To support their country in the war imposed by Russia, the young people of the Plast association – Ukrainian scouts of France organize collections of all types of products.
The parcels are transported by trucks, two leave every day, to the Polish border.
There, other members of the association smuggle them into Ukraine and transport them to the combat zones.
These collections are also a way for these young Ukrainians to support themselves, unable to be with their families and friends who are living through the war.
They couldn't sit idly by.
This Thursday, a week after the start of the war in Ukraine, there are about twenty of them busying themselves in this premises on rue de Palestine in the 19th arrondissement of Paris.
On the initiative of the Plast association - Ukrainian scouts of France, these young Ukrainians carry the bags, sort, list, tape the boxes and load trucks, all destined for their country of origin.
"We had to participate in the war effort, explains Olena Bondar, treasurer and spokesperson for the association, so last Friday we launched an appeal on our Facebook page to collect as many things as possible to send to Ukraine. .
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The initiative finds its public.
As soon as the yellow and blue doors of the premises opened on Saturday morning, the packages began to flow.
“We didn't think it would take on such magnitude,” says Olena Bondar, looking at the donations already received.
As proof, his phone is on the verge of implosion.
She shows with a smile the 219 unread messages in her mailbox and claims nearly 500 calls a day.
Food, thermal clothing, batteries, walkie-talkies, winter shoes, hygiene products… Boxes and bags accumulate inside.
“Sleeping bags are on the right side of the cabinet.
These drugs are in the boxes in front.
These are out of date, we don't take them…” On the sidewalk next to the church, a volunteer organizes a first sorting of the donations that arrive.
She wears a makeshift armband made of a piece of paper and tape, like her colleagues of the day.
Above is written Iryna.
" It's my name.
Many are members of the association, but there are also volunteers, we don't all know each other.
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Coming together to bear the situation
She herself had never heard of Ukrainian scouts a week before.
"I came on the second day of the invasion to bring some donations and I stayed," she smiles.
A smile that masks a deep anguish in the young woman: “I was also looking for psychological help.
I felt terrible, alone here, knowing what my friends and family are going through in Ukraine.
I couldn't sleep anymore.
With a busy mind, she preferred to take a few days off from work to devote herself to the association.
In this environment where people speak Ukrainian, Iryna finds strength, like her comrades inside.
Organized, they distribute donations with formidable efficiency.
Like a beehive, everyone knows what to do, and everyone shows great energy.
If the atmosphere is laborious, some do not forget to throw a good word to make the assembly laugh from time to time.
But the return to seriousness is done quickly, a new truck must leave.
One to two trucks leave every day
“We have one or two trucks leaving every day,” says Olena Bondar.
These vans take the direction of the Polish border where other members of the Ukrainian scouts (Plast is an international association) receive the cargoes and organize the passage to Ukraine, where they are then distributed.
“We help civilians, but we give priority to those who have taken up arms so that they have what is necessary,” explains the spokesperson.
Medicines, in particular, are received by doctors in western Ukraine, who can then redistribute them to their colleagues in the various combat zones.
A few minutes after the truck had left, Pascale, a neighbor from the Jourdain district, showed up with a bag of medicine.
“I live right next door but I didn't know it was a Ukrainian association.
I had surgery recently and had plenty of painkillers at home.
So I thought that might help.
Admiring these young people who are struggling, she says she talks about them to those around her to find more and more help.
“We must always show solidarity for people in distress.
Here, all we can do is make a few donations,” she says, trying to contain strong emotion.
“It must be hard what these kids are going through”
Word of mouth also worked for Jean-Claude, who heard about the harvest from a neighbour.
“It must be hard what these kids are going through.
But they have the right reaction and I'm sure that's very helpful.
On our side, it's terrible to say, but we also feel concerned because it's happening not far away.
Having come to drop off sleeping bags and splints, he attentively reads the recommendations posted on the door of the room.
For the sake of efficiency, the association informs donors of the products it needs, and those that are in sufficient number at the moment.
“We no longer take masks, clothing for women and children, pillows, blankets, details Iryna, on the other hand, we still need medical and surgical products and technical clothing and accessories for the outdoors such as knee pads, gloves or binoculars.
The association has also opened an account on the Helloasso platform for those who would like to donate money.
"The best thing is to go directly to the collection points to ask what we need because it is changing very quickly," adds Olena Bondar.
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World
War in Ukraine: Donations of money and medical equipment… How solidarity with Ukrainians is organized in France
Solidarity
War
Society
Russia
War in Ukraine
Scout
Paris
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