As war broke out across Ukraine, Kostya Voropayev put his life on the line to get 37 orphaned children out of a YouthReach International shelter to safety, as well as his own wife and toddler. 

Because so many Ukrainians were trying to flee the Russian invasion, it took Kostya and the kids eight hours to travel 50 miles to the border. After a 12-hour wait at the border, the group continued on a 40-hour trip across Poland to their final destination in western Germany. 

As war rages on, a return to Ukraine remains a distant hope. But Kostya and his team at YouthReach International have dedicated themselves to the next stage of this journey: providing a safe and normal life for the kids in Germany, and healing from the trauma of war and displacement. 

About the Click & Pledge Foundation: The Click & Pledge Foundation is a unique dream that turned into reality in 2017. Our mission is to tell the untold stories of the 20,000 nonprofits worldwide using Click & Pledge fundraising solutions. We combine captivating visuals and heartfelt storytelling to create documentaries that further these amazing causes. The episode above is part of an 11-part series called “Heroes Uncovered,” which profiles inspiring humans who leave an unmistakable mark on their communities and the world. If you would like the Click & Pledge Foundation to consider you for a future story, please get in touch with us at foundation@clickandpledge.org. We can’t wait to meet you.