Mission to Medyka

“Seeing the horror of what was happening in Ukraine stirred some powerful emotions within me,” says Susana, who joined Zurich Insurance plc, Sucursal em Portugal (Zurich Portugal), in 2001. “I had already donated food and clothing, but it just wasn’t enough. I needed to do more.”

As part of Zurich Portugal’s Claims team, Susana’s urge to help people comes naturally. “I decided I wanted to drive to the Polish/Ukraine border with donations and bring people back who needed help,” says Susana. “I knew it would be tough, but the call to do it was so intense I couldn’t ignore it.”

When she told her friends they wanted to get involved too. “Five came with me, and one stayed in Portugal telling us where we could eat, sleep and drive – she was our eyes and ears on the road!”.

They started raising funds and goods for the trip. “We promoted our mission on social media, and asked friends, family, neighbors and schools for help. Food, clothes, medicine and money came from our local community and people we’d never met across Portugal. Plus, we each added some of our own funds.”

At the same time, Susana planned as many trip details as possible. “We laid out everything: routes and journey times, eating and sleeping locations, refilling stations, van-hire options, contact details for authorities…and so much more! It was worth it: it helped turn the vision into a reality.”

With one week till departure, Susana informed Zurich Portugal. “At first, my manager thought I was crazy, but he wasn’t surprised as he knows me very well,” recalls Susana laughing. “He and Zurich Portugal were amazing – they helped make everything as easy and safe as possible, with paid volunteer days, improved personal accident insurance, and by providing a direct line should I run into any problems. They were fantastic.”

To boldly go…

On March 20, Susana and her friends set-off. “It was 3,540km from Lisbon to the refugee center in Medyka. With short 3-hour breaks to sleep, we estimated it would take about 3 days to get there.”

“The days running up to the departure were very tense but once we set off, the tension fell away and was replaced by a feeling of joy at the hope we were going to be bringing to people.”

The group arrived in Medyka as planned on May 23 and visited two refugee centers. “Our donations were gratefully received, and with our vans now empty, we looked for people to bring back.”

In the end they brought nine women, two cats and a dog back with them. “I cried when I saw people had their pets,” recalls Susana wiping a tear away. “All the women had left loved ones behind and were in a terrible emotional state. One had to leave her 17- and 18- year-old sons in Ukraine to fight.”

Susana found that while everyone’s situation was different, they all had one thing in common: they wanted to leave Poland and the refugee center. So, with just the clothes on their backs and a few personal items like photographs, they went with Susana and her friends to Portugal.

Relief beyond belief

“The journey back was difficult,” says Susana. “The women were nervous. No-one had been to Portugal and they didn’t know what the future held. We comforted them, answered questions and describe life in Portugal. At the end of the day, we were strangers but as the trip went on, I felt they began to trust us.”

Three days later, they crossed the border into Portugal. “It was an unbelievable moment,” recalls Susana as her face lights up at the memory. “We pulled over to the side of the road and toasted the event with some champagne. We were so relieved and everyone was crying.”

On the trip back, they contacted their local government office in Cascais, near Lisbon, and the immigration department, the SEF. “They were fantastic. They supported with all the legal stuff and secured free food and accommodation for the first month – a campsite right on the coast which was particularly special as the women had never seen the ocean.”

When hope becomes reality

Today, the women are integrating well. “At first it was difficult as they had a lot of legal issues to go through and they had to get used to the language. But with the superb support of the local SEF and Cascais city hall, it’s becoming easier.”

“Once the initial month was over, the SEF managed to find all 9 women jobs and a place to sleep,” says Susana. “Three work and live on one farm and two do the same on another. Two work at the home of a doctor and two are staying with family already living in Portugal.”

“We all keep in touch,” says Susana. “We visit each other and talk regularly through a WhatsApp group. It’s great to see them adapting to life here. They are hugely grateful for the support received, but of course, look forward to being able to go back to Ukraine and restart their lives when the war is over.”

Asked if she would do it again, Susana is confident in her response. “Undoubtedly. Helping people without looking for anything is one of the greatest feelings in the world. This experience taught me that nothing is impossible. If you just believe and believe and believe, you can make anything happen.”