Ungrateful volunteers and donors?

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This week has been a rollercoaster to say the least. As Max and I ended our service with the World Aid Runners on the agreed upon date of January 31st, a lot of factors have come to light about how the organization truly feels about its volunteers and donors.

The old question of where the donor money goes to ended up being under the investigation by Ukrainian services, which seems to have rattled the organization to the point of middle-school style offensive rant. 

My fellow volunteer Kristina has sent this message about me to a fellow volunteer (edited to shorten this 10page term paper of hatred, as her message concerned myself, Jeff, Max, and another volunteer, Darrell). These attacks range from unnecessarily personal and unfair statements to calling us a danger to the community of Kherson.

Click here for the offensive rant about myself and other volunteers of the organization

“Inna is a “Ukrainian patriot”. It is convenient to be a patriot and live in another country. If she wanted to help Ukrainians so much, where was she during two years of war? In the USA. It is convenient and safe to shout “Glory to Ukraine!” from across the ocean. If she loves Ukraine so much, “her” country, why didn’t she immediately return “home” at a conscious age? She couldn’t find, despite everything, a way to come to her dying grandfather??? SHE DIDN’T WANT TO. LAZINESS. IT DOESN’T MATTER. None of you know how to appreciate loved ones. Shame! If Inna knew the grief of occupation and war, she would appreciate it better. She would turn the world upside down to come to her grandparents.

You and she are in Ukraine because BEN. Thanks to BEN, you both had the opportunity to volunteer. You arrived to everything that was ready. EVERYTHING WAS READY BY BEN. BEN AND NO ONE ELSE WORKED HARD ON IT. THERE IS ORGANIZATION BECAUSE OF BEN. PEOPLE HAVE PRODUCTS BECAUSE OF BEN. Ready infrastructure. Office, cars, shelter, apartment. she is Irresponsible, tactless, frivolous, ill-mannered, naive, stupid, infantile. If Inna was in Kherson for two months, this does not mean that she can write articles and pretend that she is an expert. She, like you, knows NOTHING. Both of you cannot even imagine that next to you and in what a dangerous place you both are. I know, this is my city. Ben knows, he has lived here for TWO YEARS. And not just like at a resort. Like Inna, she only knows alcohol, and she came to the office in a terrible physical condition and appearance. We work with people! Horror! Adult, conscious girls do not behave like that. She is stupid and ill-mannered, to understand where she is and with whom. Ben has studied and continues to study everything about Kherson and the situation there. He WORKS A LOT TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION. It takes time, it takes relationships, it takes being a GOOD PERSON FROM THE HEART like Ben (and not just seeming to be, like you and Inna) so that people can trust their stories from the occupation, their life story, open their souls, have a desire to help and more. one needs to speak Russian or Ukrainian. one needs to know the geography of the city. one needs to talk to a lot of people to understand the main need, to be as useful as possible, to provide truly real help. And Ben does it. He goes out of his way so that the world knows about Kherson. So that it is not forgotten. To help people.

Shame! Shame! She’s Ukrainian! She writes articles for the public about a city she knows nothing about. She declares herself a “humanitarian” and then publishes disgusting photos of her drunk and in terrible shape. I’m ashamed that I know her! I’m ashamed that we stood next to each other! She should be ashamed to call herself Ukrainian! Because of such ardent “patriots” and “Ukrainians” my country has no help from outside. People like Inna are a disgrace to the nation. Let her live anywhere, but not in Ukraine. Shame! […]

Know. If I see any of you in my city, I will find you all disgusting. You are all vile people. My city is beautiful, even if it is bleeding now. But it is disgusting to me to know that people like you all walk its streets. You, Inna, Maxim and Daryl. My people were killed during the occupation, my soldiers died liberating my city from occupation. My people paid the price not so that an asshole, a criminal, an unfinished “Ukrainian patriot” and a liar could walk on my land. You are nobody here. My father is at the front looking death in the eye, not so that you could all live and be in my city and in my country. You are not worth his little finger. You are all a huge minus for the residents of Kherson, rather than a plus.”

Maybe Kristina, who loves their city so much should not be harassing the volunteers and donors who come to help Ukraine just because these volunteers are asking questions about how the funds are spent. Maybe how people act on camera needs to more closely coincide with how they feel about you behind your back.

This has been a very unpleasant ordeal for all of the mentioned by Kristina volunteers, who have all been severely disappointed with and angered by their time with this organization, and truly hoped that at least the funds were helping the local residents. The question remains. And the harassment of the volunteers continues as the investigation proceeds.

Comments

4 responses to “Ungrateful volunteers and donors?”

  1. C Waitere Avatar
    C Waitere

    My friend thankyou for sharing this and having the courage to do it. As a volunteer and donor to WAR it’s horrible the treatment that I received behind closed doors . Ben is unfit and has no place in the role as a Humanitarian not in Kherson or anywhere. I am greatful to have got to know you and Maxim and feel your hurt and anger . I pray our horizon continues to shine bright for Kherson and for Ukraine.

    1. mergiosha1 Avatar
      mergiosha1

      thank you for reading and for your kindness and support of us. We love you and hope for justice for everyone involved!

  2. JEFFREY BARRETT Avatar
    JEFFREY BARRETT

    Inna
    Thank you for starting this blog. You are a gutsy woman who will do a lot of good in the world. It takes courage to stand up to bullies, but you have that courage. I am honored to know you and Maxim and wish you guys nothing but the best in the future. Take care, stay safe, and Slava Ukrainan!

    1. mergiosha1 Avatar
      mergiosha1

      thank you so much, our dear friend. Heroyam Slava!