– Sales of hats and knitting packages in Norway provide good experiences for war-weary Ukrainian children. When Christmas is over, the charity Shapka expects to have reached a turnover of six million kroner since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. All profits go to Caritas their relief work.   

It's absolutely fantastic to be able to use your voice in a different way, to give a little back, because you're in a very privileged situation yourself.

Shapka means hat in Ukrainian. It was a home-knitted cashmere hat that fashion profile Darja Barannik received as a gift from Gry Berg, who started it all. – It was the most beautiful hat I had ever had. I told her that you need to do something more with this hat, says Barannik.

Needed help
Then the regime in Moscow suddenly went to full-scale war against its peaceful neighbor on February 24, 2022. Russia had started what would become the biggest war in Europe since World War II. For the next few weeks, social media and TV news were filled with images of terrified Ukrainians fleeing the country, or huddled in their basements to shelter from Russian missiles and bombs. Here in Norway, people also felt a growing sense of insecurity. Darja, who has family in both Russia and Ukraine, went to Paris Fashion Week shortly afterwards to report to the nearly three hundred thousand who follow her on Instagram. Suddenly, the job felt meaningless and she was overwhelmed by the urge to help.

– I had a tearful phone call from Paris to Gry and that's when we came up with the idea of selling hats to raise money for the war refugees, she says.

At first, Shapka collected money for Ukrainian children who came to Norway. They bought woolen underwear for the children, so they could face the winter in Norway without freezing, and financed various family activities, which gave them experiences outside the asylum reception centers. The first Christmas, they sponsored, in collaboration with Hotell Sommerro, a Christmas party with the distribution of Christmas gifts, which Caritas organized together with Diakonova College. There were creative workshops, picnics and trips to the Tusenfryd amusement park outside Oslo.

Being traumatized by the war
Now the support goes to various projects inside Ukraine. Almost three years of war have left their mark on the entire Ukrainian population. Children are particularly vulnerable to the long-term effects of war trauma. This winter could be the harshest in Ukraine's recent history. Much of the power supply has been knocked out by Russian attacks and food shortages threaten.

Caritas centers across Ukraine provide psychosocial support to children affected by the war. The programs include conversations, theater, cooking, life skills classes, etc. and aim to provide a form of stability in an otherwise insecure life. Shapka supports one of these centers. In addition, they contribute to other enjoyable activities for children, such as the annual football tournament that Caritas organized this summer. While Darja Barannik uses her Instagram profile and her network to promote the hats, it is Gry Berg and Cathrine Simensen who, in addition to their regular jobs, are responsible for the ongoing operation of Shapka. All activities are based on volunteer work.

Free knitting for the kids
Gry Berg says that it has been demanding, but that since the beginning they have been met with a fantastic volunteer spirit.
– Everyone we have asked has agreed to contribute. We have around 100 people who knit for us for free all over Norway. They spend eleven to 15 hours on each hat, she says.

She also mentions the stores that sell the hats without receiving any of the profits. Influencers who have used their platform to advertise the hats without getting paid, graphic designers who have helped them with the websites and others who have offered their expertise, such as accountants, lawyers, etc.

– The fact that we have been able to give donors such concrete feedback about what their contributions are used for, I believe is the reason for the great commitment we are experiencing. It makes people feel more connected to the projects, says Cathrine Simensen.

– And the hat is hugely popular. The yarn is of the best quality. At the same time, it is a hat that even those who have not knitted much before can knit, she adds.

Meaningful to contribute
Barannik thinks combining fashion and charity is a great idea.
– I love my job and would never trade it for anything else. But I work in an industry that can feel very superficial, and what I do can be perceived as narcissistic in many ways. It is therefore absolutely fantastic to be able to use your voice in a different way; to give a little back, because you are in a very privileged situation yourself. It is probably something more people could think of with the profits you have, that you could give a percentage of what you earn to charity. Many people already do it, but you could probably get better at it, says Darja Barannik

You can buy hats from Shapka here