41. Convoy Part 2 – the help has arrived

sahilft
2 days ago
5 min read

Relief supplies unloaded and distributed personally

Monday, May 5

Handover of toys to 2 kindergartens in Dmytrivka

Smiling faces everywhere. Many thanks to the donors.

Addendum to Sunday, May 4

On Sunday, as reported in Part 1, the fire brigade bus was handed over.

The "Fire Brigade Bus" project is a joint project between Eifellichter eV and Sankt Augustin and Friends eV

Eifellicht eV is a non-profit organization based in Gerolstein that has been providing humanitarian aid in crisis areas for over 30 years. The organization regularly organizes aid shipments, particularly to Ukraine and Romania, and supplies those in need with urgently needed supplies such as nursing beds, medical supplies, and clothing. Eifellicht places great emphasis on providing direct assistance without bureaucratic detours.

Website: www.eifellicht.de

Here is a nice selfie of the bus and driver.

Unloading clothing donations. Oksana runs the clothing store.

Tuesday, May 6

The big unloading

Specialists in action

This time there were also donations from ZeSaBo, such as bed linen and care products.

ZeSaBo – Central Warehouse for Donations in Kind Bonn eV is a non-profit organization that has served as the central point of contact for donations in kind in Bonn since 2016. It serves as a logistics center for the acceptance, sorting, and distribution of donations in kind to people in need. ZeSaBo works exclusively with volunteers and supports both private and institutional organizations that provide for those in need.

Website: www.zesabo.de

The cribs from the Bonn Student Union's daycare center in Sankt Augustin are unloaded from the fire department bus. The changing tables were transported directly to Kharkiv on a 7.5-ton truck.

The car and trailer are handed over to the Kraken.

The dog food is eagerly awaited.

Wednesday, May 7

Unloading, testing and handing over the electric vehicle for Victor.

In autumn 2023, Victor, 25, drove into a mine and lost both legs.

In cooperation between the volunteer association Sobchuk PP, the association Eifellicht eV and Sankt Augustin and friends eV, an electric scooter was procured and brought to the site.

Victor has regained a small part of his freedom and can now participate more fully in life.

We wish Victor all the best!

Thursday, May 8

Handing over the dog food to the dog training center

The dog food was originally supposed to be dropped off at another location. For safety reasons, the dog food was handed over to a dog training center. There, dogs are trained as search and rescue dogs.

Dogs and people were visibly happy.

A few tricks as a thank you. The dogs find us exciting.

Handover of the Setra bus

Visit a memorial

Today we were invited to participate in the dedication of a memorial for fallen soldiers. Out of respect, we specifically refrained from taking photos of the ceremony.

At the end, the father of the fallen young soldier, Vladimir (26 years old), gave a speech. It was very emotional, and he thanked us for our help.

The monument pictured is a Ukrainian memorial to fallen soldiers and defenders of Ukraine. It bears the Ukrainian coat of arms (trysub) and features an engraving of soldiers with a flag. The inscription in Ukrainian reads:

> The heroic hygienists were forced to eat before the Ukraine.

Translated this means:

"To the hero-defenders who gave their lives for Ukraine's independence."

Such monuments are widespread in Ukraine and serve to commemorate those who fell in the struggle for the country's independence and territorial integrity, especially since the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2014 and increasingly since 2022. The symbolism (cross, national emblem, soldiers) and the dedication underline the importance of the sacrifice for national freedom and independence.

The monument represents the change in Ukrainian culture of remembrance, which is increasingly moving away from Soviet symbols and instead honoring its own national heroes and their commitment to independence.

Victor was completely distraught and devastated. He was very happy that we hugged him. We'll see him again.

Friday, May 9

A memorial to the children killed.

On June 4, 2023, a monument dedicated to the children who died as a result of Russian aggression was unveiled in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The inauguration took place on the International Day of Innocent Children – Victims of Aggression and was performed by First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska in the presence of regional administration representatives, volunteers, and diplomats.

Design of the monument

The monument, created by sculptor Mykhailo Yatchenko, features two bronze sculptures of children—a boy and a girl—floating above a granite block symbolizing an explosion. The children are depicted as angels with scorched wings, symbolizing the destruction and loss that war brought to innocence. The entire composition reaches a height of approximately five meters. The base of the monument contains an inscription:

“To the little angels,

who so early

were confronted with human cruelty

and unfortunately never

could grow up…”

Kharkiv – a battered city. Hardly a street is unaffected.

Return journey to Dmytrivka

Saturday, May 10

The municipality of Dmitrívs chikíj held a celebratory event "Day of Obdarovostí".

On May 10, 2025, the award ceremony for talented children took place at the Dmitrivka Village Cultural Center. Representatives of the public organization "St. Augustin and Friends Help" attended the event.

The celebrations began with the national anthems of Ukraine and Germany. A minute of silence honored the memory of the soldiers who died in the war with Russia.

The cultural event was a summary of the work of students and pedagogical staff of educational, cultural and municipal institutions: "SMSH "School of Arts "Art-Viva", SC "Leader" of the Dmitriv Village Council for the school year 2024.

Taras Didich, the village director of Dmitriv, congratulated the winners, prizewinners, teachers, and coaches, and thanked them for their intellectual and creative work. Present in the hall, guests from Germany who attended the event joined the reception and, with loud applause, honored the truly talented participants, winners of the Territorial Olympiad, regional, all-Ukrainian, and international tournaments, competitions, and other events. The village director, together with Gunther Maassen, president of the NGO "St. Augustine and Friends Help," presented diplomas and valuable gifts to 229 gifted children of the village. Victoria Babenko, head of the Department of Education, Culture, Youth, Sports, and National-Patriotic Education, also welcomed 75 teachers, creative mentors, and coaches, thanking them for the gifts.

The development of the education sector in the local community is one of the priorities of the Dmitriv Village Council. The community's goal-oriented, talented young generation is the future intellectual elite, the pride and hope of the community.

We are proud of our creative, talented youth, a high-performing teaching team that holds the "educational front." The youth confidently conquers, step by step. Their starts are victories won, opening new horizons of opportunity, conquering new heights, and fulfilling cherished dreams.

During this celebration, our friends thanked us for our efforts. We had the honor of presenting the awards.