They settled in and got to work in short order. One team left for the Polish border from the Ukrainian side to provide humanitarian aid, while other teammates, led by Tomer, stayed behind to establish the headquarters. They started by renovating a local bomb shelter and were happy to be able to fill a movie theater with volunteers. Now they are setting a lofty goal of 10,000 volunteers, in a country starving for any help possible.
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We met Tomer Dror and Hila Shish at the team meeting in Lviv, in western Ukraine. A siren blared just as the meeting began. We all went down to the newly renovated bomb shelter, together with 30 local residents, including children, most of whom didn't even know one another. Instead of introverted silence or focusing on their cell phones, most everyone in that shelter conversed and even began to sing.
"We are here to establish 'One Heart' in Ukraine and to use the knowledge we have and our administrative skills to build the organization," explained Dror, once everyone was able to calm their nerves.
"When there was a similar war 80 years ago, no one did anything, and today we have a strong country. Therefore it's our duty not to act like the nations of the world, but to be a light unto the nations and stand on the side of good," he said.
'Knowledge to give'
"One Heart" [Lev Echad in Hebrew] is a civilian aid organization that operates in times of emergency. It was established 17 years ago during the disengagement from the Gaza Strip, with the intention of unifying the nation during that difficult and divisive period.
Shish, who has been with the One Heart for three years, commanded operations rooms during her military service as an officer in the IDF and is now doing so again a civilian.
"There's a rich culture of volunteerism in Israel, and we have the knowledge to give to [the Ukrainians]," she explained. "I realized that the skills I have, along with Tomer's, could be very relevant here as well."
"We've only been here two-three days and we've already launched three projects," according to Dror. "Thus far the Ukrainians have proven to be steadfast and are surprising the entire world. I believe a large volunteer force will also impact the results on the front lines."
Shis said they have met incredible, talented people while in Lviv, who despite their terrible ordeals have come to volunteer and help.
"There was Anna, who one day after a former pupil of hers was killed on the front lines, told us that her activity in One Heart was in his honor. There was also Katya, whose brother is fighting and her family is under siege on the front lines, who when I asked her how she has the strength to come volunteer, she said: 'I have no other choice, I have to do something.' These people are in an existential war against an evil, powerful enemy, but they are showing him they are up for the fight," Shish concluded.
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