Testimonials

Hanna

The association has done a lot for us. they arranged our trip to Dunkirk and found the family we live in. They helped with the preparation of all the documents. They also organized recreational activities for Ukrainians. We are very lucky, the French family is very friendly, kind and treated us with understanding. We were surrounded by care and attention from them. We have not had any conflict situations.
Anastasia

The decision to go so far into an unfamiliar country was a very difficult one.  The doubts and fear of being left alone with our problems were present.  But we are incredibly lucky!  We received a complete set of care for absolutely every problem.  Thanks to the volunteers, we received a French family.  A family of people with huge hearts. the volunteers Alice and Benjamin and their assistants, do everything possible and impossible for a comfortable stay and adaptation of the Ukrainians.  Their hearts are full of solidarity, interest, understanding and respect.  Everyone's stories and needs are lived out selflessly.  Thank you for your hard and conscientious work, for the feeling of total security and invaluable moral support! Anastasiia Roha, Valeriia Roha, Viktoriia Dimova.

Misha

After Russia attacked Ukraine in 2014, about two million Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes in the occupied regions and move to a new place. For the past five years, my wife and I have been working in a Ukrainian non-governmental organization that provides assistance to these people – displaced people who have fled Donetsk, Luhansk and the surrounding areas. In February 2022, when Russian bombs began to fall on Kyiv and Russian troops approached its outskirts, my wife was eight months pregnant. So we ourselves became (and still remain!) Refugees for many months, first leaving Kyiv and then Ukraine with a cat and some belongings.  After passing through Poland and the Czech Republic crowded with other Ukrainian refugees, we moved further and further west. We arrived in France, after a short trip we found ourselves in Dunkirk. My son was born here, and thanks to caring people, we don't need anything for him - children's clothes, food, everything we need is given in sufficient quantities and even more.  The association Collectif Dunkerque-Ukraine, which accompanies us in all areas - daily, psychological, adaptive - found us a surprisingly comfortable apartment in a beautiful neighborhood, and for 5 months we have been living without paying a single euro.  We are literally guided by the hand through all the many cases, helping to understand the intricacies of legalization. We are infinitely grateful to all French people who stoically accepted the invasion of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees.  I bow to the members of the Dunkirk-Ukraine Collective Association, who are giving me and my family incredible support during this most difficult time for us.  I am sure that Russia will be defeated, Ukraine will return to normal life, but will never forget those days and the people who opened their homes and hearts to us. Glory to Ukraine!  Long live France! Mikhail Hlushko, Kyiv - Dunkirk

Victoria, Gayane, Karine and Amir

When my family and I arrived in Dunkirk, we didn't know anything. We had no information where we were hosted, about our rights in France. We didn't know any organization, how to open an account at the bank, what documents are needed for that. We also didn't know where we could go to get food donations. How do I get to the hospital? How to get to the prefecture alone? We met a Ukrainian woman who knew Alice and Benjamin. Thus began our story of meeting and helping these wonderful people. I turned to Benjamin to help me neuter my cat, who accompanied me from Ukraine. He helped me with that. He took us to the clinic and then brought it back to me. He brought food to my cat and other pets from our hotel. I didn't know how to open a bank account, he helped me with that. He arranged a meeting at the bank and was there with me as an interpreter. He told me about the Dunkirk Ukraine association with Alice. He explained that we could turn to them for any help. They opened the Hangar with humanitarian aid, where there were clothes, furniture, shoes and everything needed for people. We could go out there and take whatever we needed. Many Ukrainians in the hotel didn't know about their organization, so we shared this information with each other so that other Ukrainians could contact them. Alice took our family to the prefecture, she always helped with the preparation and execution of all the paperwork. They have always supported us and helped us morally. Thanks to Benjamin and Alice, we removed our products from the windowsill and got a refrigerator. They are looking for housing for Ukrainians. They try to provide everything needed for the house, furniture, appliances. They provided many Ukrainians with phones, toys, scooters and bicycles for our children. They organize events, meetings, help us adapt in France. Thanks to them, we have the opportunity to actively participate in the cultural life of Dunkirk. We visited events such as circuses, theatres, cinemas and carnivals. They are always in touch and will always help in any situation and will come to us. Thanks to them, we feel safe, as they provide us with great moral support and care. They are already like family to us. We are very happy, happy and infinitely grateful to have met such friendly, kind and wonderful people as Alice and Benjamin. With great respect and love, Victoria, Gayane, Karine and Amir!

Kateryna

I would like to express my gratitude to Alice and Benjamin! Faced with a disaster such as a war in our country, this family was the first to lend a hand to us, the refugees! No one explained our rights and opportunities to us, it was very hard for us in a country we didn't know, but Alice committed to helping us as relatives. We registered with the Pôle emploi and the bank, even when I had personal problems Alice and Benjamin were ready to help me personally! Now my family is in another city and our social worker doesn't respond quickly, but Alice will always respond and help! Thank you so much for this family!

Yuliia

My name is Yuliia.Je came to Dunkirk with my daughter and family at the beginning of the war. At the hotel, Ukrainian girls told me about Alice and Benjamin's organization. I contacted them with many questions. They always helped with the paperwork, could solve any problem and were available 24/7, even when I had to leave for Ukraine for a while and we came back, Alice helped me and together with Benjamin they picked us up overnight at Lille airport and took us back to the hotel. I am very happy to have met them, they are wonderful and good people.

Irina

I am Irina, born on May 7, 1984 in Malyn, Ukraine. When the Russian military attack on Ukraine took place on February 24, 2022, and my family and I were in danger, we were forced to leave Ukrainian territory. With the help of volunteers, we and many other Ukrainian families arrived in France in the city of Dunkirk on March 27, 2022. We were greeted by Alice and Benjamin. They arranged for us to stay with French families. From the first day of our stay in France, Alice and Benjamin organized themselves and helped us with everything we needed. They accompanied us and helped us to obtain temporary protection status, OFII, open a bank account, obtain health insurance, register with Pöle Emploi, CAF, receive food aid from the Red Cross and the Restaurant du Cœur. During all this time, Alice and Benjamin personally accompanied me to various organizations and institutions to fill out all the necessary paperwork. They never turned me down any of my requests for help. Alice personally drove me to Lille for a medical check-up and accompanied me to doctor's appointments when I was sick. Alice and Benjamin organized the collection of necessary clothes, shoes, food and hygiene products, medicines, children's items, dishes, furniture and household appliances for Ukrainians. In addition to material things, Alice and Benjamin take care of the moral and psychological comfort of the Ukrainians. They constantly organize free excursions for Ukrainian families, trips to the theater and cinema, entertainment programs for children, various concert programs, involve us in various sports and fun activities. They also helped us with French classes and job searching. All problems related to the life of Ukrainian families in France are always solved with speed, competence and harmony by Alice and Benjamin. I thank them for the precious and always unwavering help to Ukrainian families, for their tireless work, for our comfort, for their sincere care and friendship for the Ukrainians.

Diana 

My name is Diana. I arrived in France with a child, not knowing the language and having no knowledge, I was very scared during my stay in the hotel or I also met Ukrainians who were fleeing the fierce war. Later, I met Alice and Benjamin, who helped me in any way they could. The amount of energy and support they put into all the work was incredible. They let other people's pain and problems pass through them. They saw tears and happiness.... I am very happy to have such an opportunity to get to know them. They did a lot for me and my daughter, and most importantly, they provided support that was lacking.

Oleksandra

I'm Ukrainian, my name is Alexandra. I arrived in France with two children and my mother at the end of August. When we arrived in Dunkirk, we didn't know or understand anything. My friend introduced us to Alice and Benjamin. They turned out to be very nice, decent and friendly people. I received answers and support for all the questions that interested me. You can contact Alice at any time and with any questions, and I know I will get an answer. Alice constantly arranges to have free tickets for various cultural events and constantly reminds to update on the Pôle Emploi, organizes the possibility of buying food in a solidarity grocery store. They are helping all Ukrainians. They are open-minded and kind-hearted people.

Maria 

I'm Maria, I'm 45 years old, I've been disabled since childhood, group 2 for life. I am Ukrainian and I came to France in the city of Dunkirk because of the war in my country. Came alone with no family. My family: mother, sister, nephews stayed in Ukraine. In Dunkirk, I met nice and brilliant people like Alice and Benjamin. These people are angels in the flesh. Alice and Benjamin gave me a jacket because I didn't have one. As I don't walk well, Benjamin brought me a jacket directly to the hotel. I also took things from the humanitarian shed, which was opened by Alice and Benjamin. Alice also helped me with the paperwork (health insurance) Alice and Benjamin also gave me a new fridge for temporary use (while I live in a hotel). I couldn't afford such a purchase. Many Ukrainians admire the kind heart of these friendly people Alice and Benjamin. I don't know if Alice has free time to relax. It is constantly occupied by us – Ukrainian refugees. I am very happy that fate has introduced me to Alice and Benjamin. Thank you to Alice and Benjamin for everything they have done for me. With sincere respect to these people, Maria

Olena and Mikhail

Alice and Benjamin met us at a very difficult time in our lives, when I, pregnant for the last few weeks, and my husband arrived in Dunkirk. Not knowing anyone in the city and not knowing the language, hoping to find at least a relatively permanent residence, they started to help us, even without having met us once: in fact, my husband met them during the furnishing of the apartment they found us while we were living at the F1 hotel in St Pol sur Mer,  and me when we had already moved in and I had given birth. They helped us not only with housing, including furniture and necessary cleaning. appliances, but also gave us an orientation in the city, suggested where we could shop at the solidarity grocery store. Thanks to Alice and often with her active involvement, we were able, despite not knowing the language, to obtain medical insurance for a newborn baby, arrange her payments to the CAF and open bank accounts. She looked for the necessary things for us and the child, helped renew the documents, found us language lessons. In general, we are very lucky in life to have met Alice and Benjamin, and maybe we don't even know how much. At the same time, they are very tactful and never let us feel how much we owe them, they are really our friends, and this is very important to us.

Anastasiia and Valeriia

My daughter and I came from Warsaw on March 27, 2022, at the invitation of the Dunkirk/Ukraine association. The decision to go so far into an unfamiliar country was a very difficult one. The doubts and fear of being left alone with our problems were great. But we're incredibly lucky! We received a comprehensive package of care for absolutely all problems and difficulties. With the volunteers of the Dunkirk/Ukraine association, we now have a real French family. A family of people with huge hearts, volunteers Alice and Benjamin and their assistants, are doing everything possible and impossible for a comfortable stay and adaptation of the Ukrainians. Accompaniment for all administrations and their constant support. Settling in with host families, looking for accommodation, organizing various meetings and activities for adults and children. Ongoing consultations on current issues. Their hearts are full of solidarity, interest, understanding and respect. Everyone's stories and needs are lived out selflessly.

Irina and Viktor

I would like to leave an opinion on the work of the Dunkirk Ukraine Association, the association of Ukrainians in Dunkirk. Ukrainian families who wanted to travel to France were carefully and comfortably transported to Dunkirk in a good bus. When we arrived, we were greeted by Alice and Benjamin - the organizers of the association. They arranged a warm meeting with the host families, immediately provided us with phone cards and the essentials, informed us of the additional actions needed and how to arrange our accommodation in a new location. Dunkirk Ukraine helped us register our arrival in France, prepared all the necessary documents for our stay, organized the transport of Ukrainians to appointments at the Prefecture, and helped us to take out health insurance. Throughout our stay here – no matter what city or village we are in, Alice and Benjamin carefully and attentively solve literally all the problems of Ukrainian families, both psychological and linguistic, and the problems of education, employment and adaptation in France. They found volunteers and organized French classes for us, several groups, chose a time and place that was convenient for everyone, so that everyone could come and attend these classes. They opened and organized a Humanitarian Aid Hangar for us Ukrainians so that we could have everything we needed. Alice and Benjamin are always in touch, you can call or write to them at any time and on any problem, they will always help you and solve everything. Our association has Ukrainian psychologists and translators who are always in touch and ready to help if needed. Finding such people and attracting them to work with Ukrainian families is also the merit of Alice and Benjamin. Leisure activities are always organised for us: they keep us up to date with the cultural life of Dunkirk and the surrounding area, provide us with tickets for cultural and entertainment events, organise holidays, meetings, leisure activities together, imagine activities for children. We have the opportunity, thanks to the Dunkirk Ukraine Association, to visit museums, exhibitions, concerts, festivals and other cultural events, holidays that take place in the city and its surroundings free of charge. ALICE and Benjamin help us with employment, language training, opening bank accounts, finding schools and kindergartens for our children, arranging free meals for our children. We Ukrainians, if necessary, are equipped with: phones, laptops, bicycles, strollers, they buy us the necessary appliances and household items - for our comfort and better organization of our lives. They arrange appointments with doctors for us and accompany us to doctor's appointments, provide translation, help us in any way possible in case of medical problems. You take care of us like your own parents, helping us survive and adapt in your country. A big thank you from my family and the Ukrainians who had the chance to meet you. Yours sincerely, Irina and Victor

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