World Humanitarian Day: 2 amazing acts of kindness helping to change lives

World Humanitarian day occurs every year on the 19th August. The world we live in is filled with chaos, disorder and loss - making it all the more important for each of us to volunteer, to give and donate to help those most in need of kindness.

Birminghamworld spoke to Charis Graham, teacher of religious studies, in Birmingham, whose mother is the founder of the Starfish Ukraine organisation.

Charis is currently at a camp for 120 Ukrainains in Tewkesbury, organised by Lovebristol a christian charity that is ‘committed to loving people on the margins who are often overlooked’.

The camp focuses on bible teaching and watersports, allowing the Ukrainian children that are in Britain to get to know each other, making friendships.

She said: “It’s just a week of fun, it’s for the Ukrainian children to get to know other Ukrainian children and to build a community here.”

Besides from the camp, Charis Graham has a Ukrainian refugee living with her. She said: “I didn’t know her at all, she’s from Eastern Ukraine and all my contacts are in the west. But through my mom’s organisation, I was connected to people who wanted to go to Birmingham so my church connections in Northern Ireland and Ukraine made this happen.”

Charis said: “When I was growing up in church, my church had partnerships in Western Ukraine and when I was ten my mom took over the partnership and when she took over the team my mom took me there. I went there every year and sometimes I went there twice.”

Prior to the Ukrainian war, Charis didn’t have much experience of working with refugees but she knew that she had a heart and passion for working for the Ukrainians, especially since Ukrainians weren’t strangers to her, some marrying into her family. Through Charis’ voluntary work with Ukrainians she has come to realise how fortunate we are in the UK.

Similarly, Anna Kressler, a photographer in Manchester, who volunteers at the Oasis centre in Manchester has recognised the privilege she has to have lived in Northern Europe.

Anna’s work connects her with a wide range of people from various non-english speaking nations, particularly Arabic speaking. After the Syrian refugee crisis of 2015 occurred, Anna felt compelled to act and volunteer.

“Volunteering at the refugee camps in Northern France, where people were living in inhuman, squalid conditions, impacted me a lot. I remember after one visit how on our way home we all sat in silence because of what we’d just seen and heard,”said Kressler.

“That evening coming back to the UK put things into perspective and made it really hard to turn back to my cosy, old life. It made me feel the immense privilege that I had since I was born.”

Currently, Anna volunteers once a week and helps out with a scheme called Unity English, which aims to match non-english speakers with the community in Manchester.

“Working with people who had to flee their homes due to war, conflict etc is a privilege and has taught me lots. It has helped me see beyond the statistics we are often bombarded with when it comes to asylum seekers and refugees.

“Each person is unique and precious in God’s eyes. He cares deeply about the brokenhearted and that’s why I am eager to come alongside those who are hurting, listen to their stories and amplify their voices through my work.”

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