Today I do not feel good.. would appreciate your prayers... at the same time, my sick mind continues to reflect on how the full-scale war has impacted me, my leadership in theological education, relief assistance, work, ministry, attitudes, etc. It is like an invitation to look inside through the broken windows of our souls.. I do not complain, I just open myself.. I still work very slowly on my two other diary drafts on brutal honesty vs. sensitivity, but today I want to share with you another note from my diary during the war.. it is about the difference between helping a refugee or an IDP vs. assisting them (an individual, a family, a widow, the orphans, etc.) to start the life of dignity anew... It is not to diminish your support... not at all.. it is my observation and reflection on my challenging and painful experience of working with the refugees since 2014 when russian invaded Eastern Ukraine first...
There are several critical differences between simply giving refugees food, necessities, or financial supplies and providing comprehensive (holistic) support to help them rebuild their lives with dignity. It is like providing a meal and cloth (and it is a great blessing!) or walking with each of them through their stadium of suffering, recovery, and restoration to a life of dignity anew.. Currently, I am going through a very tough and painful stadium with two families of refugees with enormous challenges in their lives... Extreme challenges... Some of you received my email recently...
The first difference is related to short-term vs. long-term impact. Providing temporary support helps address an immediate need, such as providing food or shelter. However, it does not provide a long-term solution to address displacement's root causes and consequences. Helping refugees rebuild their lives with dignity involves providing them with the tools and resources they need to become self-sufficient, support themselves long-term, and develop their ability to help in the same ways other refugees or IDPs.
The second critical difference for me is empowerment vs. dependency. Providing comprehensive support to refugees helps empower them to take control of their lives (it is not about being against the will of God...) and build a better future for themselves. It involves treating refugees as active agents of change rather than passive aid recipients. It is a dance of philanthropy, a tango of a donor and a needy... By giving refugees the tools they need to rebuild their lives, they can better take charge of their future. In contrast, simply giving money creates a dependency on aid and perpetuates a poverty cycle. Although giving is usually way cheaper than comprehensive support...
The third is about social integration vs. isolation. Refugees are often isolated and marginalized in their new communities. Comprehensive support helps them integrate into their new surroundings, local churches, and communities and build social connections, friendships... Simply giving money does not address these social, spiritual, and emotional barriers that refugees may face... The host community and local church need to learn how to be welcoming and inclusive of refugees (it is one of the research initiatives of the ScholarLeaders, by the way). It includes educating about refugees and their experiences and bringing diverse groups together for cultural, social, spiritual, and emotional exchange... The more included refugees feel, the more integrated they can become... Financial assistance can help refugees survive but will not enable them to fully integrate into their new communities for a life of dignity...
The fourth critical and challenging area is mental health vs. physical needs. Refugees often face trauma and mental health challenges due to their displacement, being unrooted... Providing comprehensive support involves addressing these needs, in addition to addressing physical needs such as food and shelter. It involves providing active access to mental health services, counseling, and spiritual and pastoral care to help refugees cope with the trauma they have experienced because of the displacement... being unrooted... (The Overseas Council has supported for almost a year MH-Care group of counselors focusing on long-term mental health treatment of the refugees, soldiers, and IDPs..)
The fifth is very complicated for me as it challenges the difference between human dignity vs. charity (stigma). Providing comprehensive support is based on the principle of human dignity, which recognizes every individual's inherent worth and value. It involves treating refugees with respect and empathy rather than as charity cases, objects of philanthropy... Jesus fed not only those who listened carefully to his sermon. He fed all who were hungry... 5000... 4000 people.. But, on the other hand, there is an inherent growing stigma in being a constant recipient of charity with no other choice... Powerlessness generates vulnerability... Courage generates hope, even through brutal honesty, that finally will meet and kiss sensitivity... some day.. some place..
Thank you for supporting the Life of Dignity, and peace be with you, the Community of Hope, and wish you Silent Night,
--
Taras N. Dyatlik, UKRAINE
2 May 2023
433rd day of the ongoing full-scale russian war against Ukraine...
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