Meet Elinah: Rewriting a Refugee’s Narrative

By Elinah Iraguha

In October, our team traveled to Uganda for our largest ever Animal Tracks distribution of goats, chickens, and pigs for refugees. During our trip, we sat with recipients to listen to their stories and understand their unique circumstances. This is the story of Elinah, a young woman who persevered through the challenges of life in a refugee camp to pursue her dream of education. Elinah was our translator inside of the camp and she speaks 4 languages! She also sells banana drinks in the market. Now, thanks to Animal Tracks, Elinah has two pigs, which will help her achieve financial stability on her journey to university.

Meet Elinah!

My name is Elinah Iraguha. I’m a 25 year old woman and refugee staying in the Kyaka II refugee settlement in Uganda. I’m the first born of my family, and I live in the camp with my father, my daughter, and my seven younger siblings.

My life has been a series of hardships and triumphs. From a young age, I knew nothing outside of life in the camp, where makeshift tents served as homes and dreams were often stifled by the harsh realities of displacement. Opportunities were scarce and hope seemed like a distant dream. Despite these challenges, I held on to my dreams of education and a better future. I attended the rudimentary primary school nearby, cherishing every moment of learning amidst the chaos and suffering of the camp.

In 2018, life threw me a curveball. My parents didn’t have the funds to provide me with further education. This forced me to look for a job to financially support my family and pay for my siblings’ school fees. Unfortunately, I was not able to find steady employment, and could only volunteer with organizations.

Elinah chatting with Roman and Jessica in the Kyaka II refugee settlement.

In 2019, I was 20 years old and found myself facing the unexpected. I was pregnant. Fear and anxiety gripped my heart as I grappled with the responsibility of raising a child on my own. My parents were unhappy with me, others in the camp judged me, and the child’s father, denying his responsibility, abandoned me.

Then, tragedy struck when I lost my mother to illness. My pillar of strength and support was gone, and my father, struggling with mental illness, began suffering from alcoholism. I was left feeling utterly alone with the responsibility of caring for my baby and seven siblings. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders, and I even considered committing suicide.

Amidst the darkest days of my life, I found an unyielding resolve to carve out a better future for myself, my child, and my family. I was determined to defy the odds stacked against me, and would do everything in my power to return to school. Through the African Women and Youth Action for Development (AWYAD), I received counseling and guidance, and thanks to a UNHCR education partner, I received support for tuition. My neighbor took care of my child as I studied. Despite the challenges of balancing motherhood and academics, I poured myself into my studies. Each day, I embraced every opportunity to learn and grow, fueled by love and hope for a better future.

In 2023, I proudly completed my secondary level studies as a student parent. Against all odds, I not only finished, I excelled, scoring high marks in biology, agriculture, nutrition, math, and writing. News of my achievement spread through the camp, igniting a spark of hope against the shadows of despair.

Today, standing on the precipice of a new chapter in my life, my eyes are set firmly on the horizon of possibility. I have taken the bold step forward of applying for a scholarship to university. For me, this is not just an opportunity for education, it is a chance to rewrite the narrative of my life. As I wait for the outcome of my application, I know that whatever the future holds, I will face it with the same courage and resilience that has carried me this far.

My journey from a refugee camp to the halls of academia is not just a testament to my resilience, but a beacon of hope for all who dare to defy the odds and forge their own paths.

Mission of Resilience: Bringing Aid and Hope to the Donetsk Region

By Anastasiia Shelukhina, LHI Ukraine Partnership Manager

Since the war in Ukraine began in 2022, over 1.2 million people have been forced to flee the embattled, eastern Donetsk Oblast. With three-fifths of the region under Russian military occupation, life for Ukrainians has become increasingly more difficult and dangerous. Over the past two months, Russian forces have advanced at a rapid pace, seizing several eastern Ukrainian towns. Many of those who remain in towns like Pokrovske, Prosiane, and Odradne are elderly, with little access to essentials, medical care, and psychological support. Despite these challenges, residents remain steadfast and resilient, determined to stay in their hometowns.

Last month, LHI’s team conducted a series of aid deliveries to struggling, frontline villages throughout the Donetsk region. LHI Ukraine Partnership Manager, Anastasiia Shelukhina documented her heroic journey in a journal. Her story highlights LHI’s exceptional ability to deliver aid where other organizations can’t, and the importance of hope for those living near the frontlines in Donetsk.

Anastasiia and Oleh, ready to deliver boxes of aid to the Donetsk region.

Day 1: October 7, 2024

Our journey began around 10:30 a.m. as we set off from Kharkiv, determined to reach our aid warehouse in Pokrovske as swiftly as possible. Known as the "western gate of Donbas," Pokrovske is a small town at the edge of the embattled Donetsk region. We traveled in a convoy led by an ambulance, followed by a bus with our five-member team. Among us was also Dr. Vlad, who regularly joins our missions and provides psychological support sessions for those persevering through the dangers of life near the frontlines.

When we arrived in Pokrovske, we met with Alyona Levterova, a representative of the military administration for the Volnovakha district. We discussed our upcoming humanitarian efforts and the challenges of helping the local population prepare for the winter. It felt great to know that we have open channels of communication and that our connections with the local authorities are solidifying.

Meanwhile, Yurii, Oleh and Dr. Vlad prepared a delicious barbeque. We exchanged stories under the rain and went to bed anticipating the productive days ahead.

Anastasiia, Yurii, and Oleh heading into Odradne village. 

Day 2: October 8, 2024

At 8 a.m., we hit the road to pick up food kits, hygiene products, and medical supplies at the humanitarian aid warehouses in Pokrovske and Prosiane before heading to Odradne village for distribution. The weather was surprisingly warm and sunny for October, lifting our spirits. At the time, I was unaware of the risk that comes with clear skies.

Before we could leave the Prosiane village warehouse, some local women invited us for a quick coffee and tea. As we sat down, I noticed a laptop open to a guide entitled, "How to React and Act During Chemical Weapons Attacks." The reality of war was right in front of us. And yet, in the same moment, our hosts enthusiastically shared their community initiatives. One woman, beaming with pride, told us they had submitted a song to a local contest. Their ability to continue creating, sharing, and celebrating life in the face of danger left a deep impression on me.

A group of young men from the White Angels—an evacuation and paramedics team from the Donetsk Regional Police—accompanied us to our next location, Odradne village. The White Angels lead humanitarian efforts at the frontlines amidst constant shelling and enemy advances, all without coordination or support from the military. One of the men, just 24 years old, mentioned he had written his resignation letter. With quiet frustration, he said, “They don’t give us anything. We’re on our own for everything.” It was a stark reminder of how the system often fails those on the frontlines, leaving them to navigate war on their own.

Anastasiia with the kind residents of Odradne village.

When we finally arrived at Odradne village, the residents were already gathered and waiting for us. The paramedic-midwifery center in Odradne has been closed since the beginning of the war, and the last time Doctors Without Borders came to the village was in March of this year. With no other options, Dr. Vlad immediately began providing his psycho-emotional support consultations in our local coordinator’s home. For Ukrainians who have chosen to stay in their homes, these sessions are especially important, reminding residents that we’re by their side.

As we began distributing aid, the residents moved like clockwork, quickly forming a human chain to pass down the boxes. We distributed clothes that had come from the U.S., prompting a few jokes about shoes that didn’t quite suit village life. Laughter filled the air as people tried on shiny boots better suited for a night out than the dirt roads of Odradne.

One woman approached me, requesting diapers for her bedridden mother. As we started talking, she mentioned that it hadn’t rained in a long time, the fields were dry, and the sun didn’t bring much joy anymore. Oleh warned me that Russian forces target humanitarian workers more often during sunny weather, turning my enjoyment of the clear skies into quiet dread.

When we arrived at the woman’s house later that day with the diapers, she broke down in tears, explaining how expensive they were and how impossible it was to find them in their isolated village. As a gesture of gratitude, her daughter insisted on giving me several jars of home-canned zucchini and cherries.

Mykhailovych and Yurii with our delicious zucchini.

Our day ended back at the warehouse in Povkrovske, where we finally had a chance to rest. Dr. Vlad cooked a delicious meal of barbecue and buckwheat. We opened one of the gifted jars of zucchini—it was the tastiest zucchini I ever had—and reflected on the day’s events over dinner.

By the end of the first two days, I felt a mix of exhaustion and gratitude. Meeting people who showed such kindness and strength despite the hardships reminded me of the real purpose of our work and why we always return. We had come to bring help, but we left with a deeper sense of hope. Each interaction, warm smile, shared laugh, or small gift fostered a deep sense of community that thrives even in these difficult times. Looking ahead, we were ready for new challenges, knowing that each stop would bring more stories and moments to remember.

Love from eastern Ukraine!

The Long Road to Safety

By Ihor Tereshchenko, LHI Ukraine Country Director

Ihor with Stas, LHI Lviv Shelter manager and evacuation coordinator from NGO I Am Not Alone, at the entrance to Zaporizhzhia city.

Our evacuation trip to Zaporizhzhia and Pavlohrad was not only long and exhausting, but also emotionally draining. We covered over 2500 kilometers (1600 miles) in three days, navigating dangerous, war-torn regions with little to no rest. From Lviv, we made our way to Zaporizhzhia, where we picked up a group of civilians displaced from the frontlines. They were silent and withdrawn, weighed down by loss and uncertainty. Most were elderly individuals or mothers with children, their eyes hollow from the constant strain of living through war.

In Pavlohrad, we were supposed to pick up a second group of evacuees from Pokrovsk, a city now largely reduced to ruins. But fate had other plans. After surviving the destruction of Pokrovsk, the group found themselves bombarded once again in Pavlohrad. The emotional and physical toll was too much. Physically and emotionally exhausted, they made the difficult decision to stay in Dnipro for a few days to recover and plan their next steps.

One of our evacuees, Oleh, a retired teacher from Orikhiv, shared his story with us. His hometown, just 8 kilometers from the front line, was reduced to rubble. The only remnant of his old life was a refrigerator, somehow untouched amidst the ruins. "We have nothing left," he said, "except memories and the hope that this war will one day end." For now, Oleh and his wife are heading to Denmark, where they will start over in a foreign land, completely uncertain of the future.

Then there was Andriy (name changed), a quiet, dignified man with noble gray hair. As the miles passed, he shared his own story. A priest and chaplain from a small town in Donetsk, Andriy was in western Ukraine when the war began. His mother, bedridden and elderly, was left behind in the occupied town. Despite numerous attempts to reach her, Andriy never succeeded. He spent months volunteering and helping civilians until he injured his arm during a recent shelling. His injury forced him to join our evacuation. He planned to reunite with his son in Vinnytsia for treatment and to figure out how to rescue his mother from the occupation.

We dropped Andriy off on a dark, deserted highway near Vinnytsia. All that remained of his past life fit into a small backpack. His eyes reflected his emotional scars and worry for his mother. Yet, his last words to us were filled with hope and faith: "God bless you. Help yourself and your loved ones. And believe in a near victory."

People boarding our bus in Zaporizhzhia for further evacuation.

As we completed the long journey back to Lviv, leaving behind the ruins, chaos, and heavy silence, it was impossible not to feel the weight of these stories. Each person we helped was carrying the loss of a home, a family, a sense of security that would likely never return. Yet, even in the face of devastation, hope persists. It’s found in the quiet resolve of Oleh, holding onto memories as their only connection to the life they once knew. It’s in the strength of Andriy, who, despite being torn away from his mother and his past, offered us words of faith and encouragement.

This trip reminded me that the road to safety and stability is long, and for many, it’s still uncertain. But with every kilometer covered, every person helped, and every story shared, we see that resilience remains. These are the people we serve—their courage inspires us to fight for their future. This is why we do what we do, even when the path is long and the road is hard. Because for these people, it’s a journey not just of survival, but of finding hope again.

Thank you to The 188 Foundation for funding our evacuation missions.

The Refugee Crisis in Lebanon

By Salsabila Nurhidajat

An IDF ground maneuver to southern Lebanon in September-October 2024 (Wikimedia Commons)

Over the past month, intensified Israeli military attacks on civilians in southern Lebanon and Beirut have resulted in a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis.

In just two weeks, over 1,000 civilians have been killed and more than 6,000 have been injured (IOM). More than a million people—around a fifth of Lebanon’s total population—have been displaced, leaving their homes, belongings, and communities behind. Over 1,000 families are now living in shelters across Lebanon, and more than 175,000 people have fled to neighboring Syria (Save The Children Fund). 

This escalation exacerbates Lebanon’s existing social and economic crises. Lebanon already hosts the largest number of refugees per capita in the world, with an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees and 11,000 refugees from other nations living there (UNHCR). More than half of the Lebanese population lives below the poverty line, and many already need humanitarian assistance to survive (UNHCR). Because of the intensified conflict and displacement, most of Lebanon's 900 shelters are now at capacity, and they lack the resources necessary to properly house and aid people (Reuters).

As the conflict continues and further strain is placed on infrastructure, displaced people and refugees in Lebanon face increasingly limited access to food, healthcare, education, and other essential services (UNHCR).

At Lifting Hands International, we are committed to serving vulnerable communities most affected by conflict and will continue monitoring the humanitarian situation in Lebanon to effectively support our current partners in the region.

References:

IOM UN Migration, https://www.iom.int/lebanon-humanitarian-crisis

Save The Children Fund, https://www.savethechildren.net/news/lebanon-shelters-struggling-house-families-unprecedented-one-million-people-move-and-new

UNHCR, https://www.unhcr.org/lb/at-a-glance

Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/most-lebanons-displacement-shelters-are-full-un-says-2024-10-04/

Meet Kira in Balakliya, Ukraine!

By Ivy Laidlaw-Morris

Eight-year-old Kira lives in Balaklia, a small village in northeastern Ukraine. Her favorite color is bright, bubbly, pink and her favorite scent is flowers. She loves taking walks with friends, especially in autumn. For Kira, happiness lies in surprises—unexpected gifts and moments shared with loved ones. In her future, she envisions herself as a successful programmer, creating innovations that improve lives and inspire others. She also has an even bigger aspiration of owning a cat one day! 

Everything about Kira would tell you she’s your typical, happy, eight-year-old girl, but what makes her truly special is her resilience. For half of her life, the world around her has been in crisis. She grew up during the uncertainties of the pandemic, and shortly thereafter, was forced into the realities of war. In March of 2022, Kira’s hometown of Balaklia was occupied by Russian forces, and despite the village’s liberation, the feeling of war still permeates everyday life for local residents.   

And yet, Kira keeps dreaming of her brightest future. She finds solace and support at our community center in Balaklia, where art therapy sessions provide a space for her to unwind, breathe, and create. LHI seeks to uplift Kira and children like her to follow their dreams… together, we want to build a future where eight-year-olds can be eight-year-olds, free of burdens of displacement, trauma, and violence. 

About Ivy: Hi, I’m Ivy, an intern working with LHI. Like Kira, my favorite time of year is autumn. My favorite thing to do in my free time is explore the nature of Brooklyn, and my favorite holiday is Halloween! Since I was little I’ve been involved with refugee aid through my parents, and LHI’s mission of uplifting and empowering those fleeing persecution and violence is so important to me. I look forward to continued work for and with those like Kira!

The Severe Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

Key Facts and How You Can Help

by Andrea Bocskor

The ongoing conflict in Sudan is a severe humanitarian crisis that has displaced the largest number of people in the world. Since 2023, rival military factions have brought war to the country, affecting millions with famine and mass displacement. Here are some key facts about the crisis:

• Approximately 10.7 million people (2.1 million families) are now internally displaced in Sudan (OCHA, IRC).

• Over 1.5 million Sudanese fled to neighboring countries, including the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda. (UNHCR)

• An estimated 25.6 million people—more than half of Sudan’s population—face acute hunger and require humanitarian assistance (CDP).

• More than 755,000 people are nearing famine, representing the biggest global hunger crisis (OCHA, CDP).

• Approximately 11 million Sudanese urgently need health assistance. Over 11,000 suspected cholera cases and outbreaks of measles, malaria, and dengue fever are ongoing in the region (WHO). 

• Around 19 million children have lost access to education due to the war. One in two Sudanese children–over 10 million in total–have been in an active warzone over the past year (Save the Children).

How LHI is Helping  

We are positioned to help Sudanese refugees in Uganda. We asked refugee camp managers in Uganda what recently displaced families from Sudan most urgently need. The answer? Shoes and school supplies. Many Sudanese children were forced to walk long distances en route to safety, often without footwear of any kind. Shoes and access to school offer displaced children some stability while living in one of the biggest refugee camps in Uganda, Bweyale in Kiryandongo District.

Help Us Expand Our Response

Your support enables us to expand our emergency response for Sudanese refugees to other locations closer to the epicenter of the crisis. Our team is currently investigating local partners and identifying needs that aren’t being filled by other humanitarian orgs. Here’s how you can contribute:

• Donate: Help us provide essential supplies and services, and expand our current emergency response. Your contribution will directly impact the lives of Sudanese children, women, and adults, helping them access essentials like food, water, hygiene items, and find hope amidst the crisis. Donate here

• Volunteer: Join our team to make a direct difference in the lives of refugees. Volunteers play a key role in helping us provide aid around the world. Learn more here

• Spread Awareness: Help us raise awareness about the crisis in Sudan. Share this blog through social media and conversations with friends and family. Spreading awareness is a powerful way to amplify our efforts and bring attention to the urgent needs of Sudanese refugees. 

Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of those affected by the crisis in Sudan. Thank you!

Why Uganda?

Uganda is called the Pearl of Africa. It is a landlocked country in East Africa whose diverse landscape includes the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains and the immense Lake Victoria. Uganda is also home to 1.7 million refugees (more than any other country in Africa). 

In fact, Uganda has a long history of hosting refugees and asylum seekers, including Polish refugees who fled Europe in the 1940s. Africa’s oldest refugee camp, Nakivale, was established in 1959 in Southwest Uganda and is still operating today. It is currently the 8th largest refugee camp in the world.  

Currently, most refugees come from South Sudan (57%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (32%), Somalia (3%), and Burundi (3%).

Source: UNHCR

The last two years have seen a renewed surge in refugees fleeing to Uganda, as the country is sandwiched between two high conflict countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.

The displacement situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the most complex and long-standing humanitarian crisis in Africa and the fourth largest internally displaced persons (IDP) crisis in the world. Fighting has been ongoing since the DRC gained its independence in 1960. However, in 2023, an escalation in fighting in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo led to widespread human rights violations and gender-based violence. Congolese refugees fled mostly into southern and western Uganda. 

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Sudanese Civil War have also escalated again. Those two forces have been fighting since 2003 and the war in Darfur. Now, the United Nations considers Sudan and South Sudan the most dangerous countries in the world for humanitarian aid workers. Since the escalation in 2023, Sudanese refugees have fled to several neighboring countries, including northern Uganda. 

Uganda is one of the most accessible places for refugees globally, but it relies heavily on aid organizations to serve the refugee communities. Diminishing funding and limited resources mean there is less aid to help as new waves of refugees arrive. To promote self-reliance among refugees, we see a huge need for increased economic opportunities and livelihood support. Only then, can refugees truly integrate into their new homes and achieve the stability of a good life. 

In 2024, LHI expanded our livestock program to give goats and chickens to refugees in Uganda. We now work with two incredible refugee-led partner organizations based in Uganda. Livestock can make a significant difference in the financial stability of refugees in Uganda. 80% of the refugees in Uganda are women and children. 91% of Uganda’s refugee population are considered economically vulnerable. 

Often, many of the women have adopted grandchildren or children from their deceased siblings, which makes family sizes even larger. Nabakunda is the head of household with 14 people. She received two female goats from LHI, one of which was pregnant and quickly birthed a kid. She sold the goat kid to complete payment of her children’s school fees. Rather embarrassingly and disruptively, they kept being sent home from class because the fees were late. 

Verena received 34 chickens from LHI to help support her family of 9 people. She took classes through the refugee camp and came up with an idea for a small business. She used the income from her chickens to start the business selling flour, sugar, oil, rice, and tea in the local market. Now she has additional income to buy food and medicine for her family.

These are two of many success stories that showcase how livestock can empower refugees with stability and self-sufficiency. You can help support refugees like Verena and Nabakunda by buying a chicken or a goat at lhi.org/uganda

Life in the Shadow of War: A Journey to Velyka Novosilka

by Ihor Tereshchenko, LHI Ukraine Country Director

The sky over Velyka Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, is shrouded in the gray shade of war. It is April 2024, and this is the second year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As I set foot on this war-torn land, the harsh reality of the conflict hits me in a way I could never have imagined. The people here are living on the edge of survival, but their spirit remains unbroken.

Ihor (left) stands in the village of Velyka Novosilka in Eastern Ukraine

Our mission is to deliver humanitarian aid to those who need it. I meet Svetlana, a local woman who has taken on the role of coordinator for her neighbors and friends. Despite the constant danger, she helps us distribute aid and provides a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos of this new reality. While the doctor is tending to the sick, Svitlana agrees to show me her apartment, or rather what's left of it.

The entrance to the building is marked with the word "People". It is a desperate call, a message to the Russian soldiers who could break into the city any day and who often "clean up" buildings in captured cities without regard to whether there are civilians or military inside. The sign is meant to protect, but its effectiveness is questionable. However, in the face of such uncertainty, hope clings to even the smallest gestures. 

Svitlana leads me to her top-floor apartment. She opens the door very carefully to prevent her cat from escaping. The cat, once a victim of cruelty, now cowers in fear of strangers. She once rescued this then kitten from a big dog, to which people had thrown it, and had abused it beforehand. The apartment is a shell of its former self. Windows shattered by relentless shelling, the balcony littered with broken glass, the wind seeping through every crack. It is no longer a home but a storage space for belongings and food.

In stark contrast, Svitlana's basement "room" tells a story of survival. It is a tiny, dark space, no larger than 2 meters by 2 meters, once a technical room now turned into her sanctuary. She has been living here for over two years, without electricity or water. Her main source of light is a makeshift lantern—a plate of sunflower oil with a smoldering string. This dim light is a ray of hope in the long, anxious nights for thousands of people like Svetlana - people for whom life ended in February 2022 and endless survival and struggle began.

Despite the dire conditions, Svitlana's resilience shines through. We step into the courtyard, and there, in the middle of the apartment building yard, where flowers once bloomed, stands a mini-farm. Svitlana grows fresh vegetables and fruits, a lifeline for the locals who have no access to fresh produce. Their only source of food is humanitarian aid brought by volunteer teams like ours. Her greatest pride is her strawberry bushes. As she shows them to me, her eyes light up. "In another month or so, we will have real strawberries. Can you imagine?" she says, her voice filled with hope.

Next to the strawberries, a broken tree stands as a reminder of the shelling the day before. The contrast is stark—while I can easily buy strawberries from a hypermarket across the street, Svitlana risks her life to grow them. Her determination to grow these little red gems in a war zone says a lot about the human spirit.

Svitlana's story is just one of many. The people of Velyka Novosilka live in constant fear, yet they find ways to adapt and survive. They have created a community of resilience, supporting each other through the darkest times. They remind me that even in the face of unimaginable hardship, the human spirit remains unbroken.

As I leave Velyka Novosilka, I carry with me a sense of awe and admiration for these people. Their strength and determination are a beacon of hope. They show me that even in the shadow of war, life goes on. And as long as there are people like Svitlana, there is hope for a brighter future.

Gazans displaced again and again

by Ivy Laidlaw-Morris, LHI Volunteer

Source: Norwegian Refugee Council

Just in the past month, 815,000 people have been displaced from Rafah alone, according to the UN (OCHA). Over the past several months, over 1 million people had fled to Rafah and neighboring areas, but are now being displaced once again. The UN estimates that over 70,000 houses have been destroyed as a result of the ongoing bombardment of Gaza. Strikingly, OCHA reports, over 75% of the population in Gaza are displaced as of February (this is 1.7 million out of 2.3 million people).

Source: Norwegian Refugee Council

A large number of displaced Gazans headed to al-Mawasi, where LHI sponsored the construction of tents and communal kitchens. The area is now overcrowded with those seeking refuge and aid. The Norwegian Refugee Council describes the increasingly inhumane conditions in al-Mawasi: “There is panic and fear everywhere... al-Mawasi [is]... without adequate shelter, with many sleeping in makeshift shelters directly on the sand.” And conditions only worsen.

The insufficient trickle of humanitarian aid into Gaza has already dropped by 67% since May 7th. This stark lack of aid has dramatically declined dietary diversity and increased rates of malnutrition. The statistics are difficult to internalize: 95% of children aged six to 23 months eat two or less different food groups per day as of May.  Moreover, 85% of children did not eat for a whole day at least once in the three days before the survey was conducted. Since mid-January, 93,409 children aged 6-59 months have been screened for malnutrition, of whom 7,280 have been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. Nearly 8% of children screened have acute malnutrition. 

Source: Norwegian Refugee Council

The heartbreaking conditions in al-Mawasi demonstrate the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, an end to the death and destruction, and unrestricted access to aid. Donate to LHI to further help displaced Palestinians in Gaza.

Meet G!

Meet G!

Walk into the LHI Community Center in Greece, and you may find a long queue of people waiting in front of a young man behind a sewing machine. He chats with  a few onlookers without stopping his work. The onlookers wait  to meet and witness the craftsmanship of  “G,” or Gibrilla, a resident at the refugee  camp and volunteer at our Center. G is a refugee from Sierra Leone and a trained tailor. His deft skill, honed in a friend’s fashion designing shop in Freetown, Sierra Leone, is an invaluable resource to the camp residents.

Talking about how he began mending and altering clothing for the community, he says, “Different people bring different work to do… so I tried to solve their problem.” It’s important to him to approach  every piece with the unique needs for each person in mind. The care he puts into his work is visible, and he has developed a reputation as a tailor around the Center. But for G, the reason he sews goes beyond utility.

 “The more difficult the job, the more I get [to] remember my work back there… in Freetown. Every day you see new people… you learn from them.” The sewing machine, for G, isn’t just a sewing machine, but a tool of healing. “I think Lifting Hands… they have been trying to empower each and every one,” he says, “trying to support not only me, everyone.” This isn’t always easy. “People from camp have many things in their… mind, they have traumas. So these activities… keep them really calm.” Gibrilla, even suffering irreconcilable loss of loved ones, says he feels that he is at home. 

G helps others to find that feeling, offering repair and renewal in every piece he makes. G is beginning a journey of stitching his community back together.

The Story of Pads 4 Refugees: An Organization Close to LHI's Heart

by Hannah Baron, LHI Volunteer

Melissa facilitated psychosocial activities at the Female Friendly Space during her time at the LHI Community Center in Serres, Greece.

Melissa began her journey in the world of humanitarian aid as a volunteer at LHI’s Female Friendly Space (FFS) in Serres, Greece. Today, she’s the CEO and founder of her own aid organization, Pads 4 Refugees, which does exactly what its name suggests: provide pads for refugee women. She regularly distributes pads to refugees and asylum-seekers in Washington D.C. and in Los Angeles, California, and has made distributions all over the world, including in Ukraine, Gaza, Uganda, Venezuela, Mexico, Syria, Turkey, Israel, and Pakistan.

After getting her second law degree in International Human Rights law at Northwestern, Melissa struggled to find a job or an internship she felt passionate about. 

A friend suggested that she volunteer at LHI’s Community Center in Serres, Greece which at the time was populated almost entirely with Yazidi refugees. As it turned out, Melissa had written a lot about the Yazidi refugee crisis in school. Everything clicked into place. She decided to volunteer at the refugee center’s Female Friendly Space.

Upon arriving in Serres, Melissa was all nerves. She didn’t know exactly what to expect.

“And then it just seemed like–I think this is probably what everyone says–it just seemed like a really warm, welcoming place. I just instantly was glad I was there,” she said.

Melissa soon realized how important a supportive Female Friendly Space was for the women who gathered there. “They were all carrying trauma from the genocide that had happened to them, or what had happened to their families, and the idea was really just to give them a break from all that and to have a peaceful space where they could relax,” she said.

Women at the Female Friendly Space participate in a workshop preparing them to potentially work in a salon.

 At the Female Friendly Space, Melissa helped clean, run the social media accounts, and organize various activities like spa days, crochet circles, and movie nights.

“These women were carrying these hard burdens and they’re waiting to see if their asylum claims are getting met, but I just really enjoyed going in there and doing activities with them and getting to know them,” she remembered.

Melissa also learned that women got their period products at the Female Friendly Space. Each month she helped distribute period products to the women at FFS. The quality of pads the women received was not great, but with around 600 women and teenagers in need, even purchasing off-brand pads was very expensive. She thought about how helpful it would be to find someone willing to donate pads, so LHI’s funds could be redistributed towards other pressing needs, such as fixing a broken sewing machine.

When she came home from Serres, Melissa continued to have trouble finding work in her field. With all her free time, she wondered whether refugees outside of Greece  also struggled to find period products.

As it turned out, this was a problem everywhere. Even the major refugee aid organizations, like the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, rarely handed out pads, and families struggled to find the funds to buy them on their own. When funds are limited, most women tend to choose food for their family or diapers for their babies over period products, Melissa explained. Therefore, aid organizations are more likely to prioritize those necessities.

Her idea was to lessen the burden for  organizations like LHI that do provide period products by paying for the pads. 

“I thought, ‘I can’t find a job, I'll just make up my own job. And it’ll be CEO of a non-profit,” she said. “And I didn’t expect to get enough money to pay me a salary, but it was something to do.”

Pads 4 Refugees has enabled the LHI Community Center in Serres, Greece to purchase high quality, name brand menstrual pads like those pictured here. Women are able to receive a package of pads each month at the Female Friendly Space.

Melissa started Pads 4 Refugees. It took about six months for her to raise enough money for LHI to be able to upgrade to high-quality, name-brand pads. Then, a group on another Greek island reached out to her, asking if she could help them provide women with pads as well. She could.

Melissa working on a pad distribution with MAM Beyond Borders, an NGO that LHI partners with to provide reproductive and sexual health seminars for women at the Female Friendly Space at the LHI Community Center in Serres.

To this day, Melissa says that she’s never reached out to any organizations asking if they need her help; they come to her. The humanitarian world is small, and words gets around.

Her biggest challenge is finding donors and raising money to meet everyone’s needs.

“I now have regular distributions with so many orgs in Greece and this one in Lebanon, and I just feel very obligated to keep it going. These women don’t have a lot of money to buy the basic things they need,” she said. “It’s not easy but I just think it’s the right thing to do, and no one else was really doing it at the time.”

Melissa’s next goal for Pads 4 Refugees is to boost her regular distribution in Lebanon so that the women there can use disposable pads all year round, rather than the reusable ones they often have to resort to now. To accomplish this, she has to stop expanding and start raising more money.

She says the easiest thing people can do to make a positive difference in refugees’ lives is sharing social media posts from aid organizations like hers that are looking for funding. You can also give, even if it’s just a few dollars. She stresses that you don’t have to give big to be a big help.

“I have several donors who donate monthly, and they donate five dollars, which people think is not a lot and it doesn’t make a difference, but…it actually does help. I’ve had donations that are like two dollars, but it just adds up,” she said.

Thank you Melissa for sharing your story with us! Pads 4 Refugees helps LHI supply women at the Female Friendly Space in Serres with period products, and helped us provide period products to women in Gaza. If you are looking to expand the number of organizations you support, we recommend Melissa and Pads 4 Refugees to you!

Helping the Helpers in Gaza

by Brigid Rowlings, LHI Communications Director

Ambulance drivers in Gaza learn soft-belly meditation techniques to help mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Fred Rogers, best known for his television show Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, once told his young audience: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” These words of wisdom are comforting to the young and old alike—when bad things happen, it is reassuring to remember that there are good and kind people in the world. Since the start of the conflict in Gaza, LHI has learned there is another reason to look for the helpers: those who respond in times of crisis are likely to need help themselves.

Doctors, nurses, first responders, and other aid workers in Gaza are not only responding to situations that are dangerous, stressful, and frightening, but they and their families are also living in those same situations. These helpers in Gaza are at an increased risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The symptoms of PTSD, which include chronic pain, dizziness, headaches, irritability, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating, can get in the way of these helpers doing their jobs. And, unfortunately, in Gaza where borders and movement in and out are tightly controlled, Gazan first responders are the most consistent deliverers of aid and services in the region.

First responders attend a Mind-Body workshop.

Lifting Hands International has partnered with the Center For Mind-Body Medicine to provide psychological first aid for first responders in Gaza. Beneficiaries participate in Emergency Mind-Body Self-Care Workshops or Mind-Body Skills groups where they learn techniques for mitigating the effects of PTSD.

We’ve heard from some of the aid workers in Gaza who have completed these trainings. 

Salah, a 36-year-old resident of the northern Gaza Strip, in Jabalia Camp, works for the Red Crescent Society as a first responder. 

“Before attending the Mind-Body Workshop, I used to go out to treat the injured in a reckless manner without taking care of myself. It’s a miracle I survived. After learning and practicing the skills of the Mind-body, especially self-care, breathing and relaxation exercises, I began to take more care of myself, and come to myself, before going out to treat the injured. This has allowed me to better protect myself, staying as safe as others, and continue to be able to provide services to others. 

 Niveen, 38 years old, an administrative professional at a United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) shelter, said:

“I am a resident of Khan Yunis, and when the ground invasion and violent bombing began there, and my house was subjected to artillery shelling, I, my husband, and my children fled to Rafah. I have had so much stress, especially given our difficult living conditions ever since. I became more nervous, feeling terrified around the clock. I felt alienated from myself, my children, and my family, and I lost interest in myself and passion for life.

After joining the Mind-Body Group, I began to feel more self-assurance, and inner peace. I became more interested in myself and my family again. I practiced the self-care exercises I learned, and I started giving time to my hobbies. Now I am able to spread hope and optimism to my family, friends, and coworkers.”

Najat, 50 years old, a social worker at UNRWA shelter, said:

“I fled my home in Khan Yunis Governorate after my home was bombed with missiles, bombs, and flash bombs. I fled and left my home, my belongings, and my memories. I fled with my family to escape death. I moved to our relatives’ house, thinking that their house would be safer, but we were followed by bombing and explosions, as a house right next to us was bombed. I felt so unsafe, fearful, and I suffered from lack of sleep, anxiety, stress, fear, and increased nervousness with my children and husband.

After my family and I went to stay in the shelter center and I began working in there as a social worker, I joined Mind-Body Group. After practicing the skills they taught, I began to feel better in dealing with life and work stressors. I began to feel that there was hope in life, and that I will someday return to my home and restore it.”

LHI is committed to helping the helpers in Gaza, but we need your help to continue providing Center for Mind-Body workshops to aid workers and first responders. You can help by donating to our Gaza Emergency Response campaign. Any amount helps us keep this important work going. 

Travelogue: A Week in Ukraine With LHI

by Shannon Ashton, LHI Board Member

Flags bearing the names of fallen Ukranian soldiers in Independence Square, Kyiv.

February 12, 2024

Chisinau, Moldova

I’m on a bus from Moldova to Ukraine in support of crisis relief in the ongoing war in Ukraine. We’ll cross the border in just a little while. I’ll be all over the country documenting relief efforts and capturing stories from the front lines. This trip doesn’t come without risks so prayers for our team are gratefully accepted. 

February 15, 2024

Odesa, Ukraine

We could hear a soft voice floating through the misty, cold night air in Odesa. A few people scattered on mostly empty benches. An attempt at normal life. Barbed wires and hedgehogs stand guard and nearby prized monuments are covered and sandbagged. We stop and listen. The music glides through the foggy night as a brave act of hope.

February 16, 2024

Odesa, Ukraine

Vadim’s Odesa flat was destroyed by a drone attack two weeks ago. When he heard the siren he ushered his mother out of their first floor flat down to safety in a more secure spot on the ground floor of the building. That move surely saved their lives. Vadim, a young twenty-something, is a member of the LHI team working in Ukraine. He carries on—going to work and helping others. He quietly shared the news of his flat, and generously offered to allow us to visit, with permission to share. The trauma is fresh. No roof. Rubble covers everything, and what remains stands still in time. His neighbour across the hall was saved only because she was in the shower, literally the only space in her flat not completely destroyed. Vadim’s resilience and strength is incredibly inspiring. He even manages to crack a few smiles. I honestly don’t know how.  He is in a temporary shelter as he awaits an assessment to know if his building will be condemned, like so many countless others.  This happened just two weeks ago. The war is not over.

February 18, 2024

Kyiv, Ukraine

People here are trying to live their lives as best they can, but signs of war are everywhere. Very few spaces in Kyiv are without some reminder of war. Whether it’s blown out windows, pitted building walls, the darkened streets at night (curfews run across the country), minefield warnings, air raid sirens, sandbagged statues, sounds of explosions, the evidence of war goes on and on. Mostly it’s the long look of war on the faces of the people we meet. We chat to a few, they are curious about our American accents and why we’re here (no one is coming here). We’re met with warmth and gratitude for our support, but the trauma of war is written all over their faces. The men cannot leave the country. Many of age are already fighting. Those who aren’t wait for their call. Or maybe conscription will get to them first. We enjoy a nice meal; restaurants are open. The main courses come with a side of air raid sirens. War is relentless. And this is life in Kyiv, currently better off than what is going on in eastern Ukraine, where we go next.

February 19, 2024

Kharkiv, Ukraine

During our two days in Kharkiv the sirens were nearly nonstop. I’m so rattled by this experience. A missile struck the city while we were visiting program centers in nearby villages. There is no knowing when or where the strikes will come. We heard mines go off; every piece of earth is a minefield now. And with all this, your nervous system begins an internal battle. And in these eastern frontline locations the missile defense system is almost nonexistent. There is no time for detection or deployment as it’s too close to the source, Russia mere kilometres away. I was overcome with worry and anxiety as we settled into our accommodations for the night. The doubt and fear that creeps in when the sirens ring out. Where to go. What to do. This all layered on top of sleep deprivation. It’s psychological warfare. And I only have to deal with it for one week here. For those living in Ukraine it’s become a way of life. Reminders of war are everywhere as destruction lies in the dark wake of war. There is a resolute determination I find uniquely Ukrainian that completely overwhelms me. I feel so fragile here. 

A local artist gifted a heartbreaking painting to LHI. It represents the horrors of this war. Two years and still no end in sight.

To find out more about LHI’s programs in Ukraine, or to donate to keep those programs running, visit the Ukraine page on our website.

LHI Is There When the Headlines Have Moved On

by Brigid Rowlings, LHI Communications Director

LHI sends shipments of humanitarian aid from our warehouse in Utah to Bangladesh every year.

Have you noticed that Gaza, which is entering its fourth month of bombardment, or Ukraine, which is approaching its two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, are no longer as prominent in the news as they once were? Why? Even when humanitarian crises remain, the news cycle moves on.

This is one of the challenging aspects of humanitarian work. Media focus on events like the war in Ukraine, the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza catch our collective attention and prompt us to look for ways to help. But, when the news moves on, often, so do the donations to organizations like LHI. 

 LHI founder and director Hayley Smith visited a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh in 2017.

Journalist Femi Oke recently spoke about this challenge on the NPR news show Here and Now. Her interviews with Rohingya refugees who’d lived in Bangladesh for 30 years revealed the fear of many long-term refugees: the world is forgetting about them. For people who depend almost entirely on humanitarian aid organizations and their donors for necessities like food, water, clothing and shelter, this thought is scary. But, with the global population of long-term refugees rising, the need for humanitarian assistance that leads to self-sufficiency is greater than ever.

While LHI is always poised to meet urgent needs, we have and continue to expand programs that facilitate increased stability and self-sufficiency for refugees along each stage of the refugee journey. These programs include: 

Women at the LHI Community Center in Serres, Greece learn to cut hair. This is a skill the women can use to support themselves and their families when their asylum cases are processed and they are resettled in a new country.

Workforce training and income opportunities

From the language classes and barber trainings that take place at our community center in Serres, Greece to the food-packaging business and aesthetician training happening at the LHI Shelter in Lviv, Ukraine, LHI facilitates programs that prepare refugees for employment in the communities they live in or will resettle in. Our livestock program gives milk goats to Syrian refugees in Jordan who are then able to support their families from the sale of milk and milk products. And, we have a new community center in Lviv, Ukraine that offers an entrepreneurial accelerator program to internally displaced women, most of whom are single mothers because their husbands have been deployed or they’ve been widowed by the war.

Teams of mobile psychologists visit de-occupied villages in Ukraine and lead group therapy sessions for children and adults.

Social-emotional supports

In our programs in Greece, Moldova, and Ukraine, teams provide social emotional support such as sessions with psychologists, yoga classes, and art therapy for people who have experienced the trauma of leaving home behind for an uncertain future. In emergency situations like the earthquakes that hit Turkey in February 2023 and the ongoing crisis in Gaza, we’ve provided mobile psychological support for survivors and aid workers. These programs help refugees begin to heal and have hope for the future.

LHI’s Welcome Program volunteers add special touches to the apartments they set up for refugee families resettling in Utah.

Community Integration

Our Welcome Program alleviates the strain that refugees resettled in Utah feel by providing all of the items on the US resettlement agency’s checklist for homes for new arrivals. This means that refugee families will not have to buy them with the small stipend they receive. But the LHI Welcome team doesn’t just stop at the basic requirements! Our volunteers make up beds with handmade quilts and blankets, bring school supplies, clothing and toys for children, and always leave warm messages of love, support and welcome for families. 

While LHI remains ready to help in emergency situations, helping refugees achieve self-sufficiency and “the good life” is one of LHI’s main priorities. We depend on the support of LHI2G, our team of recurring donors, for a reliable source of funding to keep these programs going. Consider joining the team! No recurring monthly donation is too small. Plus, you will get access to a special behind-the-scenes newsletter exclusively for LHI2G members. Visit our LHI2G page to learn more!

LHI Humanitarian Aid Warehouse Volunteer Spotlight: Nikita

by Nikita Posvolskii , LHI Humanitarian Warehouse Volunteer

LHI Humanitarian Aid Warehouse volunteer Nikita helps to translate box labels into Ukranian.

LHI works because of people like our LHI Humanitarian Aid Warehouse volunteer Nikita. Nikita is an exchange college student from Russia. He shared this essay explaining his interest in helping LHI’s humanitarian aid efforts, especially those in Ukraine. 

My name is Nikita. Two years ago I was a Russian student getting my undergraduate degree at a university in Moscow. My peers and I loved our country and planned to pursue our careers there. Although we clearly saw our current government's flaws, we believed that we could influence them to change the country we love for the better. Our faith began to weaken after the Russian government started expelling students from their universities for their beliefs and statements that didn’t align with those of the government.

The situation for idealistic students like me became even worse the day Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Saying anything against the war in Ukraine can get you 15 years of imprisonment for “discrediting the Armed Forces of Russia.” You can’t even call the war in Ukraine “the war in Ukraine” without being at risk because its official name in Russia is “special military operation.” If you name it “the war” you can get the same 15 years of jail time. In fact, in the first two months after Russia started the war, more than 15,000 Russians were detained for their connection with anti-war rhetoric and protests. This placed fear in Russian citizens, coercing them into silence for the sake of their lives and the lives of their loved ones. At the same time, it is a horrible feeling to sit and maintain silence when your own country invaded Ukrainian territory and occupied an independent country. It is hard to stay silent when you are against a war that has resulted in the death and displacement of ordinary Ukrainians. 

My feelings of helplessness eased in August 2022 when I came to the U.S. as an exchange student. It’s been amazing to study at a university where students are not afraid to talk about what they really think and believe in. I quickly realized that in the U.S., I could help Ukrainian refugees both in my host community in Utah and in Ukraine itself.

Nikita helps gather materials to set up an apartment for a refugee family resettling in Utah.

My search for the opportunity to help Ukrainians whose lives have been impacted by the Russian invasion led me to the LHI Humanitarian Aid Warehouse in American Fork, Utah. 

I enjoy volunteering with LHI and helping to organize the warehouse, setting up apartments for refugees, especially those from Ukraine, packing orders for shipments overseas, and so much more. I especially enjoy translating the contents of the donation boxes into Ukrainian so it’s easier for Ukrainians to understand what is in each box when they arrive in Ukraine. I’m happy to be here in the U.S. so that I can help. In Russia, providing humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians is punishable by law. 

Nikita organizes shelves of aid that LHI includes in its international shipments.

I believe that it is important to help people who have lost their families and their homes. I am glad that I have found Lifting Hands International, an organization whose ideals match my own. Lifting Hands International exists and continues its work to change the world for the better. If you are a student in the American Fork area or just live there, I highly encourage you to get involved with LHI and make an impact to change someone's life. Let’s change our world and help those who are in need together!