Themes by tag: volunteers

Dobrobat volunteers are helping to restore a destroyed school in Romny, Sumy region. They are currently clearing the rubble and repairing the roof of the workshop.

Four people: the school director, her deputy, a secretary, and a librarian died, the school building was destroyed, and the nearby facilities were vandalized as a result of a Russian drone hitting the educational institution on August 23. 

For reference, as of July 2023, according to the Ministry of Education, 180 schools were completely destroyed, and more than 1,300 educational institutions were damaged as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

“Dobrobat” is a volunteer construction division that helps victims in the urgent restoration of housing and social infrastructure in the de-occupied territories.

• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• volunteers
• Sumy

Marta Klok started volunteering back in 2021. At that time, the girl worked with a charity initiative that supported lonely blind Ukrainians. This year, Marta took up the task of rescuing animals that remained in the front-line zone. Together with the team of “Zhmut Shchastia” (bundle of happiness) charitable foundation, the girl is evacuating animals from the east to Lviv. The team tries to get new families to adopt these animals while transporting them, and those that need medical attention are taken to veterinarians. The foundation functions exclusively through benefactors’ contributions.

Marta is currently in Lviv, ready to communicate with journalists online and offline. By prior agreement, journalists are welcome to cover the evacuation process.

• animals
• volunteers
• Lviv

In Chernihiv region, an international construction camp for the reconstruction of housing destroyed as a result of russian aggression has started working. It was launched by the organization Repair Together, which is known for its community clean-up events. The project will last three months (until October 10 this year). During this time, there are plans to build at least 9 houses on the site of destroyed buildings.

Eoin, a professional construction worker from Ireland, is one of the many foreign volunteers who joined this camp. The man became the chief foreman, and he helps with reconstruction. There are also volunteers from France, Israel, Finland, Peru, Spain, Lithuania, Germany, Romania, Italy, U.S., Belarus, Poland and Austria.

For reference: Repair Together is an organization that involves volunteers in restoring destroyed villages. Volunteers have already rebuilt 7 completely destroyed houses, repaired another 20 and coordinated the repairs and restoration of 49 buildings.

• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Chernihiv

On August 20, Kyiv will host the presentation of the “Brave Cyclers” project and the official opening of the bicycle workshop. During the presentation, volunteers, including foreigners, will hold a bicycle repair master class for everyone.

In general, in this workshop volunteers repair bicycles provided by benefactors from Amsterdam. Later, these bikes will be sent to people in the de-occupied territories.

For reference: the “Brave Cyclists” initiative is implemented by volunteers of the “Brave to Rebuild” project.

• casualties
• volunteers
• Kyiv

Volunteers of the Rapid Response Units are among the first to arrive at the scene of emergencies. They evacuate people with limited mobility from under fire and provide humanitarian aid to those remaining in the hot spots. The meeting on August 18 will bring together 90 volunteers from emergency response teams from across the country. In addition, to experience exchange, the meeting will include mine safety training programs conducted by the State Emergency Service and chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear threats from international partners. Volunteers will also practice one of the emergency scenarios.

Kyiv to venue transfer is organized for journalists.

For reference: Since the beginning of the all-out invasion, rapid response volunteer units have evacuated more than 309 thousand people from the war zone.

• casualties
• volunteers
• evacuation

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