The volunteer web site has raised over 1 million Euros and efficiently housed over 33,000 refugees in Lithuania.
In instances of disaster, solidarity makes a distinction. In the mean time, Sturdy Collectively is a volunteer-led initiative created by the Pelėdos Squad of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union (LRU) to at present present real, secure housing options to refugees of the struggle in Ukraine.
A journalist and volunteer of the initiative and the LRU, Edmundas Jakilaitis is well-drilled in fast pondering and efficient group. “We knew Russia was about to assault, and we knew we may do one thing to assist.” Sturdy Collectively is the consequence.
“Not one individual is sleeping in a station, faculty, or a public house. They’re all staying at folks’s houses – the concept is working.”
Sturdy Collectively, At all times
Sturdy Collectively is an easy-to-use on-line platform for keen Lithuanian households to supply a spot of their houses and supply shelter to refugees.
The initiative started in 2020 throughout the first Coronavirus lockdown in Lithuania to supply important protections resembling meals and medication to at-risk and susceptible folks.
“We tried to think about how we may assist these with well being issues, folks with disabilities, and those that are older. Again then, we had been attempting to consider learn how to assist individuals who couldn’t go away their houses – now it’s the alternative.”
“First, we launched a public consciousness marketing campaign and printed internet banners and press releases, however the public actually obtained concerned after we created our web site. That’s how we gathered virtually 10,000 volunteers so shortly.”
Nonetheless, the sustained power and velocity of the response to the Sturdy Collectively undertaking speaks of an outpouring of solidarity that has not waned among the many public regardless of virtually three years of continued crises.
“We knew folks wanted assist, so we thought we should always carry volunteers collectively. That’s how our group functioned throughout the two quarantines, with 1000’s of volunteers serving to folks through a cellphone line we arrange.”
Two lengthy lockdowns later, it appeared Sturdy Collectively would not be wanted. Edmundas returned to residing his on a regular basis life, hoping for that very factor. For a short time, the group disbanded till all the things modified when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Housing, Internet hosting, and Solidarity
Bordered to the south-east by the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and to the south-west by Belarus, Lithuania shares virtually 1,000 kilometers of land with the 2 nations in battle with Ukraine.
So, with the various 1000’s of Ukrainian refugees making an attempt to go by means of the slim hall alongside the Lithuanian-Polish border, it quickly grew to become clear that the group wanted to scale its operation quickly.
“On Monday, we got here up with the concept. On Tuesday, we made a web site. Then, on Wednesday, it was up and operating, and we already had 1000’s of volunteers.”
“About two weeks earlier than the struggle began, after we started to really feel it was going to start out, we started preparations. So we determined we wanted to create a system the place folks may provide their flats and homes to refugees.”
For Sturdy Collectively, transitioning from a post-lockdown lull to an impending humanitarian disaster of excessive operational complexity required a brand new method that was fast to implement, reliable, and infinitely scalable.
And when Edmundas and his crew wanted a web site, Unicorns LT really helpful Hostinger. Sturdy Collectively obtained in contact with us, and we helped get it off the bottom.
An On-the-Floor Response
Edmundas and a unit of 27 volunteers instantly arrange a refugee middle on the Polish-Ukrainian border, reworking a four-star lodge right into a aid station with navy precision.
“One of the vital necessary issues for an individual fleeing struggle is dignity.”
Edmundas has little question that it was “undoubtedly one of the best refugee middle on this planet.” First, everybody arriving on the middle was greeted with a steaming sizzling bowl of Ukrainian borscht. Then, they sat down collectively, ate at tables with crisp white tablecloths, slept a bit of, showered, and recovered as a lot as potential earlier than deciding the place to go subsequent.
Nonetheless, Edmundas and his crew knew they needed to be very cautious in organizing that subsequent step. All too conscious of the potential dangers of human trafficking, Sturdy Collectively shortly determined it was too dangerous to permit volunteers to take susceptible folks to Lithuania with out skilled oversight.
“You can’t put two moms with 4 kids in a automobile with a stranger to take them to Lithuania. We employed an expert bus firm as a result of they work underneath contracts. We knew their journey routes and will observe all of them the best way. There have been no exceptions – the buses took folks to official registration facilities, and we stayed with them till they might both apply for official lodging or go to their relations.”
An On-line Resolution
Edmundas and the opposite Sturdy Collectively volunteers are multi-skilled however knew they wanted a platform that was easy, dependable, and fast to arrange.
Constructing a web site was the one apparent strategy to transfer ahead, and Sturdy Collectively represents all one of the best practices of efficient on-line communication.
“You need to observe the call-to-action precept. In order for you folks to do one thing, it’s essential to give them the instruments. So we wanted a platform that will empower folks to behave, and that wouldn’t have been potential and not using a web site.”
Flexibility, ease of use, and the flexibility to scale at any second are an important issues for Sturdy Collectively because the disaster continues to unfold.
“We take into consideration learn how to construct issues that may work for everyone, not only for one particular person.”
Whereas publicizing the web site itself proved a problem, Edmundas and the squad of 27 volunteers work with communication, media, and advertising and marketing each day.
Taking issues into their very own fingers, they had been in a position to design and publish their very own web site and discover a internet hosting answer that might deal with the visitors from a battle that has displaced over 10 million folks and counting.
What Edmundas didn’t anticipate was the sheer quantity of visitors and assist from folks providing assist.
“At first, we financed all the things ourselves. Then in the future, after we made the web site and obtained the message on the market, we noticed that we had 100,000 Euros in our account. The subsequent day we had 200,000, and that’s how we raised over 1 million.”
Whereas the battle continues to ravage Ukraine, Sturdy Collectively has pledged to proceed caring for those that want their assist.
The credo is easy: get up and be counted on when these round you need assistance. It’s a easy and unshakable perception for Edmudas and everybody concerned in Sturdy Collectively, outlined by self-motivation and solidarity and empowered by discovering the precise instruments for the job.
“Should you do one thing your self and when you strive, it may not be straightforward, however you’ll be taught that it’ll work out ultimately.”
The struggle is just not over but, and other people nonetheless want shelter. Sturdy Collectively is on the lookout for volunteers who may give a house to refugees in Lithuania.
When you’ve got an concept that might assist Ukrainians and you might be in want of internet hosting, contact us at standwithukraine@hostinger.com – we’re right here that will help you out.
