On Sunday, March 20, 2022, a parent of a student sends us an email. He offers us a collection for Ukrainian refugee children in Poland. The idea: "1 Doudou, 1 pocket of sweets" to bring them a little sweetness and human warmth in this ordeal.
The departure is scheduled for Saturday, March 26: we have only 5 days to mobilize our students, their families and all the staff of Saint-Paul. The scale of the mobilization exceeds our expectations, a real surge of solidarity has made it possible to collect several hundred lots.
Back on this operation and interview with Mr. SYOËN to know more about his motivations and this expedition.
An unprecedented collection carried out in record time
On Monday, March 21, a letter is sent to all families and, within the establishment, the "Solidarity Group" is conducting a poster campaign. Similarly, communication is done on our social networks. Result: from Tuesday cuddly toys, soft toys and sweets arrive at the Office of the Pastoral.
Donations are increasing exponentially day by day. It is necessary to put several to sort them, to make lots "Doudou + Sweets" corresponding to the different ages of the children. Then, everything is stored in boxes to facilitate transport and distribution. It is important to point out that everyone has played the game: the cuddly toys are beautiful (many are new) and the sweets look very good. On Friday, March 25, thanks to everyone's generosity, the truck is loaded: mission accomplished!
A long journey to Eastern Europe
On Saturday, March 26, Mr. SYOËN takes the road at the wheel of a 14m3 accompanied by another driver. They go to distribute, in different places, civilian and military medical equipment, food and baby products, not to mention our blankets and sweets. Back on this extraordinary expedition.
Interview with Mr SYOËN
SP: What triggered your plan to take the road to reach the Ukrainian border?
AS: The invasion of Ukraine by the Russia, the images of women and children immersed in this war. Facing these press images I felt a will to act. Having myself as children, I couldn't help but act. This is all the more so since it seemed to me that some organizations were slow to operate.
SP: How were you able to make contacts for identify needs and make donations?
AS: Everything was done through person-to-person relationships and the associative network. The "France-Ukraine" Association for medical equipment but also the link with a doctor, then an orphanage. Thanks to numerous meetings, one thing led to another, the project took shape.
SP: What were you able to reap in the end? Where were you able to deposit these donations?
AS: Three pallets of medical equipment, especially to treat the wounds inflicted by the bombings. All this was delivered to the logistics base in Przemysl. We also had to face a hazard: to enter the neutral zone, we needed the original registration card. The truck being rented, we only had a photocopy… We managed to find an empty truck in Poland and drop off our load.
Thanks to the association "Petits Pas DELO" (based in Mussidan in Gironde) we were able to bring to an orphanage baby food, milk, diapers…
The orphanage 
The "Doudous & Bonbons" were distributed to different structures:
– Part of it was donated to Krakow School 95 and the Medyka Transit Centre. Having no accreditation, it was the deputy mayor who ensured this delivery.
– Other "Soft toys & Sweets" (a small part) left for an orphanage in Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukraine. It was the director of the orphanage who came to pick them up in the neutral zone.
– The rest, 2/3 of the "Doudous & Bonbons" left for Lviv thanks to the mayor.
It was important and beautiful to see the children smile and adhere to this gift. Bring a little sweetness and tenderness to the The midst of the tumult of war is essential.
SP: How many drivers drove on the road? How many kilometers and how long to travel time?
AS: We left with two drivers. We drove 4,888 kilometres in two and a half days. We were counting sleeping in our truck the night from Monday to Tuesday but it was not possible so we booked a hotel room.
SP: Can you tell us about the welcome you have you received? What were the reactions?
AS: At the logistics base we received a very good welcome. Of course, what we did was a drop in the bucket, but the volunteers told us, "Luckily you came." In fact, every action responds to a need. With the "Convoy of Hope" (- French initiative – convoy left for the city of Medyka in Poland), the volunteers also welcomed us very well.
SP: What do you get out of this human experience? Was this the first time you committed yourself in this way?
AS: Yes, it was the first time. It's a force that pushed me to do it.
What I remember:
– A deep distress of the refugees I have crossed but also their dignity and the deep respect of the instructions that their were given.
– A very great solidarity that is put in place walks "at high speed" at all levels.
If we take for example the refugee camp in Krakow, starting from scratch everything was set up in a few days. All of them have a real will to help the Ukrainians.
Refugee camp in Krakow 
– It is not easy to see the distress of those people who face war, to be confronted with their suffering despite the dignity they demonstrate.
– I also remember the silence of the Medyka camp "brightened" sometimes by a few piano notes; but above all the organization and respect of the rules despite the wait which sometimes can be long (several hours).
Photo credits: M. A SYOËN (Poland) / ME & OF (Saaint-Paul)