After seeing refugee children arriving in Budapest while on holiday at the end of February, our organiser decided to act, and with the help of 3 friends, one week later had collected 7000 teddy bears from local children in Bristol and North Somerset.
By day 10, enough sponsorship and donations had been received, and free loan of a 53 seater coach, to set off with our “TeddyBusz” on the 2500km drive across France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and all of Hungary to Zahony, the small frontier town at the Ukraine border.
Between 17th March and 5th May (49 days) our base was Záhony Railway Station. This is one of the primary rail exit routes from Ukraine and since March the shuttle trains have evacuated almost 1 million people on the one-stop journey of 3 miles over the symbolic Tisza River border bridge to freedom from the war and the Ukrainian town of Chop.
After paperwork formalities, refugees receive food and comfort at the Záhony Welcome Hub while waiting for trains to Budapest, and onward journeys to new lives all over the world. We welcomed refugees from trains with the powerful, unsaid, message of “you’re safe now” that the gift of a comforting teddy bear implies. We also set up a Children’s Corner for the aid tent, buying toys, cushions and drawing supplies.
Pets also received our care, as food, cat/dog carriers, puppy pad liners, collars and leads, blankets were received with tears of joy by exhausted owners. In one day we handed out 9 boxes for cats that had arrived in jumpers, handbags, or carried in arms.
We were also lucky to cross to Ukraine with a local Doctor and see a refuge centre and children’s hospital and understand their needs – very different to the border crossing.
Residents of Zahony welcomed us into their tight-knit local community despite English being rarely spoken. We saw that independent volunteers like us provided much of the humanitarian support, and a strong-willed group of retired local ladies – led personally by the Mayor – ran the aid tent, making sandwiches, teas & coffees, and serving soup and hot meals – always with a smile and a friendly greeting – for up to 20 hours a day.
Our simple act of giving a teddy bear brought wonderful joy, comfort and a little light relief to everyone whether refugee child, parent, staff or local people and virtually every child arriving in those 49 days received a Bear of Hope from England.
TeddyBusz - Bears of Hope 