Kiwi chef Peter Gordon and the Ukrainian Association of New Zealand have partnered with UNICEF Aotearoa to launch the #CookForUkraineNZ campaign. Kiwis are encouraged to get in the kitchen and cook up a shared lunch, dinner party or bake sale to raise funds that will provide lifesaving assistance to children in Ukraine.
Kicking off at Gordon’s Homeland restaurant with members of the Ukrainian Association of New Zealand, donors cooked up a shared lunch while Ukrainian members shared special family recipes.
“It’s heartbreaking hearing that children are dying and suffering because of the war. I want to support this campaign because we continue to see innocent children suffer the most from the impacts of this conflict,” says Gordon.
“Their lives have been uprooted in every way possible. With no end to the war in sight, children must be supported with lifesaving supplies and assistance as the demand for it grows. This campaign is a really simple way of how Kiwis can help.”
Since the conflict in Ukraine began just over a year ago, 7.8 million children have been impacted and over 1200 children have been killed or injured. UNICEF have helped supply clean water, education and healthcare to people in Ukraine caught up in the conflict.
Tetyana Tymoshenko fled the war with her two children mid last year, finding a home in Aotearoa. “There is a real strength in coming together to raise awareness around what is happening in Ukraine and how we can save children’s lives. When I was living in the war, my children and I always needed warm clothes and I know this campaign will help continue to deliver warm clothing to children in Ukraine. New Zealanders have already been so generous, and I hope the support continues.”
UNICEF Aotearoa’s #CookForUkraine campaign will run for six weeks. To participate, sign up via cook-for-ukraine.unicef.org.nz.