Themes by tag: volunteers

Kateryna Onishchenko lived in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, after the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, she and her husband immediately started volunteering. Subsequently, the couple founded their own Volunteer Center in Kramatorsk and Hatiko UA charitable foundation, which began to care for disadvantaged people and animals in the east of the country. For more than a year, Kateryna and her husband have been taking care of those who need help: they bring food, clothes and medicines, as well as food and animal cages. Volunteers often delivered humanitarian aid to the hot spots at the front-line, in particular, they went to Avdiivka and Chasiv Yar. They also evacuate four-legged friends and their owners to safe places. 

Important notice: Kateryna Onishchenko is currently in Lviv, ready to communicate with journalists both online and in person. Kateryna’s husband is willing to meet with journalists in Kramatorsk.

• casualties
• volunteers
• Lviv

At the end of July, a temporary shelter was opened in Kharkiv for representatives of low mobility groups and people with disabilities who are being evacuated from frontline communities. They, for example, take care of bedridden people, people in wheelchairs or on crutches. The shelter is designed for 30 people. One can stay there for up to three weeks. But, if necessary, the period of stay can be extended.

For reference: This shelter has been created as a result of a joint initiative of Vostok SOS Charitable Foundation and Volunteer-68 Center for Humanitarian Aid.

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, representatives of “Volunteer-68” have been taking care of people with disabilities and physical disorders. Among other things, volunteers take people out of shelled areas and provide humanitarian aid.

• casualties
• volunteers
• Kharkiv
• evacuation

Hamish came to Ukraine from Australia. It was in the local newspaper that he found out about the volunteers of the “Brave to Rebuild” project, who are helping to restore Ukraine, and decided to join them. The man is a carpenter by profession, so he decided that his skills might prove useful in reconstruction. Hamish volunteers in Kyiv region. Among other things, the man sorts out rubble.

For reference: The “Brave to Rebuild” project aims to help residents of the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. Volunteers are restoring housing and social institutions damaged in russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine.

• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Kyiv

From August 10 to 13, volunteers of the “Brave to Rebuild” project will go on their second trip to restore a school in Lykhachiv, Chernihiv region. The building was damaged in russia’s full-scale invasion. The peculiarity of the educational institution is that it is a mazanka hut from 1923. Volunteers have already rebuilt the walls using the authentic technique. In particular, sand, clay and straw were mixed in a specially prepared container by using their feet. The resulting mix was further processed to reach the right consistency.

The local community is also involved in these works. A carpenter with experience in building mazanka huts oversees the work and trains the volunteers. Among other things, the work ahead includes roof and windows replacement as well as wheelchair ramp installation. Later, invited artists will paint a mural with traditional Ukrainian ornaments on the walls of the school.

• volunteers
• Chernihiv

Vasyl Tsapiuk gained the nickname “Vasyl-Oboronprom” because he had set up the production of a number of useful inventions for Ukrainian defenders. In addition, Vasyl introduced the “blockchain” system – a decentralized production system that works through data recording and transmission systems. This means that the production of devices is not concentrated in one place, which provides additional protection in wartime. Vasyl, together with his team of engineers located in different regions of Ukraine and abroad, creates means for shooting down enemy drones, as well as quadcopters, drone drop systems, tracking devices, heating vests and much more. All this is produced with the help of 3D printers.

• volunteers

The idea for a charity comic book came from American comic book writer Scott Dunbier after the start of russia’s full-scale invasion. He united many comic book artists to make an anthology and transfer the proceeds to Ukrainians who suffered from russian aggression. The first edition of the anthology Comics for Ukraine. Sunflower seeds was released in 2022. Since then, Ukrainian comic book artists have been watching what will happen to the anthology, because they considered it an invaluable collection from the best comic book creators in the world.

In 2023, the publisher of the anthology approached the team of the UA Comix publishing house and suggested translating it into Ukrainian. In Lviv, the project is overseen by Bohdan Kordoba, Founder of UA Comix. The Ukrainian team plans to finish the cover and text translation by the end of this year. All proceeds will go to the benefit of Ukrainians who suffered from the war.

Journalists are welcome to talk to the Ukrainian team working on the comic book. 

• culture
• volunteers

Benjamin is a lawyer from Dusseldorf, Germany. Since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion, the man has been helping Ukrainians. For instance, he sheltered a family from Kyiv in his own house, delivered about 40 tons of aid to Ukrainian cities and villages: for this he had to make 15 trips. Benjamin collects and delivers clothes, medicines, equipment and water purification systems. Voices of Children Charitable Foundation coordinates where this aid is most needed.

Benjamin renovated and equipped a room for children’s study and recreation in a dormitory for displaced persons in Kharkiv. Also, together with Voices of Children, the man is planning to create an art therapy workshop for the children.

Benjamin is currently in Ukraine and is ready to talk to the media.

• casualties
• children
• volunteers

Ivanna Slobodyanyuk worked as a journalist, project author, and TV host for 10 years. During the full-scale invasion, she covered Russian crimes in foreign media outlets and began documenting the war traveling to the East after the loss of her friend. Ivanna decided to make a film in honor of her friend, an aerial reconnaissance man Felix Kurtanych, who died in April 2022, 

The historical-documentary film “Felix” tells the story of a Ukrainian hero and includes references to Ukraine’s way to independence. The film presents key events that make the audience reflect on the price the nation paid for its independence through the centuries and continues to defend it to this day.

The film was funded by Ivanna as a director and supported by donations from the military and compassionate individuals. The entire team worked voluntarily.

The movie will be presented in Lviv on August 10, Ivano-Frankivsk on August 11, Kolomyya on August 12, and in Austria on August 25. The proceeds from the film’s screening will be donated to the needs of the army.

Reference: Felix Kurtanych defended Ukraine in 2014. After two years, he left the service. With the beginning of the full-scale war, he defended Kyiv Oblast and later fought in the East of the country. The young man saved his comrades and was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.

It was he who flew a drone with an ad stating Garage for sale in Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district with the phone number of the former Russian embassy in Ukraine, which intruded into the Reuters’ live broadcast from Kyiv’s Maidan Square on February 16, 2022.

• culture
• dead
• military
• volunteers
• Ivano-Frankivsk
• Lviv

Niels is a firefighter in Germany.  Back in the spring of 2022, he arrived in Kharkiv to help assist. Later, he performed tasks with rescuers in the Donetsk region: he eliminated the consequences of enemy shelling, extinguished fires, and cleared rubble. The rescuer also worked in the Kherson region in the first days after the Kakhovka dam collapse. 

During this time, the volunteer rescuer went home for only a few months.  And recently, he got back to the Kharkiv region again.

• volunteers
• Kharkiv

Twenty-three years old Ryan used to work in the US Navy.  During the full-scale invasion, he decided to come to Ukraine and help people. He joined the Building Ukraine Together volunteers, the Odesa department in particular, where volunteers built the first Military Leadership Center in Ukraine. The man poured concrete and prepared the walls for painting. And now, as part of the Building Ukraine Together camp, he is assisting to equip the space of the Ridne Misto  (‘Hometown’) youth center in the city hall in the Ternopil region. The man says he is impressed by the strength and unity of Ukrainians.

For reference:  Building Ukraine Together is a non-governmental organization that creates opportunities for young people to change the country through volunteering.

• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Ternopil