We help thousands of Ukrainians, but raiders are trying to cut off our oxygen – Vice President of the All-Ukrainian Charitable Foundation “Peace and Kindness”
Ukraine is a country of volunteers.Until 2014, few people thought about it.It was difficult and time-consuming to raise funds for humanitarian or social projects.But everything changed with the war.By uniting in 2014, Ukrainians showed the world how strong the home front can be.And with the outbreak of full-scale aggression, they proved that our people cannot be defeated.Over the past year, the people’s money has been used to buy satellites, bayraktars, repair tanks, equip new units from scratch and do many other amazing things.
So today we are going to talk about the realities and problems of volunteer work with Oleksandr Tsverkovych, Vice President of the All-Ukrainian Charitable Foundation “Peace and Kindness”.
Mr. Olexandr, your foundation has been in existence for over 10 years, so please tell us how it all started.What prompted its creation?
Olexander Tsverkovich: The desire to help. In the past, it was done on an ad hoc basis, when someone told me about a family that needed help or saw a billboard about fundraising, etc. But over time, I realised that it could be done systematically and on a larger scale. And then, together with like-minded friends, we founded the All-Ukrainian Charitable Foundation, which is now called the Peace and Kindness Foundation.
Vice-President of the All-Ukrainian Charitable Foundation “Peace and Kindness” Olexander Tsverkovich
How did the foundation’s activities transform in 2014 and in 2022, after Russia’s full-scale invasion began?
Olexander Tsverkovich: In 2014, we directly helped volunteer battalions, especially those defending Mariupol. We paid more attention and assistance to sick children and orphanages, supported low-income families, took care of the elderly, and financed the development of social and sports projects. With the outbreak of a full-scale war, we reformatted. And in 2022, we opened new areas of assistance: the restoration of schools, kindergartens, and cultural centres that were damaged or destroyed as a result of Russian aggression. We began to focus more on IDP families and orphans.
Cottage town for displaced persons “Peace and Kindness 1”, visualisation from the Foundation’s website
We have planned and already purchased a land plot and made a project to build an entire town for people who have lost their homes. It was supposed to be a mega-project. However, it is currently on hold.
In 2022, we focused our resources and capabilities on helping those affected by the occupiers’ actions. In the first 100 days, together with our partners, we fed tens of thousands of people in Kyiv and the region every day. Over the first 150 days since the start of the war, our volunteers have delivered and distributed more than 100,000 food parcels, each parcel containing 10-15 kilograms of the most essential food and an additional 7,000 tonnes of food and medicine. We have also delivered and provided people with many sets of hygiene and household chemicals.
Distribution of humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons, Boryspil
We delivered the aid directly to the places where the hostilities were taking place – Bucha, Borodyanka, Gostomel, Makariv, parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and Kherson regions. For example, in the Mykolaiv region, when they had a water crisis, we took whole lorries of water there and distributed it to people.
We have close cooperation with the Juvenile Police. Together we help children.
How do you determine the recipients of the aid?
Olexander Tsverkovich: In different ways. In February-March 2022, everything was so dynamic that we didn’t even have time to sit and keep track of who needed what, everything was done and transferred as quickly as possible and on trust. But we mostly receive applications through social media and the website. We have certain criteria and an algorithm to determine whether the applicant really needs such help. If it is confirmed and if possible, we cover the need. We also have established contacts with local authorities in different regions. They also send us requests that we cover.
Were military needs met?
Oleksandr Tsverkovych: Of course, although we were mainly engaged in humanitarian and social activities, over time we started receiving requests from the military. In total, we managed to transfer 30 cars, 5 evacuation buses, a large number of helmets, body armour, rangefinders, drones, thermal imagers, etc. to the Armed Forces. We also helped with vehicle repairs and spare parts.
Assistance to the defence forces
Sometimes we helped other foundations by knowing where to buy equipment for the military and how to deliver it quickly, and therefore organised the purchase and logistics. We did a lot, not all of it was publicised, and we didn’t intend to, but we did a lot of it in cooperation with other foundations.
What funds does the fund use?
Olexander Tsverkovich: The foundation is our own funds. This means the founders of the foundation, partners and friends. Some of it is donations from philanthropists. There have been donations of 20 thousand dollars and 10 hryvnias.
Can you tell us more about the project to build a town for people who have lost their homes?
Oleksandr Tsverkovych: Due to Russian aggression, many Ukrainians have finally lost their homes. They simply have nowhere to return to. That’s why we, together with our partners, wanted to help at least some of these people. We designed the construction of a cottage community for 144 houses (450 people) near Kyiv. This is a very cool project with mini-football and basketball courts, a coworking space, infrastructure, a first-aid post, and a shop. All the miscalculations have been made for this construction, a project has been prepared, and a land plot has been purchased. In terms of investment, these are not sky-high figures. In my opinion, if we succeed in implementing it, it will serve as an example for other philanthropists who have the desire and means to help people. Moreover, we have plans for the second town. The scale is bigger there – construction on 50 hectares for 20,000 people. But we are still standing.
Why were the projects suspended?
Oleksandr Tsverkovych: This is an unpleasant part of the conversation for me. Because some people help by investing their souls, strength and money, while others try to profit from it. This is what happened to us. One of our warehouses in Kyiv, where we store a large amount of humanitarian aid, was seized and partially looted. For several months now, our representatives have not been allowed inside by the titushky. Only once, together with the police, did we manage to get into the building. And we saw that a lot of medical equipment that we were preparing to transfer to hospitals had been stolen, many food products intended for people from the de-occupied territories had spoiled, we have special equipment and uniforms for the State Emergency Service and sappers in the warehouses, which we cannot transfer either. In total, we have millions of hryvnias worth of humanitarian aid, including that donated by foreign benefactors who simply refuse to understand our explanations that we cannot get into our own warehouses and deliver such essential items during the war. For them, this is beyond adequate understanding.
So, unfortunately, we are forced to spend all our energy and resources fighting raiders who have influence and patrons in the government. They simply want to shamefully profit from humanitarian aid. That is why some of the Foundation’s activities cannot be implemented at the moment.
Did you ask the police for help?
Olexander Tsverkovich: Yes, we used all legal levers. We have repeatedly called the police, applied to the State Bureau of Investigation and the courts. But now it has all come down to delaying the process and the irresponsible silence of law enforcement and regulatory authorities. Meanwhile, tonnes of food that should have been delivered to 15-20,000 Ukrainians are spoiling in warehouses, and about 30 hospitals continue to wait for months for the equipment they need, not to mention the military and rescuers.
So today we can only rely on the power of publicity, in fact, on you, the journalists.
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We help thousands of Ukrainians, but raiders are trying to cut off our oxygen – Vice President of the All-Ukrainian Charitable Foundation “Peace and Kindness”
Source.: prm.ua
So today we are going to talk about the realities and problems of volunteer work with Oleksandr Tsverkovych, Vice President of the All-Ukrainian Charitable Foundation “Peace and Kindness”.
Mr. Olexandr, your foundation has been in existence for over 10 years, so please tell us how it all started. What prompted its creation?
Olexander Tsverkovich: The desire to help. In the past, it was done on an ad hoc basis, when someone told me about a family that needed help or saw a billboard about fundraising, etc. But over time, I realised that it could be done systematically and on a larger scale. And then, together with like-minded friends, we founded the All-Ukrainian Charitable Foundation, which is now called the Peace and Kindness Foundation.
How did the foundation’s activities transform in 2014 and in 2022, after Russia’s full-scale invasion began?
Olexander Tsverkovich: In 2014, we directly helped volunteer battalions, especially those defending Mariupol. We paid more attention and assistance to sick children and orphanages, supported low-income families, took care of the elderly, and financed the development of social and sports projects. With the outbreak of a full-scale war, we reformatted. And in 2022, we opened new areas of assistance: the restoration of schools, kindergartens, and cultural centres that were damaged or destroyed as a result of Russian aggression. We began to focus more on IDP families and orphans.
We have planned and already purchased a land plot and made a project to build an entire town for people who have lost their homes. It was supposed to be a mega-project. However, it is currently on hold.
In 2022, we focused our resources and capabilities on helping those affected by the occupiers’ actions. In the first 100 days, together with our partners, we fed tens of thousands of people in Kyiv and the region every day. Over the first 150 days since the start of the war, our volunteers have delivered and distributed more than 100,000 food parcels, each parcel containing 10-15 kilograms of the most essential food and an additional 7,000 tonnes of food and medicine. We have also delivered and provided people with many sets of hygiene and household chemicals.
We delivered the aid directly to the places where the hostilities were taking place – Bucha, Borodyanka, Gostomel, Makariv, parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and Kherson regions. For example, in the Mykolaiv region, when they had a water crisis, we took whole lorries of water there and distributed it to people.
We have close cooperation with the Juvenile Police. Together we help children.
How do you determine the recipients of the aid?
Olexander Tsverkovich: In different ways. In February-March 2022, everything was so dynamic that we didn’t even have time to sit and keep track of who needed what, everything was done and transferred as quickly as possible and on trust. But we mostly receive applications through social media and the website. We have certain criteria and an algorithm to determine whether the applicant really needs such help. If it is confirmed and if possible, we cover the need. We also have established contacts with local authorities in different regions. They also send us requests that we cover.
Were military needs met?
Oleksandr Tsverkovych: Of course, although we were mainly engaged in humanitarian and social activities, over time we started receiving requests from the military. In total, we managed to transfer 30 cars, 5 evacuation buses, a large number of helmets, body armour, rangefinders, drones, thermal imagers, etc. to the Armed Forces. We also helped with vehicle repairs and spare parts.
Sometimes we helped other foundations by knowing where to buy equipment for the military and how to deliver it quickly, and therefore organised the purchase and logistics. We did a lot, not all of it was publicised, and we didn’t intend to, but we did a lot of it in cooperation with other foundations.
What funds does the fund use?
Olexander Tsverkovich: The foundation is our own funds. This means the founders of the foundation, partners and friends. Some of it is donations from philanthropists. There have been donations of 20 thousand dollars and 10 hryvnias.
Can you tell us more about the project to build a town for people who have lost their homes?
Oleksandr Tsverkovych: Due to Russian aggression, many Ukrainians have finally lost their homes. They simply have nowhere to return to. That’s why we, together with our partners, wanted to help at least some of these people. We designed the construction of a cottage community for 144 houses (450 people) near Kyiv. This is a very cool project with mini-football and basketball courts, a coworking space, infrastructure, a first-aid post, and a shop. All the miscalculations have been made for this construction, a project has been prepared, and a land plot has been purchased. In terms of investment, these are not sky-high figures. In my opinion, if we succeed in implementing it, it will serve as an example for other philanthropists who have the desire and means to help people. Moreover, we have plans for the second town. The scale is bigger there – construction on 50 hectares for 20,000 people. But we are still standing.
Why were the projects suspended?
Oleksandr Tsverkovych: This is an unpleasant part of the conversation for me. Because some people help by investing their souls, strength and money, while others try to profit from it. This is what happened to us. One of our warehouses in Kyiv, where we store a large amount of humanitarian aid, was seized and partially looted. For several months now, our representatives have not been allowed inside by the titushky. Only once, together with the police, did we manage to get into the building. And we saw that a lot of medical equipment that we were preparing to transfer to hospitals had been stolen, many food products intended for people from the de-occupied territories had spoiled, we have special equipment and uniforms for the State Emergency Service and sappers in the warehouses, which we cannot transfer either. In total, we have millions of hryvnias worth of humanitarian aid, including that donated by foreign benefactors who simply refuse to understand our explanations that we cannot get into our own warehouses and deliver such essential items during the war. For them, this is beyond adequate understanding.
So, unfortunately, we are forced to spend all our energy and resources fighting raiders who have influence and patrons in the government. They simply want to shamefully profit from humanitarian aid. That is why some of the Foundation’s activities cannot be implemented at the moment.
Did you ask the police for help?
Olexander Tsverkovich: Yes, we used all legal levers. We have repeatedly called the police, applied to the State Bureau of Investigation and the courts. But now it has all come down to delaying the process and the irresponsible silence of law enforcement and regulatory authorities. Meanwhile, tonnes of food that should have been delivered to 15-20,000 Ukrainians are spoiling in warehouses, and about 30 hospitals continue to wait for months for the equipment they need, not to mention the military and rescuers.
So today we can only rely on the power of publicity, in fact, on you, the journalists.