With her mother, her four-year-old son, and two suitcases, they embarked on a journey to the border that lasted seven days. Alina recalls that "first we went by train, then by car, then by train again... The trains were full of people; there were five people in the space meant for one person. There was no water, queues to go to the toilet... It was horrible and in some places it didn't even stop. People would get on without a ticket just to escape the war."

After stopping in Chelm, Alina and her family, who initially didn't know where to go, reached Warsaw, where a former employer of her mother rented a house for them. Then, "at the embassy a man gave us an envelope containing money for our expenses; moreover, they told us about the Salesian oratory in Warsaw and we found a welcoming place and a great family atmosphere, so we started to participate in all their activities on a daily basis," the young teacher explained.

In fact, since last week, Alina has offered to give dance lessons to the children, many of whom are also Ukrainian refugees, who attend the Salesian oratory: "I was very happy to return to dance and to teach the little ones to dance, and very grateful for the confidence in me," the dancer told Alberto López of "Misiones Salesianas".

Accustomed to traveling and getting to know many countries, Alina now wants to take some time to decide on her future. "My son doesn't know Polish and it's hard for him to adapt, but I have told him the truth: that a bad man attacked our country and that our home is in danger. If the war ends soon, we will go back home because we miss it…but if the war lasts long, we will look for another country to live in, where I can work in my profession and also help the refugees in that country," she concludes.

Alina's determination and courage, as well as the good deeds of the benefactors she met on her way, give back some hope after the news of the massacres that took place on Ukrainian soil.

As do the small or large gestures of solidarity and generosity that continue to take place within the Salesian framework, giving us confidence and trust in the possibility of good. Like, for example, the small contribution offered by the Salesian community of Lufubu, in northern Zambia. The Don Bosco Agricultural Training Centre responded to the appeal for solidarity by selling a cow and donating the proceeds to the cause of Ukrainian refugees. It's probably a small sum, in absolute terms, but, like the widow's offering of evangelical memory, it constitutes a sign of brotherhood of gigantic value.

And on the subject of aid, we should not forget the donations collected and recently sent by the Salesian Mission Office of Canada, and the first solidarity project launched these days for Ukraine by the "Mary Help of Christians" Province based in Hong Kong (CIN).

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