Anyone who has seen Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” remembers the little girl in the red coat.
26.03.2022 - 14:31 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
It is an anxious waiting game for Marijke Hoek, who is hoping to welcome Ukrainian refugees into her home in Burnage. The 60-year old signed up to the UK’s Homes for Ukraine scheme to actively help with the war in Europe, but the ‘complex’ process is ‘taking too long.’
Marijke made contact with a young widow who has a 12-year-old son a few weeks ago and applied to be a sponsor last Friday as soon as the government’s scheme opened - among more than 100,000 others. She has been communicating with the mum based in Kyiv via Facebook messenger, after her friend in Manchester from Ukraine put them in touch.
The part-time church leader says all she has received so far is a confirmation email about the application, but no indication as to if she has been successful or when the pair will be able to join her. “I think the government has created a complex process and has been very slow, they’re making it far from smooth or quick,” Marijke said on Tuesday.
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“I have no idea if I will get an answer next week, or the week after, or tomorrow. In the meantime, these people are in all sorts of difficulties and dangerous situations.
"It’s great to be involved but on the other hand, I’m thinking ‘surely we can check up on people after they’ve arrived’ - most of them are women and children, the men are not coming, they can’t leave.” The homeowner added: “This war has been going on 27 days and we’ve only given out 10,200 permissions for Ukrainians to come over so far. In Berlin, that’s a daily number that arrives.”
Marijke, who is originally from the Netherlands but moved to Manchester at the age of 29 to study, says she felt compelled to be a part of the scheme. It
Anyone who has seen Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” remembers the little girl in the red coat.
Oliwia Dabrowska was about 3 years old when she became an indelible part of cinema history in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning classic Schindler’s List. As the little girl in the red coat walking through the Krakow Ghetto untouched as its residents are being “liquidated” by German troops, she was not only the only color in the otherwise black-and-white film, she also symbolized much of the film’s complicated dance between hope and hopelessness, violence and compassion, guilt and innocence.
Hundreds of knitters have been crafting trauma teddies in the colours of the Ukrainian flag to welcome children arriving in Scotland after fleeing Russian bombs.
Sir Rod Stewart has rescued 16 Ukrainian refugees after he was left heartbroken by their plight amid the Russian onslaught.
Orlando Bloom has travelled to Moldova with Unicef in order to meet refugee families who have fled the war in Ukraine.
A public charity appeal has today been launched to help support Ukrainians who are desperately fleeing the ongoing war and trying to relocate in Manchester. The MCR Ukraine Welcome Fund money has been introduced to help support charities and voluntary sector groups across the city in providing assistance to those arriving in the city.
Sean Penn is continuing to do his bit to support the people of Ukraine following Russia’s illegal invasion of the country.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy is doing all he can to help Ukrainian refugees fleeing from war.
Sean Penn is showing his support for Ukraine.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy has returned to Europe amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to help those in need. The "Dancing with the Stars" pro went live on Instagram Sunday from the Polish capital city of Warsaw and told his followers he was "fine" and "enjoyed some of that Los Angeles weather" after he returned home from Ukraine earlier this month. "Saw my family, saw my friends, obviously spent some time [with them]," said the 42-year-old.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy is back in Europe.
Lorraine's Royal Editor Russell Myers joined Lorraine Kelly on this morning's show (Monday 21 March) from Belize to discuss the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's recent royal tour. However, the expert also detailed "interesting" plans that the family have closer to home.
HELLO! magazine, entrepreneur and philanthropist John Caudwell and his partner, former Olympic cyclist Modesta Vžesniauskaitė, reveal why they want to offer a home to Ukrainian refugees.MORE: 5 ways to cope with news-induced anxiety right now"I feel heartbroken for the people whose lives have been destroyed," John, who is offering the detached two-bedroom Coach House in the grounds of his Staffordshire mansion to a fleeing family, tells the magazine.WATCH: Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher share emotional video as they raise astonishing sum for Ukraine"Picture yourself in that situation," continues the businessman who kicked off a campaign to encourage wealthy individuals to host Ukrainian refugees who have escaped their war torn country.READ: Sarah, Duchess of York meets Ukrainian refugees in Poland during heartbreaking visitRELATED: Amanda Holden praised by fans after highlighting heartbreaking cause"You've got no home, and the fear of death and being murdered on the street is constant. It's beyond comprehension." John with his wife ModestaIn the interview, Lithuanian-born Modesta, 38, who is mum to Leo, nine, and one-year-old William - her son with John, who founded Phones4U and created children's charity, Caudwell Children – also tells for the first time how she personally understands how it feels to be invaded."I know from experience the fear and trauma that the children and families in Ukraine are going through.
Martin Roberts was one of the many brave people who made the 1,260-mile trip from the UK all the way to the Poland-Ukraine border to deliver supplies amid the ongoing Russian invasion. It all started after watching the news and feeling helpless, before he woke up and decided to take action to help people still in the country as well as those crossing the border into safer territory.