Mata Amritanandamayi Math volunteers tirelessly serving refugees from Ukraine
NEW DELHI : Since the war started between Russia and Ukraine, volunteers with the Mata Amritanandamayi Math in Poland, Hungary, and Romania have been helping hundreds of Indian students and other refugees reach safety. In Poland, they are transporting the refugees by bus to Warsaw, Poland’s capital, and connecting Indian nationals with their embassy.
Bearing the harsh winter, the Polish volunteers stay put at the border to provide clothing, shoes, food, blankets, and other basic needs. They also arrange accommodation for those who do not have shelter. The volunteers are intent on aiding people who arrive after having travelled long distances to escape war zones.
Mata Amritanandamayi Math, which has a strong following in Poland in the form of Amma Polska Association (Amma Poland), is working constantly to help refugees of all nationalities flee the war-torn country of Ukraine.
Said Marcin Kroll, who is one of the volunteers leading the rescue efforts with the Amma Polska Association: “Thousands of people are coming to Poland from Ukraine, escaping war. They are crowding the streets here. We are Amma’s children in Poland. When we saw the plight of these people, we immediately decided to extend all possible help.
“We are working closely with officials of the city of Lodz and the Lodz humanitarian aid centre here in Poland. They are in constant touch with their counterparts in Ukrainian cities for Indians and other people needing to cross over to safety. When we got to know about the Indian students in Ukraine heading for the Polish border, we immediately got active, and safely escorted them all the way to Warsaw, helping them with all their essential needs.”
Said Swami Shubhamritananda, who is coordinating the Math’s activities in Europe: “It is really inspiring to see the dedication of Amma’s volunteers in Poland, Hungary and Romania in helping all the refugees and students who have crossed over to this side of the border.”
To lend support to the Amma Polska Association, volunteers from the Mata Amritanandamayi Math’s ashram in Germany are also making their way to the Polish borders. Sreepriya and Rohit, working in Munich, have taken time off to join the efforts.
“We are so happy that we can be of some service to our brothers and sisters crossing the border,” they remarked. “They have gone through so much in the last few days. The spirit of the volunteers has been amazing.”
Mata Amritanandamayi Math is a world-renowned spiritual, educational, and charitable organization established by the most revered Satguru, Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (also known as Amma).
Amma’s volunteers all over Europe have opened their doors to provide accommodation for the Indian students and send donations for essential aid.