Over the past few months, we have been overwhelmed by your collective response to the crisis in Ukraine. Even small, community-led efforts can have a big impact down the line – and that’s exactly what Surya Swaraj Konijeti has done in her hometown of San Diego, California.

As eight-year-old Surya and her parents watched the news one night in early March, she couldn’t help but notice the scenes from Ukraine, and how children her age were living a frightfully different reality. She wanted to help but took the night to think how she could be most helpful.

The next day, she told her parents she wanted to set up a lemonade stand and give the profits to help efforts on the ground in Ukraine.

“I saw people suffering and I wanted to help get them food, water, blankets, and medical supplies. I wanted more people to stay alive,” she says. 

With her family, she used her creativity to create beautiful and delicious treats like fruit tacos (Surya’s own recipe), fruit skewers, and extra-sweet lemonade. When everything was ready, she hit the pavement and set up her stand, and sign, a few yards from her lawn. With a beaming smile and catchy music, she greeted passers-by and told them what she was up to, and her friends and neighbors showed up to support. In all, she raised $173 in an afternoon.

But it didn’t stop there. The local news picked up her story, and upon learning of her efforts, Surya’s dance teacher Justin Quandt, co-owner of the Fusion Dance Solana Beach studio, decided to join in, matching Surya’s donation. She had doubled her impact. “Generally, the kids look to us to learn,” says Quandt, but this was a powerful example of “life’s big circle. They have so much power, so creative and brilliant, and seeing them take the initiative” makes us realize how adults can and should learn from kids too.

Invited to present to her school about what she’d done, all of her class mates and teachers were able to see her efforts. She hopes she was able to put the thought in her peers’ minds, that even at their young age, they can make a difference.

When we spoke, Surya’s mother, Gauree, couldn’t help but be immensely proud of her daughter. “Both my husband and I are physicians, and the kids know we take care of patients. To see our daughter be of service in her own way, on her own initiative, and inspire others around her, is really amazing – it’s all we could hope for.”

Asked why Surya chose us, Gauree said she was immediately drawn to how Malteser International supports the “basic human needs” of the people of Ukraine with blankets, food, and medicine.

Surya’s efforts are intrepid – but she was certainly not alone in her community fundraising efforts. From Texas, to Maine, California, New Jersey and New York City, we thank the many small businesses, middle schools, and local parishes, who come together to fundraise for our efforts on the ground.

Local solutions are key to tackling global problems – and community-led efforts like Surya’s not only help raise vital funds, they also help raise awareness.

While the humanitarian and refugee crises stemming from the conflict in Ukraine have galvanized many of these small acts of kindness, we hope it will inspire others to continue supporting refugees around the world where Malteser International and its partners continue to serve the most vulnerable.

*If you’d like to start your own community fundraiser, reach out to us and we can provide you with additional resources.