Thousands of black and brown students fleeing the conflict in Ukraine have been led to safety by a worldwide network of volunteers. They are using social media and messaging apps to share information to help them cross borders.

This network isn’t being run by any governments, NGOs or aid missions, it is organised by regular people who have witnessed ethnic minorities being threatened by military, pushed off trains and segregated at borders.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, the UN says more than one point five million refugees have escaped from the country, but many are still trapped. Foreign students, some as young as 15 who may have spent their family’s life savings on their education, have been left stranded as they lack the means and know-how to seek safety.