FOCUS : EMPLOYEE HEROES
Hope and Help On the Ukrainian Border
Within hours of the Russian invasion , HP employees leapt into action to transport , house , and provide food and relief supplies to refugees fleeing the war .
by garage staff
More than 4.9 million refugees from Ukraine have been recorded in Europe since the start of the war .
W
HEN RUSSIA INVADED Ukraine on February 24 , neighboring countries soon found themselves with a humanitarian crisis . Thousands of refugees — mostly women , children , and the elderly — were arriving daily , many with nothing more to survive the frigid winter days than a small bag of belongings . Almost instantly , HP employees across Central and Eastern Europe took action , making sandwiches and hot drinks for refugees during overnight volunteer shifts at local shelters , organizing collections of needed items , and setting up systems to keep colleagues informed about volunteer opportunities — and even shopping for , filling , and delivering Easter baskets .
“ I was very touched and proud to see how my colleagues organized deliveries and engaged personally to help hundreds of people coming to Warsaw and Wrocław [ where HP has offices ] on a daily basis ,” says Andrzej Sowiński , Managing Director , Poland . “ We are also responsible for distribution of a grant from the HP Foundation among key Polish NGOs — this help is very much needed here and now .”
Overall , the HP Foundation allocated $ 3 million to be granted by country Managing Directors Sowiński ( Poland ), Cristian-Mugurel Pantaia ( Romania ), and Erika Lindauerova ( Hungary , Slovakia , Czech Republic ), and donated $ 250,000 in direct relief grants to organizations like the Polish Red Cross and UNICEF .
Foundation Ukraine , an NGO helping migrants . The company is also donating funds to help organize Polish language courses for Ukrainian refugees and sent printers to the Happy Kids Foundation for orphans from Ukraine . Some employees helped clear out unused spaces in Prague for use as temporary classrooms or community centers , and in Slovakia and Hungary , others helped transport refugees from the border and volunteered at local assistance centers .
Meanwhile , in Romania , employees donated blood , helped provide personal care products , and created resources so that refugees could learn how to request asylum and access free medical services .
“ This extreme crisis has shown that we can act together , organize ourselves around one goal ,” says Romanian MD Pantaia . “ We saw people inviting Ukrainian refugees to their homes , bringing families together and allowing for a transition from war into a bit of normal life .” Among the grants he has helped coordinate is $ 210,000 to
the Social Incubator , a Bucharest NGO helping refugees travel to safety . “ I am especially proud that HP has shown its inclusive company culture through activities initiated and led by our employees .”
Here ’ s how four HP employees took direct action and made a difference in the lives of Ukrainians fleeing the war .
PHOTOGRAPH BY GETTY IMAGES ( ABOVE ); COURTESY OF PETR JERABEK ( TOP RIGHT ); COURTESY OF JOANNA SZNUR-OLEKSIEWICZ ( BELOW RIGHT )
HP / INNOVATION / SUMMER 2022 26