REFUGEES HELPING REFUGEES

Lviv, Ukraine

In March 2022 I was asked to embark on a journey to Ukraine.

What I encountered was both surprising and heartening. Despite the chaos and uncertainty surrounding them, the people I met demonstrated remarkable kindness and compassion for one another. It was truly inspiring to see refugees helping other refugees, and to witness individuals putting their own lives at risk to help those in need.
After spending a few days in Poland, I ventured into Ukraine and Lvi, where my focus shifted to capturing the stories of those who had fled from the frontlines. I was not on the frontlines myself, so I did not have the opportunity to photograph the war. However, I was able to find and document the moving stories of the displaced people I encountered. Their experiences have left a profound impact on me, and I am eager to return to Ukraine in the future to continue my work and help in any way I can.

With only two days notice, I set off to Poland, where I was tasked with capturing the reality of the aid being distributed to those in need

Elena and her son lived in the city of Charkiv where their home was destroyed. Determined to flee, they set out to take the train but even trains were being bombed so no one dared to travel with them.
After several intense days, they finally arrived on the train and it was a long journey where they couldn't even sit down in their compartment because it was so full of people and old people.

Upon arriving at the Lviv train station, they were dehydrated, hungry and confused. Elena went to the ticket office to ask for help on where she could go next in Poland, when the woman in the ticket booth asked her to lean in and look at the map of places that they think take in refugees. She didn't notice that her son disappeared. She looked down after him and suddenly saw that he was gone. In a panic, she frantically looked around the station, only to see a stranger walking away with the boy. The boy was completely stunned and couldn't utter a word. Elena ran and yelled to stop the man, and eventually caught up to him.
She took the boy from him, and the man disappeared into the entrance. Crying, she took the boy in her arms and tried to comfort him and herself. That's when the team that I photographed and that helps with giving refugees shelter and food came and asked if they could help her. She gratefully accepted their help.

When I meet Elena two weeks after this she thanked me over and over, even though I had not done anything. I asked why she was thanking me and she replied, "Because you can tell my story." That's when I understood why I was there, truly. It's not just to tell the obvious story of aid being delivered, but also what is happening beneath the surface. It ended happily that time, not just because Elena and her son got help but also because the police were able to arrest the man based on Elena's testimony.
Elena's story has not only protected her son from a life of misery but probably many more. Human trafficking is terrible and evil people take advantage in wars where confusion and helplessness prevail. I am so touched by this meeting and I hope I will be able to tell her story as long as I can.