Valeriya Quinn Interviewed - Running the Country of Peace Charity
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"The only way to peace is Ukrainian victory and we need to stop the war and it will be stopped, the war will be over, and Ukraine must win in order to stop the aggression, stop the potential aggressors in the future."
Hello Team!
Jonathan introduces his guest Valeriya Quinn, a Ukrainian now living in the United States who started a charity called "Country of Peace" to provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainians impacted by the war. Valeriya provides some background on who she is and where she's from.
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Valeriya's perspective on Russia and Ukraine before the 2022 invasion
As a Russian-speaking Ukrainian with some Russian heritage, Valeriya had mixed feelings about the 2014 annexation of Crimea and conflict in Donbas. Living overseas at the time, it didn't directly impact her and she had an appreciation for Russian culture. She visited Crimea several times before 2014.
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Reaction to the full-scale invasion in February 2022
Valeriya was in Mexico when the full-scale invasion began and describes being in shock, fear and disbelief. Her children urged her to leave Ukraine in January 2022 amid warnings of an impending attack. She shares an anecdote of her godfather in Moscow calling her parents a week into the invasion telling them not to believe the news about Kharkiv being bombed.
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Volunteering in Poland to help Ukrainian refugees
After a month in Mexico following the invasion, Valeriya flew to Warsaw, Poland to volunteer helping Ukrainian refugees arriving by train. She describes it as an unforgettable and valuable experience providing the refugees with essentials like food, clothing and accommodation. She made several trips between Poland and Ukraine to deliver humanitarian aid and transport refugees.
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Starting the Country of Peace charity
Valeriya and her husband received many offers from friends around the world wanting to help Ukraine. To handle donations responsibly, she partnered with a friend to legally register the Country of Peace charitable organization. The charity has Valeriya as the director and about 6 active Ukrainian volunteers. They receive donations mostly from non-Ukrainians to fund their humanitarian work.
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How Country of Peace provides humanitarian aid
Country of Peace focuses on targeted assistance based on requests they receive from individuals and families via social media. Beneficiaries write letters about their situation and needs. The charity verifies their refugee status and other documentation before sending aid packages through Ukrainian postal services and delivery companies. They've helped people in frontline areas, the newly liberated territories, and vulnerable citizens like the elderly and disabled who are unable to evacuate. Aid provided includes food, baby items, hygiene products, medicine and even toys.
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Perspectives on how the war will end
Valeriya is confident of absolute victory for Ukraine and believes it's the only way to stop Russian aggression and ensure security, prosperity and democracy in Ukraine. She acknowledges uncertainty around occupied territories like Crimea and Donbas but believes they will return to Ukraine eventually, even if it takes longer than the end of the war itself. She cites the pressures and desperate living conditions people in the occupied territories face.
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Wrap up
Jonathan reflects on the challenges of knowing which charities to support and the importance of Valeriya sharing her first-hand experience running a grassroots organization. He encourages viewers to support Country of Peace and thanks Valeriya's husband Michael for connecting them. Valeriya expresses gratitude for Jonathan's work in sharing truthful information about the war. They thank each other and sign off.
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