I searched on Google last night to see how many people are currently alive in the world. The answer was higher than I expected: 7,753,000,000.
As some of you are already aware, I’ve been taking some time recently to travel to different places across the US and Europe. I’m constantly struck by the number of people I walk by on a daily basis without any idea of who they are, what they’ve done, or where they come from. While walking on the beach in Florida in April, I passed thousands of individuals who I’m sure would have unique stories to tell me, if I would only take a moment to stop and talk to them.
Of course, it might be awkward at first, or they might not want to talk to a stranger, but I’m still curious. We might find out that we have a random connection. Maybe I’d find out that we went to the same school or that our parents grew up in the same town or that we were actually related. That happened to my grandma one time. She found out that her second cousin went to her high school, and she had had no idea. You just never know how you might be connected with someone.
I’ve always found myself intrigued by human stories—when I read them, hear them, or even watch them. Not only am I intrigued, but it’s rare that I don’t feel linked to them in one way or another. Social media has connected us with one another in so many ways, both negatively and positively. I want to focus on the positives. The ability to share human stories with the world in a way that wasn’t possible even 30 years ago is one of those.
So that’s my goal for HMN Connection, I want to collect and share as many stories as possible.
Although this has been my desire for some time now, I had been sitting on the idea, wondering just how to go about it. Russia’s attack on Ukraine on February 24th, kick-started me into action as I immediately felt the need to do something to help the Ukrainians who were suffering and being displaced. So, a month and a half ago, I decided to pack a bag and travel to Poland.
The main goal of my trip was to meet and collect as many stories of Ukrainian refugees and volunteers on the ground as I could. (It is currently estimated that there are 14 million Ukrainian refugees either in their own country or in surrounding countries.) I worked with Oksana, a Ukrainian from Lviv, while in Poland, and together we collected nearly 200 stories over a two-week span.
So many heartbreaking and emotional accounts were shared. Many of the people we spoke to no longer have a home to go back to, have lost loved ones, and have no idea what tomorrow holds for them. Even amid the rawness of it all, they were still willing to share their stories and entrust them to us. Why? I believe there are two reasons: 1) they want people outside of Ukraine to know what is really going on, and 2) I believe they want to feel connected with the outside world in their suffering.
War is brutal, war is horrifying, and if I can bring just a little light to their lives by sharing their stories and allowing them to see that people around the world actually do care for and love them, then that’s what I want to do.
That’s why I’m publishing these stories here on Substack and posting photos and videos on other social media sites. I want to be able to show the people of Ukraine that they aren’t alone in their struggles. And I want to be able to raise awareness anywhere I can so that we who are not struggling in the same way can empathize, care, and help those in need in whatever way they think is best. As Alexandra said in her interview, “Back in the States it’s a news story; it’s very theoretical for people. Even people who are supportive and understanding don’t understand the reality of it because they are so used to seeing stories like this, and this is just another news story that is so distant. But here it’s extremely real for everyone.” I want to change that mentality in whatever way I can.
My hope is that I can help you as a reader or listener feel that connection—that reality—through these stories. My ultimate goal is to find a way to connect you as a reader to these individuals in a real way. I am working on ideas of how to do that.
Meanwhile, the best way you can help me in this journey is to follow, subscribe, and share the following sites.
· Substack - You can subscribe to receive the full stories on Substack to your email.
· Tik Tok
· Youtube
Where will this project go post Poland and Ukraine? My hope is anywhere and everywhere. That’s the great thing about there being 7,753,000,000 human stories out there.
Next, I’ll be sharing a story of a Ukrainian in Krakow that used her art skills at a local center to bring some peace to her fellow refugees.