Themes by tag: volunteers

The Murashky charity organization officially launched in Kyiv in September 2022, but its story began much earlier. A group of dedicated volunteers came together to support the Armed Forces immediately after russia’s full-scale invasion. Just two weeks later, the newly formed team, dubbed “Murashky” (Little Ants), delivered its first batch of biscuits and dried meat to the front lines. By spring, they had acquired the necessary equipment and established their first production facility.

Today, the team produces and delivers over 30,000 servings of food each month to Ukrainian soldiers. Since its inception, Murashky has produced over 4,000 liters of anti-cold mixtures, more than 230,000 servings of biscuits, and over 360,000 servings of dry meals.

The organization’s workforce consists of 15 to 25 volunteers who dedicate their time daily, often joined by international supporters who pitch in to help the cause.

• food
• volunteers
• Kyiv

On September 22, a new shift of the construction camp organized by the NGO “Building Ukraine Together” began. Volunteers are creating a youth space in the Ladan settlement hromada, Chernihiv oblast.  Many foreigners joined this new shift.

For example, Ayami came to Ukraine from Japan because she believes that Ukrainians have a very strong spirit. Mykola came from Kazakhstan to volunteer. He used to work in IT, but decided to join the camp because he wanted to do something with his own hands, not just donate.

Also volunteering in the Chernihiv oblast are Maurizio, who came from Italy, and Duarte from Portugal.

For reference: The volunteer construction camp is carried out with the support of Razom.

“Building Ukraine Together” is a non-governmental organization that promotes trust and responsibility among Ukrainian youth and encourages their participation in the development of a democratic Ukraine.

• volunteers
• Chernihiv

On September 26, Lviv residents are invited to take part in the 19th Red Brunch Donor Day, an initiative led by the Yanina Sokolova Foundation to gather blood donations for Ukrainian military personnel. 

The event aims to save lives while promoting a culture of responsible donation across the country. 

For reference: Since 2019, the Foundation has been breaking down stereotypes surrounding blood donation by hosting Red Brunches at major offices, hotels, and hubs. These events feature refreshments, networking opportunities, and incentive gifts for participants. To date, 2,887 donors have contributed, helping to save over 9,156 lives.

• volunteers
• Lviv

At the age of 17, Ivan lost the ability to walk due to an accident. However, he did not lose his desire to live a full life. He learned to ride a bicycle, drive a car and started doing charity work in his home village in the Ternopil region. Among other things, he helped renovate the local stadium and put up tourist signs.

When the full-scale invasion began, Ivan focused his efforts on supporting the Ukrainian military. Together with other villagers, Ivan managed to raise about 10 million hryvnia for the needs of the defense forces. The volunteer purchased drones, anti-drone guns, charging stations, vehicles, and many other things needed by the soldiers. Today, Ivan continues his volunteer work, raising funds for FPV drones and a relay station.

• volunteers
• Ternopil

Irena Danysh is an American with Ukrainian roots. She has traveled the world teaching English in various countries. She first visited Ukraine in 2003, and in 2022 she left Seattle and moved to Lviv. Irena says she wasn’t afraid of the war because she had worked extensively with humanitarian organizations and understood that Lviv was quite safe.

The American got a job as a teacher at one of the higher education institutions. She also volunteers at a charity working with young people. Irena says she feels not only American, but also Ukrainian, and plans to continue living in Ukraine.

For reference: You can talk with Irena Danysh online. On November 17, the American will return to Ukraine and will be available for offline meetings.

• volunteers
• women
• Lviv

September building camps organized by the NGO Building Ukraine Together are underway in Ukraine. Volunteers from different parts of the country and the world are helping to strengthen communities.

For example, in one of the communities in the Chernihiv region (located near the de-occupied territories and hosting a large number of people fleeing russian aggression), volunteers are creating a youth space. (Volunteers from the United States, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Italy will join the upcoming shifts).

In the Sumy region, volunteers are setting up a shelter. (Volunteers from the United States, Australia, and Poland will soon be working there. Currently, there is a volunteer from Germany.)

In the Kirovohrad region a museum room is being created. There will be exhibits telling the history of the community and the russian-Ukrainian war. (A volunteer from the United States is also currently working there.)

These volunteer building camps are organized with the support of Razom.

Journalists have the opportunity to cover the activities of the BUT camps by prior arrangement.

For reference: Building Ukraine Together is a public organization that promotes trust and responsibility among Ukrainian youth and encourages their participation in the development of a democratic Ukraine. To achieve this, they work with communities and activists to implement socially important projects.

• volunteers

British students Finley and Charlie have begun a 2,000 km bike tour from London to the Ukrainian border, with a final stop in Chełm, Poland. The duo is riding to raise funds for Voices of Children, a charity supporting Ukrainian children affected by the war. 

Their journey, which started on August 20, is expected to take 20 days. All donations will go directly to the charity.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Finley online for more information.

• children
• volunteers

Mariia Ksondzyk is the daughter of a fallen ATO veteran, she worked as a journalist before the full-scale invasion. Petro Shuklinov also worked in the media in civilian life and was mobilized into the Defense Forces in 2023. When the big war began, Mariia and Petro joined forces to volunteer, focusing primarily on providing vehicles for the military. They select, purchase, transport, repair, and deliver vehicles to the troops – a mission Mariia and Petro continue to this day. In 2023, they founded the Nesemos Fund charity and later opened a donation shop, soon followed by a service station for military vehicles. Every month, Mariia and Petro attract numerous donors and work with various foundations that help cover the cost of vehicle repairs. Currently, the Nesemos Veteran Autohub repairs between 20 and 30 military vehicles each month. The team covers repair costs up to 40,000 UAH, and if the cost exceeds this amount, they seek additional supporters to fund the work of the Autohub. Besides, Mariia and Petro decided to open a civilian vehicle repair shop to get additional funding. The service station also operates as a veterans’ center, focusing on the professional adaptation of veterans, so that they can acquire new skills and a civilian profession. The civilian repair shop is scheduled to open this fall. Looking ahead, Mariia and Petro plan to expand their business by opening new repair stations not only in the capital, but across Ukraine, with veterans at the helm.

• military
• volunteers
• Kyiv

On September 5, a modular house will be unveiled in the Kyiv region, providing a new home for a big family from Kherson who fled the occupation. Dobrobat, a volunteer construction battalion, invites journalists to witness the near-completion of this significant project.

Ms. Olha, a 70-year-old teacher, escaped the war-torn region with her five adopted children. Dobrobat volunteers took on the task of building a new home for them. The family, who lost everything in the conflict, is now preparing to move into the half-installed modular house.

The event will feature both the volunteers and the family, offering a chance to hear their stories and see the completed work. Olha’s husband is seriously ill, and with her brother’s help, she managed to secure land in the Kyiv region where this new chapter begins.

• casualties
• occupation
• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Kyiv

The NGO “Humanitarian Aid Center Volunteer-68” in Kharkiv has a mission that goes beyond ordinary assistance to people with disabilities. The organization focuses on the most vulnerable: people with disabilities who have no close relatives nearby. Representatives of “Volunteer-68” evacuate them from dangerous areas, transport them to state institutions, banks, administrative service centers, etc.

In the “Without Limits” transit shelter, they provide round-the-clock care for evacuees with limited mobility and people with disabilities. In addition, their case managers address critical issues for elderly and disabled people  staying in other temporary shelters in Kharkiv. This includes restoring documents, paying pensions, and organizing care and treatment.

In June 2024, Volunteer-68 opened an inclusive educational space in Kharkiv, where members of low-mobility groups can receive education, including vocational training, which is especially important given the increasing number of people with disabilities due to the war.

The organization has also created a network of activists called “Ambassadors of Inclusion” in three communities of the Kharkiv oblast. They advocate for the interests of people with disabilities and work to improve accessibility.

Journalists have the opportunity to cover the activities of the Volunteer-68 NGO.

For reference: September 6, 2024 will mark two years since the start of the Slobozhansk counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, which led to the near-total liberation of the Kharkiv oblast from the russian occupiers.

• casualties
• volunteers
• Kharkiv
• evacuation