Watching the news of millions of refugees leaving Ukraine...trying to get to safety... while their loved ones go to the front lines, the phrase “We are watching you” came to me. I believe that many of us have those words inside us that need to be spoken, and that the human collective is asking…”What can I do?”
I invite you to get involved in the following ways:
- Make a donation - Please make a recurring donation to give the people of Ukraine a better future. Their needs will be ongoing–for generations. Any amount at all will help, and please note, our initial goal is $5,000,000.
- Share this song - You can also join us in singing this song, use the song to rally your teams, and if you’re musically inclined, consider doing your own version. Just please point your fundraising efforts to this fundraiser page. Thank you in advance!
Being half a world away, it’s easy for us in the US to fall asleep to the Ukrainian reality. I think it’s vitally important that we collectively not forget what’s going on with all those affected.
There are millions of displaced Ukrainians across the world, so please do as many of these things as you can, to look out for these families and especially for the children.
Thank you in advance, and blessings to you all,
Walt Stewart
Wimberley, TX USA
ABOUT THE CHARITY (RAZOMFORUKRAINE.ORG)
I selected RazomForUkraine.org via GoFundMe as the beneficiary of this fundraiser for several reasons:
- Razom has actively supported humanitarian efforts in Ukraine since the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
- Razom is 100% focused on relief efforts for Ukraine.
- Razom has several projects benefitting children, including critical psychological support.
- Razom is a 501c3 in the United States, which means your donation is tax-deductible.
- Razom has an excellent track record as a charity, as shown on www.guidestar.org.
From Razom's mission statement, "We maintain a relentless focus on the needs on the ground to support Ukraine and on opportunities to amplify voices from Ukraine in conversations in the United States."
From RazomForUkraine.org: Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian, is an organization with a singular mission: to build a more prosperous Ukraine. Razom was born out of the Revolution of Dignity in 2014. Following the unprovoked, full-scale attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Razom quickly mobilized an Emergency Response Fund focused on saving lives. Your generous contribution has allowed us to provide critical medical and humanitarian aid, support vulnerable civilians, and amplify the voices of Ukrainians.
MEET THE ORGANIZER: WALT STEWART
My name is Walt Stewart, and I'm a Vietnam-era veteran, songwriter, artist, builder, and guide from Wimberley, Texas, USA...near Austin.
I have worked since the mid-1980’s to guide and heal people through their traumas, including PTSD, through organizations such as ManKind Project, Vets Journey Home, Return With Honor, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Guard, Boys To Men Mentoring, and others.
As a Navy veteran, I’ve seen the ongoing physical, spiritual, and psychological damage that war levels on not only soldiers, but also their families: the wives, mothers, brothers, sisters, and, especially the children.
In early 2022, as we all watched Russia invade Ukraine–again–I was thrown into my own sadness and anger about yet another war.
As an artist, this “stuck energy” became an art quest for me, in the form of a song. I shared this story many times over the last year with my musician and artist friends…and the art quest became the song “We Are Watching You (Stay Strong).”
I wrote the song “We Are Watching You (Stay Strong)” as a way to elevate and sustain support for humanitarian relief for the ongoing war in Ukraine. The song is a voicing of the resonance, to go out and vibrate up against the actuality of what’s going on. It’s a release, and so my message is to simply sing the song and let the words resonate out there.
I think it’s important to let the people know that we see what’s going on—I see you, and I want you to know that you’re not alone. Being half a world away, it’s easy for us in the US to fall asleep to the Ukrainian reality. I think it’s vitally important that we collectively not forget what’s going on with all those affected.
Will you please join me in this effort to make a lasting difference for the people of Ukraine?
Thank you in advance, and blessings to you all,
Walt Stewart
Wimberley, TX
You can find Walt Stewart at:
We Are Watching You (Stay Strong) is available on all major music platforms, and premieres on April 7, 2023.
