Here are Some Ways you can Help Support Relief Efforts in Ukraine

The world forever changed on February 24, 2022, when Russia began its unprovoked and illegitimate invasion of Ukraine.

While we watch with horror the atrocities that the Kremlin is committing and admire the steadfast defiance of the Ukrainians, it is okay to feel downtrodden and worried, even if the fact that you are safe and secure makes you feel guilty.

The truth is we are all sitting with the fears of the unknown and feeling the effects of the war one way or another.

Perhaps we feel helpless and upset that we can’t do more and are unnerved by the unknown future we face due to Russian President, Vladimir Putin’s insipid concern that the West wants to invade Russia, and his grandiose fantasies of restoring the former Soviet Union.

The truth is you are not alone. Even the most prominent figures in the U.S. and its NATO allies feel helpless because while they want to help Ukraine, they know they are hamstrung by any actions that Putin can include as a pretense for World War III or using his nuclear arsenal. The “no fly zone” would be the best course of action, but it could lead to catastrophic consequences as it’s highly considered to be one of Putin’s “red lines.”

The most renowned security and geopolitical advisors do not know how the lines of the Ukraine or Europe will be redrawn because no one knows exactly what endgame Putin desires.

What do we do in a situation where we feel bogged down by uncertainty and hopelessness? We do what we can, just as the Ukrainians have showed us.

In today’s digital age, we can do more than we ever could at breakneck speed. Here are some examples of what people are doing to help, starting with a Ukrainian giving to his own country.

Before February 24th, Valerii Iakovenko ran DroneUA, a company that used drones to provide data collection and analysis for the energy and agricultural sectors in addition to video production. When Russia invaded, Iakovenko and his team quickly offered their services to the Ukrainian military and are now using their drones to provide intelligence while also collecting data and evidence of possible Russian war crimes.

In Lithuania, Jonas Ohman runs a nonprofit Group called Blue/Yellow. According to the Washington Post, Ohman founded the charity in 2014 to aid Ukraine’s forces after Russia annexed Crimea and usually operated on a budget of under $200K a year while taking no salary. In just about a month since Russia invaded, however, Lithuania’s 2.8 million citizens have raised over $20 million for the organization. His team of volunteers, mechanics, and everyday citizens are now working around the clock to secure weapons and military equipment before volunteers drive 19 hours to make the delivery.

In the United States, famed Instagram influencer Quentin Quarantino came up with the idea to support Ukrainians by booking AirBNB’s so Ukrainian citizens in need could get money right away while their lives were disrupted. Not only did Ukrainians get much needed funds instantly, but they also felt the warmth and unity of strangers showing their support.

The responses to booked AirBNB’s showed just how much it meant to the Ukrainians who knew their hostswere finding a way to give them instant funds without expecting anything in return.

As one person wrote, in the comments section, “proof that people can use social media for good.”

ImpactWayv is the new social media platform dedicated exclusively to social impact. If you want to help Ukraine, its military, and people, but are not sure how, there are plenty of opportunities on ImpactWayv to get involved or take inspiration from to start your own initiative.

For example, Little Sun is running a donation campaign on ImpactWayv alongside its partner organizations to deliver its solar devices and humanitarian aid to areas cut off from electricity and gas.

Another ImpactWayv user recently posted an article about Ukrainian fashion brand Milla Nova, who pivoted from making glamorous wedding gowns to producing protective clothing for medical workers and military personnel.

Does this give you any ideas on what you could do to help? 

While ImpactWayv is a platform for individuals, nonprofits, and companies to inspire, collaborate and create campaigns for social good, it is also a marketplace for healthy and productive dialogue and idea sharing around critical issues worldwide.

If I were to post to ImpactWayv right now, I would urge everyone to remember that people are not a reflection of their government. When you are feeling frustrated and hopeless, it’s easy to take out your frustration on the first person or symbol with a Russian affiliation. Many Russians left their family and friends behind and moved out of Russia because they oppose the war. Yet they face backlash in places like Turkey and Georgia.  

It's easy to take out your frustrations on someone or something, but the relief is short lived. It’s much more rewarding to channel that frustration into action that will help others, creating a “wayv” of impact which is anything but fleeting.