Page 4 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 116 - October 2023 - Binded

The ”Van for Ukraine” project continues, and we repeated the webinar for those that
had missed the first one and were disappointed to have done so. We had a wonderful sur-
prise when Vera from BPW Denver joined the webinar, and at the end spoke in perfect
Ukrainian as her parents had been refugees and moved to the USA. The emotion on all
our faces was clear to see, and the connection was incredible. If only we could bottle this
and use it as healing water on the conflict.

This project has received recognition from IFBPW for the work that has been done
and continues to be done.

How can you help? The fundraising continues, we have the IFBPW project donation
to buy the vehicle, but we do not want to send an empty van to Chernihiv in Ukraine. As
winter approaches, they have asked for a generator, a solar panel, and some flasks to
keep drinks warm, toiletries and sanitary items, baby milk and nappies. These are things
we take for granted and simply order when needed.

This last weekend my husband and I hosted
Yulia Zhdanova, who is a Ukrainian refugee and
BPW member, currently living in Witney, and
working for the NGO International Rescue
(https://www.rescue.org/uk/topic/ukraine-crisis ).
Yulia came to the UK with her Mum, Milla and two
sons Illia aged 15 and Stepan aged 12.

Yulia’s husband is still in Chernihiv assisting
fellow NGOs and has been repairing the family
home following shell damage at the beginning of
the invasion.

It was wonderful to see them all, and to
show them a little of Bristol, and extremely touch-
ing to see the photos were being sent straight
back to Dad, to share a little of this experience.
As I mentioned on the webinar, faced with the
choice to leave, or stay, I truly do not know what
I would do. Thankfully I do not need to make this
choice, but I can help those in need who stayed.
Left Stepan, Milla, Yulia, Jo & Illia

Best Personal Wishes,

Joanne Kinsey BPW UK Office:
President BPW UK 74 Fairfield Rise, Billericay,
Anti-Human Trafficking & Sexual Exploitation Essex CM12 9NU
Tel: +44 1277 623867
BPW International Taskforce member
E-mail: hq@bpwuk.org.uk
Tel: +44 7834 635601
Email: president@bpwuk.org.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jo-kinsey-180b50144