Romania took hold of my heart in 2015 and since then has consumed my mind and soul. As with any genuine commitment, my relationship with this beautiful, complex country has grown and deepened over time as I have learned of its many tragedies, as well as its many triumphs. I have surrendered myself to Romania. [...] As I continue my Romanian journey, I marvel over the resiliency and fortitude of the people. I am fortunate to have developed close relationships, familial in many ways, with many Romanians. And I am eternally grateful to have been granted a Fulbright and honored to become part of this amazing community.
Fulbright Romania Stands with Ukraine: Join the Humanitarian Aid Efforts
The Fulbright Program’s mission to support democratic values, institutions, and efforts to promote understanding among all people around the world is more relevant and important than ever in these tragic times.
Fulbright alumni from all over the world continue to work as hard as they can to advocate, educate, and serve. Meanwhile, in Romania, NGOs, associations, universities, companies, hospitals, and ordinary citizens like us all have come together to help Ukrainian people who are forced to leave their country and are trying to cross the border and seek refuge in Romania.
The Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission invites Fulbright alumni and friends to support the humanitarian aid efforts by the civil society and the Romanian authorities. You can help by donating funds to organizations in Romania working with refugees, signing up as a volunteer, donating emergency products and equipment, encouraging your local communities to donate blood, sharing verified and useful information for Ukrainian civilians about seeking protection in Romania.
Please see below a list of trusted ongoing initiatives by the Romanian authorities and civil society.
Information platform for Ukrainian Refugees
- https://dopomoha.ro/en created by Code for Romania in partnership with the Department of Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the International Organization for Migration and the Romanian National Council for Refugees. The platform includes relevant information about seeking protection in Romania, available in Romanian, English, Ukrainian, and Russian.
Initiatives by National and International Organizations:
- Romanian Red Cross: Unitatea nu are granițe. Oamenii ajută oameni.
- UNICEF Romania: Donations for helping children in Ukraine and refugee children
- UNHCR: Ukraine Emergency – Donations for providing Humanitarian Assistance
- CNRR (Romanian National Council for Refugees) is the main partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in regard to the implementation of the assistance programs offered to asylum seekers and refugees. If you would like to make a financial donation directly to CNRR or sign up as a volunteer, see the info in this post.
- Save the Children Romania: Humanitarian assistance for Ukrainian children and their families; (if you would like to sign up as a volunteer, you can also contact Save the Children Suceava – a chapter closer to the border).
- LOGS – Grup de Inițiative Sociale – Romanian NGO coordinating projects for refugees. You can make a financial donation here; they are also looking for volunteer social workers, psychologists, and translators from Russian/Ukrainian – see info here and complete the form at the end of the post if you are able to help.
Initiatives by the Romanian Authorities
- RO Govt Campaign “Ukraine – Together We Help More” – online centralized inventory of available financial and in-kind support, so the Govt has a real time overview of the available resources and can allocate them rapidly, where most needed.
- Ministry of Health & Ministry of Defense: Blood donation campaign – blood transfusion centers across the country (see also blood donations apps: Donorium & BlooDoChallenge)
Product Donations
(Collection centers are organized all over Romania – look up for one in your city)
- Crucea Roșie – regional chapters; most needed: non-perishable food, canned food, baby food, child care products, hygiene products, first-aid items.
- Bucharest City Hall: Donations – financial & in-kind for supporting refugees transiting Bucharest.
- Asociația ZiDeBine: Scut pentru Ucraina
- Sens Pozitiv & Accept: in-kind donations
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