Scouts emergency response for Ukraine
When war broke out in Ukraine in early 2022, Scouts didn’t hesitate, mobilising swiftly to help others, coordinating local emergency relief efforts, distributing vital supplies and medicines, supporting displaced persons and providing vital mental health support for children impacted by the war. Their courageous efforts continued throughout the entire year (and still continue), including through the harsh winter, as the war escalated.
It’s hard to convey what they have experienced over the past year — living in instability and insecurity in a country at war, where millions are displaced and homeless, facing immeasurable and heart-breaking loss, and yet Scouts chose to face this with kindness, helping others as best possible, spreading joy and hope — embodying the values we learn in Scouting.
Scouts in Ukraine have shown what it means to be prepared and step up. This is something they didn’t choose and didn’t want to see. But the quality of Scout leaders and volunteers shows today in the way that they step up and provide support.
Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary General, World Organization of the Scout MovementAcross the world, the Scout Movement came together. The World Scout Foundation and WOSM immediately organised an emergency appeal on our joint fundraising platform, the Scout Donation Platform, to support the Scouts of Ukraine’s efforts as well as those of Scouts in neighbouring countries — Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia — who swiftly acted to assist Ukrainian refugees transiting through or seeking refuge in their countries.
Over 2,492 donations were received from Scout groups, Baden-Powell Fellows and National Scout Organisations worldwide, raising over USD 700,000 — a record for a Scout Donation Platform appeal! And these efforts were further boosted by a strong partnership between WOSM and UNICEF to provide critical care and support in Ukraine and neighbouring countries and by the innumerable Scout actions in neighbouring countries as well as destination countries for refugees further afield.
In Scouting, we learn what to do in different challenging situations. So, we stand more prepared. We’re always ready, which is why we are quick to respond.
By the end of 2022, Scout volunteers had already supported over 800,000 displaced Ukrainian children and families in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, to address urgent needs, arranging accommodation, translation, essential items and psychological first aid. In addition, they established day care centres and worked closely with refugee children and adolescents at refugee and transit centres, offering educational and skills-building activities including by integrating refugee children into local Scout groups.
If you donated or volunteered to help, please know that you made a difference and that your support was crucial, helping Scouts continue to sustain and scale up their action. Thank you.
Scout support in Ukraine
Scouting has remained a constant for children and young people in Ukraine — where possible in person and where not, online — to help keep them connected, entertained and supported throughout the conflict. In particular, Scout activities and camps have helped displaced children make new friends and understand that they matter. Scouts have teamed up with local psychologists to provide vital mental health and psycho-social support and Scout leaders have also been trained in psychological first aid.
“The simple things make a difference during these times, such as making armbands and pictures for kids, making little figurines they could use as key rings, and organising many meetings.”
16-year-old Mykyta Rohutskyi first got involved with orientation activities for internally displaced children and their families, then helped with a day camp, and then spent his summer holidays with Scout friends running camps for more than 200 children from Eastern Ukraine. “It was a good opportunity for me to spend my time in a meaningful way and a way to fulfil my Scout duty to help others”, says Mykyta.
“We provide food, but it’s not just about that. It’s about giving them our warm hearts.”
In Odesa, Scout leader Nastya Chuhui has run art classes, tours, educational programmes and summer camps with her Scout friends for over 150 internally displaced young people, supporting their mental health and integration. Nastya also convinced more than 100 neighbouring families to volunteer with her, gathering and delivering warm clothes, food and essentials to local people in need.
And Nadya Melnychuk, a Scout Leader in Dnipro, put her Scout skills to use coordinating a logistics team, overcoming countless challenges to get medicine and first aid to displaced persons in need.
Multiply these actions by thousands to get a sense of the Scout spirit, kindness and solidarity shown daily by Ukrainian Scouts. And just like them, in countries in Europe and further afield, Scouts opened their Scout homes to refugees, coordinated mass collections and deliveries of supplies, guided refugees at the borders and transportation hubs across Europe, translated, welcomed people and helped them to integrate, and provided a safe and supportive space for refugee children to play. Here are just a few inspirational examples:
If I had to point out one thing out of the many things I learned from Scouting, it would be solidarity. The least I could do is to volunteer and help. I am sure that in each of us there is at least a bit of light, kindness, and solidarity, and when we show it to others, we multiply it.
Committed to doing more
The Scouts of Ukraine send their sincere thanks to everyone who has helped — from sending messages of support to pictures or donations. They feel the support of Scouts everywhere and will continue to live their Scout Promise and Law while creating a better world.
Across the world, Scout action to support people affected by the war in Ukraine continues.
