Ukrainian Student & AKN Interview  [03.03.22]

The last few days have changed everything for her. Darya Zay is doing her Master's degree in Bioeconomy at the University of Hohenheim. Actually, the Ukrainian student wanted to visit her mother in Kyiv during the lecture-free period. Instead, she is now organizing aid campaigns for her home country. She is encouraged by the support on campus. From Monday to Wednesday, student groups and the student body at TMS accept donations of materials. The most urgently needed items are non-perishable food, bandages, and medications. In an interview, Darya Zay and Anna Struth from the Sustainability Working Group (AKN) talk about what is on their minds these days.

 

Donations of material goods can be dropped off Monday through Wednesday (March 7-8-9) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the TMS (Emil-Wolff-Strasse 20). An alternative drop-off location is the Asemwald Community Center. The drive runs there daily 8-10 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. until further notice. Contact for questions or assistance: akn@uni-hohenheim.de or Instagram @aknunihohenheim

• List of all material donations needed

 

Darya, what a terrible occasion for this interview. How have you been experiencing the last few days?

Darya: It's hard to put into words. On 24 Feb my mother called from Kyiv, and she was crying. I heard explosions in the background. That's how I found out about the war. 

I am currently in my final semester in the Master's program in Bioeconomy. Actually, I had been planning for quite some time to visit my mother in Kyiv this week. But things turned out differently. The whole world has changed. Nobody in Ukraine expected something like this. Now our cities are closed off, children are dying. It is surreal.

Here in Germany, we are stunned by the images. In Ukraine itself, people are experiencing hell. I know, because I talked to my mother in Kyiv on the phone every day. Now she has left the city. I hope she is well.

Despite everything, Ukrainians have not left their courage. All of them feel the same: We cannot allow what is happening. Putin with his tanks and his lies has declared war not only on Ukraine, but also on freedom, truth, and humanity. We will not forget his cruel war crimes that are happening every day now.

 

What do you think about the reactions in Germany?

Darya: What I have experienced in the last few days helps me not to despair. In the Ukrainian community we have started to organize help stations. There are so many people of different nationalities supporting us.

German, Italian, Polish - none of that matters now: we all just want to live in a peaceful world. It feels as if we are one people at this moment. A Russian woman is also helping us in the Ukrainian community to collect donations, and on campus a fellow student from Russia is supporting us. It is not the war of the Russian people. It is Putin's war against the free, peace-loving world.

It really moves me that people want to help in so many different ways: Whether it's taking in and caring for refugees, at demonstrations, collecting donations, at the level of politics - or even as soldiers fighting for their homeland.

 

A humanitarian aid campaign is also planned on the Hohenheim campus. The AKN, the Verfasste Studierendenschaft and other student groups will be accepting donations in kind at the TMS from Monday to Wednesday.

Anna: Yes, because we are also stunned. For our generation in Germany, war has never been so close and never felt so real. With AKN, we went to two peace demonstrations on the Stuttgart Schlossplatz this weekend and met for a discussion evening to somehow process what is happening right now. All this helps not to fall into an inner paralysis now.

We have never organized a humanitarian aid campaign. But we have organized many other actions on campus. When Darya contacted us it was clear that we would support her. Since we posted the info on Instagram, many students have already contacted us and joined our Whatsapp group to take on various tasks. That's encouraging!

However, there are still a few gaps in the shift schedule. In particular, we are still looking for drivers who can help us transport the donations to the collection point in Stuttgart-Nord. Anyone who wants to help or has a question can contact us by email or Instagram at any time.

 

Which donations are urgently needed now? And what happens with them?

Darya: We support the relief action of the Catholic City Deanery and the Ukrainian community. In addition to the TMS, there is also the possibility to hand in donations of materials at the Asemwald Community Center. The relief action there is not limited in time for the time being and will run as long as it is necessary.

The donations will be brought to the Polish border and from there further into the country, if possible. A part will be used to supply refugees at the border.

Just now I learned that due to the dramatic development not all trucks to Ukraine can be handled anymore. Now only deliveries with durable food, baby food, bandages, and medicine are allowed through. These are the things we need most urgently at the moment. But also monetary donations for packing and transport are important.

We have compiled detailed information in a list.

 

How do you look to the future, Darya?

Darya: At the moment it is not possible for me to think about the future. I live from one day to the next: in the morning I talk on the phone with my mother and other relatives. I have a 2-year-old nephew. During the day I organize relief actions and try to get the latest news. This is how I have spent the last few days. All other plans were destroyed last week.

My hope is that solidarity with Ukraine will remain as strong as it is right now. We continue to need the help of all people who reject war. No matter how many forms that help may take. If people forget about Ukraine, tomorrow freedom will be in danger elsewhere as well. But if the world can stand together, we can stop Putin.

I am very proud of my brave people at this moment and feel that we are fighting for more than just our own country.

 

Interview: Leonhardamir / Translation: Neudorfer