From personal experience and from talking to basically any other volunteer we have spoken with, we came to realize that there is some friction between the phase where people are first considering coming to Ukraine for volunteering and doing some research and the point where they have overcome the initial "hurdles" and actually made their first steps as a volunteer in Ukraine. Volunteering organizations might be late with responses to sign-ups or e-mails, and while there is a lot of information out there, it can be hard to weigh that information in light of your personal circumstances and the questions and doubts you may still have.

Every week new volunteers arrive in Ukraine, and while the general volunteer communities in Ukraine are usually very open and welcoming, it still takes a bit of time to find your footing. We often personally take these new arrivals out to different volunteering projects they haven't been aware of or have not yet visited, take them out for a coffee or drink just to have a chat or social support, introduce them to different chat groups, share informational channels that they can follow during air alerts, and offer information about the best ways to pay for things, how to get a bank account, popular hostels, or reasonable rent prices when they want to rent an apartment, etc.

Because we know from experience how valuable this personal contact is in these first stages upon arrival, we decided we wanted to provide that same personal support in an earlier phase, before people actually arrive in Ukraine. Our impression is that there is a percentage of potential volunteers who could really make a difference in Ukraine but ultimately decide not to take a leap of faith because of a lack of personal support.

So don't be shy and please contact us about your considerations, doubts, or with the questions you might have. We are incredibly happy with the fact that you are even just considering coming to volunteer in Ukraine, and we will do our best to help you make the decisions that are best for you.