Ukraine Aid by Thanh Pham

I was a refugee too. My parents were refugees from the Communists regime in Vietnam and met each other at a refugee camp in the Philippines. A few years later, I was born inside the refugee camp and  I was too young to understand what was going on.

With only a duffle bag, briefcase, and a diaper bag, we emigrated to The Netherlands. We were in a country where we didn't speak the language and had no connections.

However, thanks to support from social workers, volunteers, and the Dutch government we were able to live and build a new life.

So when I see these Ukrainian kids and women on TV flee the war and arrive in a country where they don't speak the language and don't know anyone...I see myself.

I was in their shoes. I know what it's like growing up in a foreign country, away from family, and with little to no resources.

I'm very fortunate to have made something of myself but I don't know if these kids from Ukraine will. That's why I'll be going there to assist them and pay it forward. I want to tell them that everything will be okay. That I was their shoes and everything turned out okay. The same will be true for them and that they have a bright future ahead of them.

On Saturday, April 9th, I will fly from Austin, TX to Warsaw, Poland to volunteer for 6 days. I've registered myself with multiple organizations and it's very chaotic now as the war is still going on and tens of  thousands of refugees are on the move every day. After Warsaw, I'll go to my motherland (Netherlands) and continue to volunteer there and donate.

I'll be using my personal money to buy medical supplies, clothing, foods, and everyday items to help the kids and women of Ukraine. I'll be doing this while I'm in Warsaw, Poland and the same when I arrive in the Netherlands. 

With help of your donation, we can amplify the power to help the people in need. I'll be able to buy more items for them AND donate to causes there that need the funds to help even more people than I alone can. Large donations ($500 and up) will go straight to an organization that I will personally vet while I'm there so we know where the money is going and how it's being used.

Please consider donating knowing that you'll be helping the people of Ukraine. It would mean a lot to me but even more so to these kids and women who need it.

For accountability and transparency purposes, I will publicly document and keep track of all the purchases on my personal instagram @therealthanh so you can see what has been bought, delivered and donated.

Thank you so much in advance. Let's go make a difference.

-Thanh