A jeweller has been crafting sunflower earrings to gift to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.
David Willmot, 57, who lives in Sidcup, decided to make the earrings after becoming frustrated with the war in Ukraine and began considering ways he could help.
David told the News Shopper: “I just wanted to put something in someone’s hands that is a little bit precious, to provide a sense of hope.
“They are having to leave everything, and everything that has not been bombed or burnt has been stolen.”
He thought that because it was mostly women that were becoming refugees as the men had to stay back and fight, it would be nice to give them a small gift that would be a reminder of their home country.
The sunflower is Ukraine’s national flower and has been reclaimed as a hope symbol during the war, so David decided that this emblem was perfect.
He has been making jewellery for around seven years and now owns a small online business called Eisig.
His friend, Robyn, helps David by laser cutting the jewellery and he describes her as an "absolute star".
David used to be a teacher and started making jewellery as a hobby to keep him busy when he retired early due to ill health.
One of the women coordinating supplies to be sent to Ukraine took some of David’s earrings to the border each in a box with a small card.
The note contained within each box reads: “Dear Sister, “I would ask that you accept this small gift as a token of hope and endurance.
“I pray that God will bless you in these dark days and in the words of Romans 15 “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had”
“I hope that this will bring you some measure of joy, even in these difficult times.”
On David’s website, people can donate £5 for a pair of earrings to be made and sent to the Ukrainian border or to refugees who have fled elsewhere.
People are also able to purchase the sunflower earrings for themselves via a different link.
A few weeks ago, David was at St Johns Church in Sidcup where people were providing support to refugees from Ukraine.
He said: “There was one lady, who you can tell arrived that morning, she looked absolutely exhausted.
“The first thing she did was muck in and start sorting the aid to go out to other Ukrainian refugees.”
He said he was fortunate to have some of the sunflower earrings on him to hand out to the refugees and volunteers at the church.
“There were a lot of tears shed and a lot of joy,” David explained The following day one of the volunteers who was assisting with the supplies at the church wore the earrings to her workplace.
David said that a man approached her and asked her why she looked upset, and she explained that she was Ukrainian and worried about her brother.
He pointed out the earrings and asked about them, he then bought ten pairs for his own team and sponsored another 40 to be gifted to refugees.
David now has sponsors for over 200 of the sunflower earrings to be made for those fleeing the war.
He is considering making some cufflinks in blue and yellow to represent the Ukrainian flag, which would be sold as a fundraising scheme.
“I just wanted to remind them that they are not forgotten, and we care for them,” he said.
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