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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV Volunteers in Polish center - Mendoza
HEAD: Volunteers in Poland Compelled to Help Ukrainian Refugees
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 04/13/2022 9:03 am
BYLINE: Celia Mendoza
CONTRIBUTOR: Julia Riera
DATELINE: Przemysl, Poland
VIDEOGRAPHER: Celia Mendoza
VIDEO SOURCE (S): All VOA
PLATFORMS: (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE(1st), MAS
TRT: 2:34
VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko
UPDATE:))
((INTRO))
[[Volunteers are working alongside humanitarian organizations to help refugees inside and outside of Ukraine. VOA’s Celia Mendoza has more from Przemysl, Poland.]]
((NARRATOR))
Adam Wąsowicz is a Polish volunteer coordinator at a local school in Przemysl, Poland, that is hosting Ukrainian refugees.
((Adam Wąsowicz, Volunteer Helping Ukrainian Refugees)) ((IN POLISH))
“People arrived in different conditions. I'm talking about the mental state – closed in on themselves. They didn't know what to do before there was a center like this one, where we could take care of them a bit.”
((NARRATOR))
And help them adjust to a new reality.
((Adam Wąsowicz, Volunteer Helping Ukrainian Refugees)) ((IN POLISH))
“During the first 2 to 3 days, they must get used to us, because you know – we are strangers to them. And later, when they leave, they hug us, thank us that we helped them in the first place.”
((NARRATOR))
As distraught Ukrainians arrive in Poland, other Ukrainian refugees already there are also stepping up – 30-year-old Olga Grebeniuk from Odesa.
((Olga Grebeniuk, Ukrainian Volunteer Helping Other Refugees)) ((IN ENGLISH))
“It was overwhelming to me, and kind of depressing, and I decided I need to do something at least, what I can do. My family is right now in Odesa so if I can’t really help them, I decided to help other people.”
((NARRATOR))
Despite established humanitarian corridors for civilians, the passage is still very dangerous. The situation worries Grebeniuk.
(Olga Grebeniuk, Ukrainian Volunteer Helping Other Refugees))
“I’m concerned about my granny and my mom. It’s kind of complicated, because my granny had a stroke seven years ago, so she can’t walk. She can’t move without help. To get to Odesa, you have to travel to several countries and my mother is alone with my grandmother, so it’s complicated to get them out of there.”
((NARRATION))
Wąsowicz says he felt compelled to help.
((Adam Wąsowicz, Volunteer Helping Ukrainian Refugees)) ((IN POLISH))
“We are human beings, and we tell this to everyone around us. These are our neighbors. Although there were ups and downs in history, I belong to the generation of people who do not remember it anymore.”
((NARRATOR))
But now, a new generation is witnessing violence and the consequences of war.
((Olga Grebeniuk, Ukrainian Volunteer Helping Other Refugees))
“My granny is asking my mom who attacked us, who are these people? What do they want from us and then she tells me as well, ‘you know Olga, there is a war in Ukraine’?”
((Reporter question in English))
“And how do you feel about that?”
((Olga Grebeniuk, Ukrainian Volunteer Helping Other Refugees))
“Speechless…. I say granny, don’t worry. It’s going to be fine…but you never know if is going to be fine or not.”
((NARRATOR))
((Celia Mendoza, VOA News, Przemysl, Poland.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Przemysl, Poland
BylineCelia Mendoza
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
