This month, we were able to see our planning, coordination, volunteer efforts and partner support come together as over 30,000 items, meals, and crisis aid supplies went to people forced to flee their homes across Ukraine, Lebanon and the Netherlands.
We were so proud to see everything and everyone unite as we reconfirmed our belief that together we can make a difference. Find out how your help went into action this month:
- 20,000 essential supplies distributed across Ukraine’s war zones
- 2,100 warm meals distributed to displaced people in Lebanon
- Empowering shelters in Lebanon with gas cookers
- Halfway through our winter tour with 10,000 pieces of winter clothing collected!
- 30 girls in Duivendrecht teach us about strength and resilience
- Building confidence one game at a time with BasicFit, COA and Stichting Life Goals
- World Freedom Day: Encouraging students to reflect on freedom
Looking forward:
- A special visit from Sinterklaas to children in Dronten
- Our winter tour grows with more requests and more heroes stepping up
20,000 essential supplies distributed across Ukraine’s war zones
In a time of global uncertainty, People for People is stepping up to ensure continued support in delivering essential supplies to displaced people and hospitals in Ukraine’s war zones.
With one of the worst winters descending fast upon them in this third year of war, and limited power capacity and hospital services, during September and October, we filled two trucks with warm clothing, boots, hats and other essential items to be distributed to displaced people in the regions of Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkhiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Mykolaiv.
This month, both trucks arrived in Ukraine bringing 20,000 relief items in total! Every donation, every hour of effort, and every helping hand makes a difference, bringing hope and relief to those in need. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far and all the amazing volunteers who helped us sort, pack and load at the warehouse!
Check out this video of our partner LifeLine Ukraine receiving and shipping the supplies:
2,100 warm meals distributed to displaced people in Lebanon
Since September 23rd, a crisis has unfolded in Lebanon with 889,725 people now internally displaced within the country. People for People cannot stand by as so many families struggle to survive. We are now working with local partners on the ground who are helping meet immediate needs and planning for longer-term solutions.
This month, one of our local partners distributed 2,100 warm meals to families sheltering at Edward Daoud School in Ghadir and Kfour Public School in the Mount Lebanon region.
Much more help is needed as winter sets in, with food distribution remaining a top priority. People for People is working with various trusted local partners on the ground to meet immediate needs and to plan for longer-term solutions as the crisis deepens.
With your continued support, we can expand our efforts to reach more families in need and bring immediate relief to even more people in Lebanon.
Empowering shelters in Lebanon with gas cookers
Thanks to your generous support, gas cookers, gas cylinders and food packages have been delivered to public schools sheltering displaced families in the Metn, Kesrouan, and Beirut regions.
This vital donation empowers shelters to transition from relying solely on meal deliveries to preparing food onsite—an important step toward providing sustainable, longer-term support for these families.
“People were forced to flee to makeshift shelters in public schools and other buildings. Many don’t have onsite cooking facilities and, coupled with electricity shortages, this makes them reliant on local restaurants to prepare and deliver meals three times a day, which is both expensive and not sustainable in the long-term,” says Sandra Klat, founder of Bassma, which has been providing social development support to families in Lebanon for over 20 years.
But the work isn’t done yet. Many shelters across these regions still urgently need our help!
Halfway through our winter tour with 10,000 pieces of winter clothing collected!
Thanks to 125 volunteers, 8 warehouse packing days and evenings, 12 AZC’s, and roughly 497 kilometers traveled, we’ve delivered 674 winter coats, 652 shoes, 650 gloves, 196 blankets, and more to 979 children. And this is just the beginning.
This impact wouldn’t be possible without YOU—our volunteers, partners, and supporters who’ve donated their time and resources.
When we discovered the urgent need facing children in AZCs across the Netherlands, we were overwhelmed by the scale of this problem. Especially when we learned that many children couldn’t attend school simply because they lacked winter jackets for the journey. The thought of these children being left in the cold left us no choice but to take immediate action.
Within hours, we mobilized to collect 10,000 winter items for over 30 locations across the country. What began as a call for help became a powerful collective effort, showing how much can be achieved when we come together in a heartbeat to support those in need.
Since then, with help from Picnic Technologies, bunq, Merkle Nederland, Usespace, Young Impact and our incredible volunteers have packed and delivered these essential goods.
On the road, we’ve heard powerful stories. In one place, children couldn’t go to school without the winter coats and gloves we delivered. In another, broken heaters made our blankets their only warmth.
With 12 more locations to reach by mid-December, we’re determined to ensure every child has the winter protection they need.
This journey wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our partners and volunteers. And we still need your help! Whether you’re an individual or a company, there are many ways to get involved. Reach out to learn more!
Together, we’re making a world of difference—one coat, one blanket, one child at a time. Let’s keep going!
30 girls in Duivendrecht teach us about strength and resilience
For 30 young girls who recently arrived at the Duivendrecht reception center, a bicycle means so much more than getting from one place to another. For them, it’s freedom, hope, and a brave new start. Coming from Syria, Somalia, and Eritrea, they’ve overcome immense challenges to be here—and they are determined to make the most of every opportunity.
As Cem Efe, who works at the reception center, shares, “They want to go to school and they take it very seriously. I see them doing homework during breaks and even on weekends.” But for most, they started with little: no backpacks, no supplies—just a dream.
Thanks to our generous partners, we’ve been able to provide essentials for their classrooms and beyond. “All 30 girls here want to give back to the community. But they already feel that they’re not wanted,” Efe says, with a simple message: “Just give these girls a chance.”
Their resilience is a reminder of what’s possible. With every step—and every fall—they get back up, finding strength in each other and in this new place they’re beginning to call home.
👉 Read the full blog to see how People for People and our partners are supporting these girls as they navigate their new lives.
Building confidence one game at a time with BasicFit, COA and Stichting Life Goals
At People for People, we believe that sports have the power to transform lives—and we’re seeing that firsthand in this new sports program for young adult asylum seekers. The COA and Stichting Life Goals are helping vulnerable young people find confidence, resilience, and community through the universal language of sports. 🏀⚽
When they asked us for help securing equipment for the program, we turned to Basic Fit. Thanks to their generous contribution, participants are discovering a safe space to rebuild both their physical and mental strength. Coaches and counselors are fostering personal connections, and for many, this program has become a stepping stone toward a brighter future.
As COA project manager Jeroen van Beekveld says: “They become stronger mentally, smile more, and begin to communicate with ease.” It’s moments like these that remind us of the immense potential of sports to heal and inspire.
“We are proud to participate in the programme and support the growth and evolution of this fantastic initiative. At Basic-Fit, we are dedicated to providing everyone, especially young people, with the opportunity to be physically fit and mentally strong. Sport is a powerful tool for improving mood, reducing stress, and boosting self-confidence. By making fitness accessible to these youngsters, we aim to inspire them to care for both their bodies and minds, fostering fitter communities and enhancing the well-being of our planet and society,” says Erica van Vonderen-Hahn, CCO of Basic-Fit.
A huge thank you to our partner Basic-Fit for helping us break down barriers and offer hope to this amazing group of young people! 💪💛
Check out the full story here.
World Freedom Day: Encouraging students to reflect on freedom
World Freedom Day is a call for each of us to reflect on the concept of freedom—its impact on our lives and society as a whole. 🕊️✨The People for People team, in collaboration with Young Impact, visited students at Koning Willem I College in Veghel, who are studying to work with children as daycare and primary school teachers in the future. The visit aimed to foster empathy and social awareness, which will support the students’ growth as compassionate and understanding professionals. 👩🏫👨🏫
We were joined by Filmon Tesfalem, one of our People for People volunteers, translator, and asylum seeker in the Netherlands, who shared his personal story. For Filmon and so many others around the world, freedom isn’t just a concept; it’s a dream worth pursuing across long and dangerous journeys. His story opened the students’ eyes to the reality that freedom is not guaranteed for all—and that there are those who continue to struggle for this basic human right. ✊🌍
Inspired by Filmon’s story, the students wrote heartfelt cards filled with encouragement and support for unaccompanied minors we meet at our Rolling Aid Events. 💌These messages were a powerful gesture of solidarity with kids their own age who have endured immense hardships on their journey to reach a free society. ✨
As Filmon shared, “Seeing students writing colorful, thoughtful messages to encourage others they’ve never met was truly inspiring. Some even wrote to me, encouraging me to continue sharing stories and motivating others.” ❤️
One of the students shared that, “Hearing Filmon’s story made me think about how lucky I am to have the freedom to study what I want. I never thought that writing a card could make such a difference in someone’s life, but now I see how even a few kind words can really help. It reminded me how powerful empathy can be.”
World Freedom Day was introduced to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall and encourage people to reflect on what freedom really means. While concrete walls may have come down, invisible walls still separate millions from the freedom they deserve. On this WorldFreedomDay, let’s remember that freedom is precious and that we all have a role to play in breaking down these barriers.
Looking forward:
- A special visit from Sinterklaas to children in Dronten
As part of People for People’s winter tour—our mission to ensure 1,600 kids across the Netherlands have the warm winter clothing they need—we’re hosting a Sinterklaas edition of our Rolling Aid Event in Dronten including a visit from Sinterklaas, volunteer Pietjes, gifts, sports, activities, and more!
- Our Winter Tour grows with more requests and more heroes stepping up
We’re so proud to see the progress we’ve made together on our Winter Tour Campaign. But it’s far from over. As we close in on the targets we set out to reach, we’ve received both more requests for winter clothing from AZCs and more generous donations. We’ve therefore decided to expand our campaign so we can provide warmth to every child who needs our help. Join us as we make sure every call is answered.
