Trinity will hold a raffle tomorrow, Friday, March 11th, to raise money for the Irish Red Cross to aid Ukraine during the war.
Raffle tickets are being sold online for €10 each. The proceeds will be donated to the charity and the winners will be announced at an auction event in Regent House tomorrow evening.
Items from Irish and Ukrainian artists, businesses and individuals will be auctioned at the event. These include paintings, a signed Irish Rugby jersey and a one night stay for two at Cashel Palace Hotel.
Action4Ukraine’s founders Andriy Babiy, Yuriy Kovalchuk and Daryna Kushnir have joined Trinity student Donnacha Binchy to arrange a series of fundraisers for the cause, including this raffle.
In a press release, they said: “Residents of Ukraine have already endured eight years of violence in many regions. Now, the intensification and spread of war throughout the country risks an unimaginable scale of death and destruction.”
“The funds of the auction event will go directly to Red Cross to help the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.”
The Ukrainian Red Cross society has 3,000 volunteers and 550 staff working in 280 local branches and 24 regional branches across Ukraine.
Trinity’s front facade was lit up in the Ukrainian colours last week in solidarity with those affected by what Provost Linda Doyle called a “brutal invasion”.
In an email to staff and students last Wednesday, Doyle and Vice President for Global Engagement Emma Stokes said that some 18 Trinity students are currently in Russia and arrangements are being made for those who wish to leave.
Trinity is taking a “whole-College approach” to assist those affected by the invasion, involving multiple units including Academic Registry, the Student Counselling Service and the Senior Tutor’s Office.
College will also “evaluate our existing partnerships with academic institutions in Russia”.
The email said: “We have no students in Ukraine, but we have students from Ukraine in Trinity who have been experiencing incredible anxiety and distress.”
All students in Trinity who list Ukraine as their nationality were invited to a meeting with the Vice President for Global Engagement, the International Student Experience manager, the President of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) and the Pro Senior Tutor.
“During this meeting we discussed the practical supports they require and we are responding to these needs. The Pro Senior Tutor has, in turn, contacted all College tutors that have students in their chambers from impacted countries. A WhatsApp group has also been created to facilitate daily communication with the students.”
“Our immediate priority has been our students and staff”, it said.
Minister for Higher Education Siman Harris announced this week that Ukrainian students coming to Ireland will be given European fee status and access to grants generally not available to citizens of non-EU countries.
In a video posted to Twitter, Harris said the government will work “with all of [the] universities to make sure their studies can continue”.
Harris also said he would ensure that Ukrainian qualifications would be accepted within the Irish system.
“We will make sure their qualifications and skill sets can align with the Irish system as well”, he said, adding that a “personalised assessment” is being developed for incoming Ukrainians.
