ISU grad details his time volunteering in Poland after the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war

NORMAL, Ill. – In the summer of 2022, Jeffrey Walsh, a graduate student at Illinois State University, found himself thousands of miles from home, standing amid a crisis that would change how he viewed the world.  

In Warsaw, Poland, just three months after the Russia- Ukraine war began, Walsh was there to offer his help. He volunteered with organizations such as UNICEF and the Polish Red Cross to assist the growing number of Ukrainian refugees pouring into the country.   

What began as a requirement for his professional practice quickly became a journey that would change his life. This journey would challenge his understanding of the world. As Walsh looks back on his time in Poland, marking the recent third anniversary of the Russia- Ukraine war, he reflects on the experience that shaped him and reinforced his commitment to humanitarian service.  

Growing up with Polish roots and being surrounded by Ukrainian- Americans, Walsh felt a strong connection with the people he met. Yet, what he encountered in Warsaw was nothing like he had anticipated.  

“I thought I’d see people panicking, running in every direction,” Walsh shared. “But that wasn’t the case. I saw resilience, strength, and an unwavering spirit in the face of unimaginable hardship.”

When Walsh arrived in Poland, there were already about 3 million Ukrainian refugees there. Today, there are about 9 million Ukrainian refugees that have fled to Poland. 

Despite the overall sense of displacement, there was a sense of community. One of Walsh’s memories is of how the Ukrainians spoke of their country, particularly the symbolism of their national flag.  

“The blue represents the endless sky, and the yellow symbolizes a field of sunflowers under the sun,” one refugee explained to him.  

This was not Walsh’s first experience volunteering. He had previously worked with the Peace Corps and the United Nations, but his time in Poland was different.  

“I’m a lifelong volunteer and serviceman at heart.” 

Reflecting on the ongoing war, Walsh believes that Europe needs to deepen its involvement for the conflict to subside. As he looks back on his time in Warsaw, one thing remains clear to him: the human capacity for hope and determination, even in the darkest of times, is something that no war can erase.