By Vikrant Sabharwal
On February 24th Russia launched missiles at the Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, and invaded the country on three axes, Belarus in the north, Russia in the east, and occupied Crimea in the south. At least 1300 Ukrainian soldiers and 636 civilians have been killed so far. The Russian military has indiscriminately targeted schools, airports, and hospitals. Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of war crimes, including the shelling of an orphanage and kindergarten on the outskirts of Kyiv; the International Criminal Court has opened an investigation into these war crimes. More than 1.5 million Ukrainian civilians have fled the conflict so far, escaping to neighboring countries like Poland, Romania, and Moldava.
Ukrainian refugees fleeing to Romania.
The size and distance of the conflict make many at BISB feel powerless to help Ukraine. At BISB, the student-led Allies for Action group is facilitating sessions for middle and high school students to discuss the conflict, and share their views. For students who would otherwise have no outlet or feel uncomfortable discussing, these meetings are very important. In classes, teachers from the primary level up to the high school are dedicating time to informing students about the state of the conflict and answering any questions they may have. Keeping informed in the cloud of misinformation is integral to understanding the conflict, and what steps each person can take to help end it.
While the impact an individual can have is small, members of the BISB community have come together to support Ukrainian refugees and civilians. Ava Sarram in Year 11 is organizing a fundraising drive to provide money for supplies that can be provided to Ukrainian civilians fleeing the conflict. The supplies will be sent to the Polish and Romanian borders where local humanitarian workers will distribute them to any Ukrainian refugees in need. If you would like to learn more about this or have any questions, contact ava_sarram@bisboston.org.
Ukrainian refugees at the Polish border receiving food and clothing.
Sarram is doing this along with Boston Aide for Ukraine, which is a non-profit organization that was created recently to support Ukrainian civilians and refugees in the conflict. It was started by a couple in Needham who are first-generation Ukrainian-Americans.
If you would like to donate, please leave any of the items below in the main lobby of the school:
Toothbrushes and/or toothpaste
Soap
Bandages
Gauze
First Aid Kits
Any form of hygiene or medical supplies
If you would like to support Boston Aide for Ukraine directly, you can contribute to them on their GoFundMe. All proceeds will go directly to support Ukrainian refugees.
This conflict has saddened us all, but the work of BISB students like Ava shows that each of us can help those suffering from Russia. Hopefully, the school community will continue to come together to support Ukrainians against the unwarranted Russian aggression.