The story of how the Convoy started as it makes its 500th trip in January.
On February 24th2022, Russia invaded Ukraine and politicians and the Friends Help! Convoy team are all in shock. (Friends Help! is the brand name for aid convoys helping the people of Ukraine in these times of need – a massive humanitarian effort).
But, for Friends Help! the shock didn’t last long. On the same day, the core team asked, “What can we do?” and the answer was “We do what we do best - help in our own way!"
So, the team switched into turbo gear to help in Ukraine and in Moldova.
And now we come to the 500th convoy in January 2025.
How it all began
"Contrary to my usual habit, I heard the news on the morning of 24th February 2022 only on my way to work," recalls the managing director of Friends Help! Vanessa Holdysz.
"When I heard that Russia had actually attacked Ukraine, I stopped in shock, I grabbed my phone and called our comrade-in-arms Christopher Jöhren who is closely connected to the people of Ukraine. When I asked, “How is it?” he answered tonelessly with only one sentence: "My whole world is just sinking."
After a terrible day, the leadership team met in the evening for a video conference. We stared at each other in silence for about two minutes until we asked, "Oh my God, what are we going to do now?” and the answer was “Friends Help! friends – now needed more than ever"
And with that, the decision was made to take the first step of a marathon journey and here we are at the 500th trip!"
Trips to the Front Line
The project manager of the Friends Help! convoy, Tommy Führrer, drove up to the front near Kherson and distributed care packages. "I had to go to Ukraine to see it for myself. It was important for me to see that the help arrived," he says to explain why he travelled within range of Russian guns.
"I saw that the fields were mined, people can't grow anything there. They have no Infrastructure to go to the city and go shopping. There are no shops there. People are at home in the broken houses and remain there. The worst thing for me was even children were playing in these areas.
How this experience changed him? "It's unbelievable to see how lovingly the people there treat each other. It also made me feel at home in this respect but I’m angry with myself, that I don't have the capability to do more."
Apathetic children
Peter Skiba has made several trips for Friends Help! especially to Moldova. "I saw the children from Ukraine, the children who came from the refugee homes. Some of them were apathetic. They had something rigid in their eyes. There was a strange atmosphere in the refugee home – depressing."
His conclusion: "You can't change anything, but you can only help."
Pastor Kirill, now the leader of the House of Hope in Moldova, stood in front of a destroyed school and said. "This is a terrible situation. The Russians have attacked this school. Everything is destroyed. This is the reality in Odessa and in Ukraine."
By joining forces, we can bring hope to the lives of Ukrainians. To help, the 500th Convoy in January 2025 will carry care packets
1 Care Packet costs €14 and will keep 2 people fed for a whole week.
If you want, you can follow the ride live. For more information, please visit www.freundehelfenkonvoi.de and send any donations to:
“Carepakete” DE20 550 205 0000 0000 1954
Foundation Round Table Fund
Old Tablers Germany Martin Schleinhege and Bob Parton
