To Ukraine, with love: My Kyiv booking
Given the headlines, suffice to say I was concerned – no, make that alarmed – when I saw a recent social media post from a good friend: “Booked four nights Airbnb in Kyiv.”
Wait, what?!
Yes, she’s a seasoned world traveler and a smart lady. But a war zone? If you’re not a conflict journalist or soldier, bad idea.
Before reacting, I did a little Googling. Turns out, “false” bookings are the latest, fastest way to get aid money directly into local hands in war-torn Kyiv.
National Public Radio reported nearly $2 million has already been raised that way, with more major news outlets confirming the practice. In many cases, refugees and the newly homeless are staying rent-free in Airbnb-listed homes.
My research confirmed it’s not a scam.
What a novel idea. So many people worldwide want to help average people when a sovereign nation is invaded unprovoked. Hate feeling helpless, but don’t know what can be done.
So I followed her lead: I booked (choosing a place that hadn’t had a booking since the troops moved in, looking for someone who hadn’t been helped yet), then messaged the host to let them know I’m not coming, just making a donation. Airbnb is doing their part, and publicly announced they’re waiving all their fees for Kyiv bookings. This I also confirmed with my own booking.
If you think about it, this is a genius idea. “Donating” this way cuts out all middlemen and costs, getting cash into local hands.
Most businesses are closed, so incomes are cut off. Residences and other buildings are coming down or in the way of flying bullets. Food is already a problem, as are medical needs… the list just grows.
Cash in hand also helps shore up a crashing economy, a point which we Americans tend to take very seriously.
Unlike hotel experiences, a nice thing about Airbnb and similar apps is easy communication with the owners. When I notified my Ukrainian host that I wasn’t coming, I got a nice (translated) message back:
“Thank you so much for your support and help during this challenging time.
We left for Poland a few days ago and are currently actively helping our guests (they currently live here for free) and our maid, neighbors and acquaintances who stayed in Kyiv and need help in this difficult time.”
Our daughter in law booked a different one, and got this response from a host who also lived in the apartment:
“Thank you so much for your support. It’s really important to us that the world is supporting us in such a terrible time and we are very grateful. We pray that one day Kyiv will become peaceful and safe for traveling again, so then you can really visit us and enjoy our beautiful city.”
Another Coeur d’Alene friend got this from her “host:”
“I am very grateful for your help, now new friends from different countries support us in word and deed. It’s incredible! God bless you and bring peace to all. With love, from Kharkov Ukraine.”
My cousin pointed out some may take advantage and keep what they don’t need. Undoubtedly, some will. There are good and not-so-good humans everywhere. But if we let the minority in ethics stop us from helping one another, there wouldn’t be much point, would there? The risk of kindness is always worth the vibrations of good it generates, and kindness is its own reward.
And without boots on the ground, this is a way to help with a lot more impact than sporting blue and yellow.
No, green is better.
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Sholeh Patrick is a columnist with the Hagadone News Network who wonders how many real bookings Kyiv will get when all this is over, hopefully soon. [email protected].