For the Ukrainian students working across their native land, this volunteer mission has a personal element. For nine days in April, 100 young volunteers fanned out across Ukraine in a humanitarian aid mission through Hillel in Central Asia and Southeastern Europe (CASE) in partnership with Shalom Corps.
Some of the student volunteers are facing great personal challenges at this time, having dealt with hardships and displacement in their home country. Some are newly engaging with the Jewish community in support of this mission. What unites them all is their objective to realize the value of tikkun olam.
Volunteers worked in Kyiv to prepare clothing and hygiene kits for distribution. In Odessa, they prepared needed medication for delivery. Food packages for the elderly were delivered in Lviv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv.
Each group of volunteers was provided the opportunity to interact with those receiving help, in an effort to build a sense of support and solidarity, as well as Jewish learning to enrich their Jewish identities and connection to Israel.
