to leave, when could they go home,” Dasha says

Over the year, both Natalias and Dashas families were supported by ACT member HEKS/EPER’s programme for Ukrainian refugees and host families Natalias family received vouchers to buy food, clothes, hygiene items, and other necessities, as well as winter goods like blankets and sheets, boots, and gloves Dasha’s family received briquettes to heat the home

Natalia’s life has become much more stable over the last year “I was teaching in Odessa at a school for students with special needs,” she says. “I am teaching again online. My students are now spread around the world, as well as in Ukraine We have a daily schedule for our classes, but we all stop school when we hear the air raid sirens go off in Odessa ”

Her son, now ten, has also taken to life in Balti “He used to study karate in Odessa, and is studying again here, as well as English lessons, art, and vocal classes,” she says with a smile “I barely see him! I check in on the phone to make sure he is ok.”

She is in touch with her family in Odessa, where her father remained to watch their property They were last able to visit in August, six months ago.

Life is uncertain, and no one knows what will happen next in Ukraine, but Dasha’s home remains as a haven for Natalia and her family Dasha is determined to continue to be available for her guests who have become such close friends

“We’re not a rich family,” she says “But seeing children running from the war, we didn’t think twice about welcoming them The happy stories don’t unite people as much as the hard ones I just share whatever I have ”

As the conversation ends, Dasha finishes with the most profound comment of the day, “The ability to help others is what makes us human,” she concludes “I have to be a good person, to help others ”

HEKS/EPER supports development cooperation projects to combat poverty and injustice and advocates for a life in dignity for all people in over 30 countries across 4 continents At the same time, HEKS/EPER strives for systemic change through its development work – in Switzerland and worldwide HEKS/EPER provides humanitarian assistance around the world for victims of disasters caused by natural hazards and armed conflicts and supports the diaconal work of churches in Eastern Europe and the Middle East Through its programmes in Switzerland, HEKS/EPER champions the rights and causes of refugees and socially underprivileged people In its projects around the world and in its work of raising awareness around development and social policy topics in Switzerland, HEKS/EPER places the emphasis on the four priorities of climate justice, the right to land and food, flight and migration, and integration

HEKS in Ukraine: providing protection, alleviating hardship From Odessa, HEKS/EPER has established supply lines to alleviate the plight of the people in the cities and regions in the south and east of the country that are hit especially hard by the war HEKS/EPER is also supporting its long-standing partners in Transcarpathia in their work that of caring for the elderly and for people with disabilities who are neither able nor willing to leave the country, and of receiving internally displaced people seeking shelter there