Aussies from all walks of life – even primary school aged children – have been moved to help front-line defenders in Ukraine via the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisation (AFUO) Defend Ukraine Appeal.
Last weekend, 9-year-old Aussie Eva and her friends raised $500 (matched by their parents) at a toy drive to donate to the Defend Ukraine Appeal “Adopt a Drone” The $1,000 donation will go towards purchasing a reconnaissance drone, which will be hand-painted by a Ukrainian-Australian art collective True Blue & A Little Bit of Yellow with designs and logos of the donor’s choice.
Students and parents at Glenmore Rd Public School in Sydney, who have welcomed two displaced Ukrainian children to the school in the last year, have also donated a drone. Following a performance of Ukrainian songs at the school’s 140 year celebration concert, parents were moved to mount a GoFundMe page and make the donation in honour of Ukrainian Independence Day a few weeks ago.
In Hobart, local businesses and charities donated pastries and handmade knitted items at an Association of Ukrainians in Tasmania fundraiser.
“The Ukrainian community is genuinely touched by the support we have received from all corners – particularly from young Aussie kids, local businesses and charities” said Ms Argyrou, Co-Chair of the AFUO and Chair of the Defend Ukraine Appeal.
“We know they have been moved by the plight of Ukrainian families and children and their daily reality – fathers and sons on the front-line, classes conducted in bunkers, air raid sirens in the middle of the night, and no internet, heating or power during the last winter (and most likely this winter) because of Russian missile attacks.
“Ukrainian defenders have also told us they really enjoy receiving these personalised drones. It makes them feel supported and loved, even from somewhere as far away as Australia,” she added.
Non-lethal drones are essential for the Ukrainian army for battlefield intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability.
To date, the AFUO’s Defend Ukraine Appeal has raised over $300,000 to provide reconnaissance drones to Ukraine. Defend Ukraine Appeal has also funded the purchase of transport vehicles, protective gear such as helmets and bulletproof vests, and life-saving equipment such as first aid kits, generators and two-way radios.
