Supporting mutual aid in Ukraine.
Meet …
SOPHIA
Hi! I’m Sophia Kutsiuruba, and the voice behind this blog.
I was born in the city of Chernivtsi, in Western Ukraine. I come from a strong, proud, and resilient Ukrainian ancestry. When I was 6 years old, my family immigrated to Canada. Today I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba and work for an international disaster relief organization, Mennonite Central Committee.
When the invasion of Ukraine started, my family, like every other Ukrainian with relatives back home, began frantically checking in with family members, inquiring about their safety and what we could do to help.
I created this blog as a way to share how my extended family in Ukraine is helping fellow Ukrainians in desperate need.
ANDRIY
Meet Andriy Holubenko, Sophia’s cousin in Rivne, Ukraine. (He’s the one on the right.)
In the first few days of the war, Andriy formed a network of friends, colleagues, neighbours, and people from his church to find ways to help. They have offered their resources, skills and time to provide shelter and assistance to other Ukrainians who are most in need.
Andriy, his wife Olesya, and their four kids live in Rivne in a multi-family home with Andriy’s parents and brother’s family.
Andriy now spends all his time coordinating a small team of community members that collect and deliver aid, host displaced families, and regularly run an evacuation convoy to bring people to safety.
We send donations directly to Andriy. Andriy sends photos and updates of how these donations are helping others.