Two missions: to take groceries, and to bring to Portugal 28 Ukrainians, including children, already identified. We collaborate with the High Commissioner for Migration, who will handle all legal documentation for Ukrainian refugees.
This mission starts with 5 friends (Andé Dias, Bruno Martins, Joel Antunes, José Dias and Renato Costa) who felt they should get up and do something for something bigger than themselves, and help the Ukrainians.
In this way, we joined the UPE - Associação Centro Social e Cultural Luso Ucraniano, a local NGO, in Vila Verde, and started looking for ways to help them. We quickly realized that the best help we could give was to bring needed and requested goods, such as medicines and food, to Ukraine for those who understandably and legitimately want to fight for their country and their things, and of course, bring Ukrainians to Portugal and help them. them any way we can.
We started knocking on some doors and uniting some local and national entities (public and private) to help us do and fight for something that we believe is right. We believe in Human Rights for a fairer and more inclusive world for all.
After the UPE, we got the support of the Municipality of Vila Verde, which is helping us with accommodation for those who are going to bring, and supporting them in their daily affairs such as education for their children, employment, Portuguese classes, etc. The Portuguese High Commissioner for Migration will handle all the legal documentation so the Ukrainian people can come completely legal with nothing to worry about. SOS Braga is collecting some supplies that they will help bring to Ukraine.
We are talking not only about people, but about war refugees. People who until a month ago thought they had everything, a house, a family, a job, and now... they just want to have their family safe.
We will be joined by 3 people from the UPE who will also come as translators and help in the trust process with these war refugees who, if we do not communicate with them efficiently, they will not legitimately trust us.
In total, there will be 8 people from Braga, Portugal, who will leave on March 20th for the Ukrainian border, covering almost 8,000km to both sides in 4 vans. We will go 2 people per van to Ukraine full of necessary supplies and we will bring to Portugal 28 Ukrainians, including children, already identified.
We believe that we will reach the Ukrainian border on the 23rd of March and on the 24th we will return to Portugal with these incredible people who are fleeing to fight for a better future for their families.
The amount of 20000 euros we ask is to cover travel costs, such as gas, tolls, food and any travel emergency that may happen on the way.
Donations will be delivered directly to the NIB of the UPE - Associação Centro Social e Cultural Luso Ucraniano, as we believe this is the most transparent and honest way to ask for your help.
