This story appeared in the Family Guide and provides a compelling picture of the work of the Metadidomi Foundation in Ukraine. It shows how practical help, personal involvement and faith come together in a country that has been suffering from war for years.
For Evert van Dijke, everything changed when the war in Ukraine broke out. For years, he and his family lived in a village near Kiev, where they ran a farm. When the first bombings began, they had to go headlong and leave their lives behind.
The war abruptly ended their daily existence, but not their connection to the country and the people who live there.
The Metadidomi Foundation was founded in 2007 from a deep awareness that help was necessary. Poverty and the vulnerable position of people with disabilities in Ukraine affected the founders so much that they decided to provide structural help.
After the outbreak of the war, the foundation grew explosively. Trucks full of relief supplies, volunteers and new collaborations started to support families and communities.
For Leander van Gorsel, the volunteer adventure started with a desire to make a difference. He has now traveled to Ukraine several times and has seen with his own eyes how great the need is.
He explains how people in remote villages live among destroyed houses, how food packages are distributed and how thankful people are for attention, help and listening.
Metadidomi works closely with local churches and contacts. As a result, help goes directly to the people who need it most.
The foundation provides food, clothing, medical equipment, Bibles, and other basic necessities. In a short time, dozens of trucks carrying relief supplies were sent to Ukraine.
Although Metadidomi is a relatively small foundation, that is precisely where its strength lies. Through personal relationships and local cooperation, they can reach places where large organizations often don't go.
The involvement is direct, personal and reliable. This makes it possible to provide help quickly and effectively.
The stories from Ukraine are often difficult and confrontational. Nevertheless, there is always hope coming through.
Volunteers and care workers see how prayer, solidarity and practical help empower people to keep going. Even in the darkest of circumstances, moments of light, connection and trust arise.
For those involved, the work in Ukraine is more than just a project. It is a calling.
They know that their help is only a small contribution, but they also know that every contribution makes a difference. And it is precisely that awareness that drives them to keep going, for as long as necessary.
