A photo in exchange for a donation for Ukraine, that is the idea behind a campaign that photographer Oleksandra Tychkovska from Budel launched spontaneously last week. The Ukrainian-born woman has lived in the village for 12 years, but is now mainly with friends and family in her native country. With the help of her neighbors, among others, she has already raised more than 10,000 euros for the war-ravaged population there.
It still feels unreal to Oleksandra, who is known as Sasha among her friends. “I didn’t think that one man would decide to invade my homeland.” She didn’t think twice and posted an emotional appeal on Instagram. “I can’t sit still when something terrible happens in my homeland,” she says in the video.
The video sparked a gathering with her neighbors over the weekend. “They really put a heart to me and that was very nice.” But it also felt a bit double. “We can hug each other, but people in Kiev are now in fear.”
The idea of raising money arose at the neighborhood meeting. Collecting things is not an option, because she does not have storage space. “I took pictures and all I wanted in return was a donation. And they are pouring in en masse.”
Within three days she already raised 10,000 euros. And the first euros have already been transferred to Ukraine.
Sasha wants to divide the money between three foundations. The first is that of a gynecologist in Kiev: “He needs heat lamps for newborn babies who are now in basements or garages.” A second foundation supports the army: “Not with weapons, but humanitarian.” And then there is a third foundation, a Dutch one. “They look closely at what is needed there and bring that stuff to the border.”
She continues: “We also need money to tell everyone that there is a huge disaster in Europe. And to provide the people in Russia with the right information.”
Sasha says that this creates more connection between the Ukrainian people from Brabant: “We are much closer now and can find support in each other. We understand each other and can set things up together.”
Tychkovska was born in the town of Svitlovodsk, in the Kirovohrad province in central Ukraine. The town is located on the Dnieper River. There she lived in her youth, and then studied in the capital Kiev. She came to the Netherlands for her great love, her husband. Together they have a daughter.
The Russian troops are not yet in her hometown. “My grandmothers still live there. They don’t notice anything of the war yet. Fortunately.”