You can help

The history of the REFUFIN project volunteers is a remarkable story of individuals coming together to assist those in need. The project began almost spontaneously after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Darya Gulik assisted her friends in organizing a bus to transport Ukrainian refugees, and within days, she received hundreds of requests for help. Darya quickly gathered more than 50 volunteers to help, and the project grew from there.

 

The Refufin project volunteers fulfilled a diverse range of roles in their efforts to aid Ukrainian refugees. These roles included providing online support through Telegram channels as chatters, coordinating the safe passage of refugees on buses from Poland to Finland as bus coordinators, and addressing various needs and challenges on-site as helpers. Their contributions to the project were widely recognized, leading to invitations to participate in events hosted by reputable organizations such as World Vision and Moniheli.

 

In the second week of the project, the need for an official representative became apparent. Artem Kuosti and his organization, House of Helsinki Ry, stepped in to act as a facilitator. The merger allowed Refufin to gain access to a network of essential partners, donations, and resources, while Darya focused on volunteer coordination and transportation, and Artem and the board handled policies, volunteer training, material translation, and more.

 

The volunteers of Refufin have reached over 6,000 people throughout Finland with its support chats and activities, providing transportation, accommodations, information on safety, travel, and legal rights. The Refufin project is an inspiring example of how individuals can come together to make a difference in the world.