by In Trieste
A local multicultural community Expats in Trieste which was founded in December 2016 and counts more than 2000 participants from around the globe has been volunteering at the Fernetti (border between Trieste and Slovenia) since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
“We came here to do some interviews,” says Maria Kochetkova, our magazine’s editor. “Together with our photographer Keiron Mayora, few days after the war broke out and the first busses started coming into Trieste. It was Monday, February 28th and we saw many moms and kids coming down from the packed full busses with tears in their eyes. We felt empty handed.”
“At that point there were only journalists at the border and police, nobody was really helping the refugees coming in as the city of Trieste was busy collecting and sending donations to the people of Ukraine. So when we got home that day we launched an appeal on our expat community to donate what we thought was necessary for the passing through refugees. Water bottles, snacks, toys…”
“Within days our community activated and started donating, people started coming to volunteer. The Saturday after our first visit to the border we volunteered all day and we have been doing that ever since. I am really proud of expats, the largesse shown to the refugees and their continuous effort to make a difference in the city we live in.”
“Now there are many other organizations at the border,” says Francesco Stumpo, co-founder of Expats in Trieste. “Protezione Civile, UNCHR, and some other associations. We are happy that the region activated its resource to help the incoming refugees. The Fernetti border is the first door to the city of Trieste and it’s really our duty to be here. Of course, we are just volunteers, not an official refugee relief organization but we’ll keep doing this until we can, until we are allowed to.”
“I am here because after days of watching the horrific images on TV I wanted to do something,” said one of the border volunteers. “And this volunteering is a direct way of helping refugees. We have people who speak Russian and Ukrainian and I mean, it’s human to be here you know?”
Liria de Polzer, who volunteers with Expats in Trieste and the International School of Trieste at the border said that “being there and seeing with your own eyes all these women am children who left everything to survive is heartbreaking and emotionally draining. But is so good to see our community coming together and helping. We are doing the right thing simply because is the right thing to do. If I could I would be at the border volunteering every single day.
“We have also invited the local bakeries and restaurants to donate food for the incoming refugees,” added Francesco. “The food has to be packaged as per the latest rules. We had many bakeries donate fresh bread early Saturday morning.”
Expats in Trieste will continue volunteering at the Fernetti border every Wednesday from 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm and every Saturday from 9 am until sunset. To donate or volunteer, please send email to expatslivingintrieste@gmail.com
