Reflections of a Volunteer in War-Torn Ukraine

Jennifer Gouge & Janice Brookshire

I never hoped to make it to a war zone. As a traveler, this was not my ‘trip of a lifetime’ dream. But it became

a necessity.

My name is Jennifer Gouge, and I have lived most of my life in Seattle, Washington. Over the past twenty years, I've divided my life between Seattle and Europe, and now, in retirement, France has become my second home. Traveling and living abroad have given me the perspective of a true global citizen. I care deeply about my country—the United States of America—but I also care just as deeply about what’s happening to “our neighbors, the other 96% of the people in our world,” as my former boss, Rick Steves, so aptly put it.

In the midst of all the chaos and emotional upheaval today—both in the U.S. and around the world—I, like many of you, have felt an overwhelming need to take action. To do something.

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After much thought, I made a conscious choice—to devote my energy to one purpose: standing with Ukraine and defending the survival of democracy.

Back in April, I flew to Romania, traveled through Moldova and entered Ukraine. I spent more than three weeks working alongside my friend Peter, who has dedicated nearly half of the past three years in Ukraine, delivering humanitarian aid and evacuating civilians and critical infrastructure.

I went to witness the situation on the ground firsthand, and to understand the impact Peter and his partners are making. It was a profoundly moving experience. Despite living in a war-torn country and facing unimaginable loss, the people I’ve met have shown extraordinary resilience, strength, and a deep commitment to supporting each other and rebuilding—not just their own lives, but their communities as well.

I returned committed to the work that Peter has begun by helping him in founding Impact Partners Ukraine. By going, by experiencing, and by sharing, I hope to offer a deeper understanding of what’s truly at stake—not just for Ukraine, but for all of us. For Ukraine, it is the destruction of its independence, its democracy, and the attempted erasure of its unique culture—its language, religions, and history - and the obliteration of peoples’ lives. But the threat doesn’t stop at its borders. Allowing Russia to continue its territorial expansion, the consequences could reshape the world order as we know it. This is much more than Ukraine. And, this war is nonpartisan.

And yet, all of this is so easily drowned out by the turmoil and distractions of our own world—especially in the United States, where many of us are facing deep emotional distress and political division. I’m here to give voice to Ukraine in the midst of that noise—to speak to the human experience, while reminding us what’s being fought for, and what’s truly at risk of being lost. I’d love to have you follow along as I share my stories, insights, and personal perspectives while I continue to process my Ukrainian experience.

Jennifer

Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦