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Bags filled with toiletries, toys, candy and school supplies
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When Oscar Oliver walked into a refugee center in Poland last month, he had no idea what to expect.
The 12-year-old boy from Barrie, Ontario, traveled halfway across the world to give supplies to child refugees forced to flee the war in Ukraine.
To his surprise, he was first greeted not by other kids, but by their moms.
“All the moms there wanted to hug me,” Oscar said in an interview with CBC Kids News.
“I wanted to cry because they were just so sad and happy they could get something for their kids.”
After a month of fundraising, Oscar traveled to Poland on April 15 to bring 440 backpacks filled with toiletries, school supplies, toys and candy to child refugees.
Millions of Ukranian kids were forced to flee their homes, many with just a few possessions after Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24.
Although Oscar’s work has helped a handful of families, many of the 6.6 million Ukrainian refugees who’ve left are still going without basic supplies.
“It was life-changing. It really helped me learn that one person could change something big. ”
How the idea came to Oscar
After Russia invaded Ukraine, Oscar heard that kids were being forced to leave all their things behind and flee their country.
Oscar, who is Polish, learned that the vast majority of refugees had left for nearby Poland.
Having been to Poland four times before with his family, it felt personal to him.
“I wanted to do something,” Oscar said. “I knew the kids in Ukraine were suffering from losing their homes.”
That’s when he asked his parents, who regularly fundraise for sick children in Poland through their foundation Fundacja Dziecięca Fantazja, if they could help him launch a website called “Buy A Backpack.”
Oscar wanted to raise money for 200 backpacks, which would be filled with toys, school supplies and treats Ukrainian kids had been going without.
Oscar set a minimum donation of $ 50, enough for one backpack full of supplies. In just a few weeks, he raised enough to fill an entire truck. (Image submitted by Garry Oliver)
Oscar also decided he would fly to Poland to personally deliver the bags.
From there, Oscar asked his school to mention his campaign during their daily announcements, and he started doing interviews with CBC, CTV and other media to spread the word.
In just a few weeks, Oscar had gone way beyond his goal of 200, raising enough money for 440 backpacks.
How Oscar felt arriving in Poland
Oscar arrived in Warsaw, Poland, on April 16 with his mother.
As soon as he got there, Oscar headed to a charity where the backpacks and supplies he purchased with the funds raised were being stored, and began packing the bags one by one.
Oscar chose his supplies carefully, thinking about who the backpacks might go to and what it could mean to them. (Image submitted by Garry Oliver)
Two days later, Oscar headed to a refugee center in Warsaw with a truckload of 440 backpacks.
When he walked in, he immediately felt a sense of sorrow in the room.
It brought him to tears.
“The look on their faces was very sad, because they lost something really big,” Oscar said.
Many kids were there with their mothers only, as their fathers were required to stay in Ukraine and fight.
“They didn’t know what was going on, they didn’t know where their dads were,” Oscar said.
Bringing in a bit of joy
After telling them about the backpacks, all of the mothers in the refugee center began helping Oscar take the backpacks to their kids as fast as they could.
After arriving at the refugee center, mothers were eager to help Oscar get his 440 backpacks to their kids. (Image submitted by Garry Oliver)
“The kids were trying to pull out as much stuff out of the backpacks as they could,” Oscar said.
“They were hugging the toys, they were just so excited.”
Oscar spends time with a four-year-old girl named Lily at the refugee center. She traveled from Ukraine to Poland by hitchhiking with her grandmother and dad for five days straight. (Image submitted by Garry Oliver)
Oscar’s mom, who accompanied him to the refugee center, said the Oscar people were incredibly grateful.
“Many were crying, because someone wanted to help them … and because they saw their children smiling for the first time since being in Poland,” she said.
Oscar said he felt overwhelmed by all the thank yous from Ukrainian families.
“I was just happy that I could give something to them that they could keep, [to let them know] someone was thinking of them, ”Oscar said.
Looking ahead
After his experience in Poland, Oscar said he’s viewing the world differently.
“It was life-changing,” Oscar said. “It really helped me learn that one person could change something big.”
He wants to find more ways to give back in the future.
“I would like to be a part of my parents’ foundation to help sick kids in Poland,” Oscar said.
“I’m determined to do more after what I’ve seen, so I must continue to help.”
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TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Submitted by Garry Oliver
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