L: What’s your name and what do you do?
S: My name is Seneca Bowers and I am a medical interpreter for a non-profit. I go to appointments with people and help the Spanish-speaking immigrants in my community with finding the assets that they need to survive.
L: Could you tell me about your journey into Convoy for Ukraine? What prompted you to join and what kind of goal are you seeking to achieve here?
S: There’s a family that moved really close to my house from Ukraine after the full scale invasion, and they’ve been a huge inspiration for me ever since I met them. I met them initially because I was going to teach them English, but then they became my best friends. I go over to their house almost every week and their kids are like my nephews and we’re just really, really close. Their work ethic has been so inspiring to me, and just seeing how they’ve adapted and how they want to serve others where I live. I felt like I wanted to do something to be able to support them, because Ukraine’s lost a lot of media attention in the US and I wanted to help make people aware of it.
L: Why did you choose Convoy for Ukraine specifically?
S: I was just looking for a way to get involved and as soon as I found Convoy for Ukraine everything felt right and fit into place. They have everything so well prepared and answered any concerns that I had about going to another country or going along by myself without knowing people. They made everything feel very safe and like you were able to be empowered to do something more important with a group of people that also cared.
L: This is your first convoy. What would you say was the biggest surprise so far? What didn’t you expect?
S: I think the camaraderie between everyone. It’s a group of people who all have the same passion and they want to make a difference in the same area. However, they’re also able to have fun and we’re able to form relationships because we care so passionately about the same things.
L: What would you say has been the highlight of the trip?
S: I think there’s been a lot of anticipation building throughout the week and we all know that our purpose is something that’s so important and so serious and everyone takes it very seriously. I think we’re able to have fun but then when the serious moments happen you have these friends around you that care about the same thing. You’re all experiencing those moments of grief and camaraderie and empowerment together and it feels so powerful when you’re with those other people that you’ve met along the way.
L: What is your first impression of Ukraine? How do you feel being here?
S: It’s beautiful. The people have been lovely, the churches are gorgeous. That was definitely my first impression. So much of it seems like normal life is carrying on in so many ways and then you see little reminders of these aspects that remind you that there is a war going on and that everyone around you is affected. I think it’s something so serious when every single person that you’re looking at around you has been affected in some way.
L: What is one thing that you would say to a future volunteer or someone who’s thinking of joining Convoy for Ukraine but is not sure yet?
S: Just sign up. You’ll absolutely not regret it. They’ll take care of all of the important things so that you can just come along, and anything you have to offer is useful. You don’t have to think that you’re useful because you will find a way to be useful.
L: Thank you so much.