Like many of you, I have been deeply affected by the unfolding horror in Ukraine. Feeling helpless, I decided to embrace the idea that when you have more than you need, you must extend your table. I have food, a warm and comfortable bed and a safe and secure home, and I want to offer a fellow human sanctuary during one of the worst humanitarian crises of our times. Next Sunday, Snezha and her 2-year-old daughter will arrive in Ireland, having made a treacherous journey to the Hungarian border. She will stay with my family and me until it is safe to return to her family in Ukraine. Why am I doing this? Because Snezha is me, she is my sister, my cousin, my best friend. She is every one of us and is leaving behind her home and her loved ones. When she arrives here, it will not be a moment of celebration but of relief and immense sadness, knowing the life she left behind remains perilously close to ruin. To help her and give her some independence and dignity, I am setting up a go fund me(never having done this before) to try and raise a few bob to help her get access to English classes, buy her daughter some clothes, whatever she needs to feel human and alive.

I know everyone has been asked for donations, which so many of you have kindly given already, but I ask you to give whatever you can to help this girl and her daughter from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you, most graciously in advance. Elaine