When an Ukrainian soldier who lost a foot to a mortar attack heard that a group visiting from Langford might be able to help fit amputees with prosthetics, he immediately asked for a foot — so that he could go back to fighting on the front lines.
Ravi Parmar, chairman of the Sooke School District, was one of four members of the Langford-Global Medic Ukraine Project — a community-based volunteer group — that travelled to western Ukraine on an eight-day mission this month to deliver close to $75,000 in donated supplies to a community just 30 kilometres from the country’s border with Belarus.
Parmar said the group was touring hospitals where they came face to face with soldiers who had been shot or wounded in explosions. “One of them was this young man who had lost his foot. Once he learned that the Victoria Hand Project, who fit amputees with prosthetic arms and hands, was there, he said: ‘Fit me up with a prosthetic foot — I want to go back [to fight].’ ”
The team did not reveal the name of the town for security reasons, but said it was in the western part of Ukraine.
“Walking through town, it was just like walking down Government Street,” Parmar said. “But when you reach the hospital, you come face to face with the terrible price of the war on the young and old.”
Nick Dechev, the founder of the Victoria Hand Project and part of the group, helped fit five Ukrainian amputees with prosthetic arms during the visit, and said the trip to Ukraine was the first step toward providing more prosthetic care in Ukraine.
For Brendan Strain, who served as the group’s videographer, it was the second time he had visited the war-torn country, and this time, the mood was different, he said.
“The first time was in June, so it was warm and sunny,” said Strain, a reporter with CTV Vancouver Island. “[This time] people seemed fatigued and cold — no doubt due to power rationing, due to attacks on the country’s power infrastructure. But what struck me was how heartwarming the people still were to us and how unbelievably determined they are.”
The group also distributed much-needed school supplies to four schools.
“What struck me while visiting schools in Ukraine was how similar their values were to those of our district,” said Parmar, who went as a volunteer but brought official greetings from the Sooke School District board to four schools during his visit.
He distributed $10,000 worth of school supplies and met with educators and delivered letters from a Grade 5 class at Willway Elementary School to their pen-pal school in Ukraine.
Bob Beckett, the trip’s organizer, said community-based volunteer groups are the backbone of humanitarian responses.
“When you combine our efforts with all of the other organizations and volunteer groups assisting Ukraine, we are making a difference,” said Beckett, retired Langford fire chief. “On our first trip we raised enough money to feed 90,000 people. This time around was more emotional, as we went into hospitals and schools to see first-hand the desperate need of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.”
He said that while raising money is important, putting “boots on the ground” to meet the people is even more important.
“It shows Ukrainians that we were in solidarity with them, that we will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them and are committed to continuing to help,” he said.
Anyone interested in donating to future missions can make out cheques to Langford-Global Medic Ukraine Project and drop them off at Langford Fire Rescue Station One, 2625 Peatt Rd.
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