Swiss Aid to Ukraine SA2U

11/01/2024

🌞🏕️ Summer of Hope: Kids' Camp in Truskavets with Ukraine Alive 🏕️🌞

🎉 Celebrating another successful camp season! Thanks to EUR 2,500 raised by SA2U, we were able to support Ukraine Alive in hosting their fourth children's camp in the scenic resort city of Truskavets. This July, we welcomed 126 children, building upon our April initiative's success.

📍 Location: Truskavets, Ukraine

💚 Camp's Mission: Designed for children and teens aged 7-17, many of whom have lost parents or faced severe stress and trauma due to the war, this camp offers more than just fun. It's a sanctuary for healing and growth.

🧑‍🔬📊 Through the Event Impact Scale study, we've witnessed profound transformations. Prior to the camp, only 12% of participants had normal stress levels, with over 25% showing high stress and 3% severe PTSD symptoms. Post-camp? A remarkable shift to 36% within normal stress levels, and almost no severe PTSD cases.

🎨🏞️ Our campers immersed themselves in a world of sculpting, drawing, acting, dancing, and hiking, surrounded by Truskavets' breathtaking landscapes. These activities provide more than just distraction; they foster a sense of security, community, and self-expression.

🙏 Your support makes these life-changing experiences possible for these resilient young souls.

🔗 To learn more and contribute to future camps, visit our website.

20/12/2023

🏞️🌟 Empowering Ukraine's Youth: SviTy Camp in the Carpathians 🌟🏞️

🤗 We're thrilled to share the success of "SviTy" - a beacon of hope and healing for Ukraine's youth. With EUR 5,000 raised by SA2U, we supported Kids of Ukraine in hosting their third recovery and rehabilitation day camp for refugee children.

📍 Location: Dzembronya Village, Carpathian Mountains

💚 About SviTy: Translating to "Shine Bright," SviTy camp is a sanctuary of psychological rehabilitation for 25 internally displaced teens. These youngsters, aged 12-16, have faced the harsh realities of war, losing familiar surroundings and education continuity.

🌱 This week-long retreat immerses participants in a nurturing environment, far from the distress of conflict. Here, they engage in team-based and individual sessions with psychologists, learn English, participate in craft workshops, go on excursions, and enjoy sports. Our goal? To mend their psyches and inspire resilience.

🏞️ Nature's Healing: The serene Carpathian landscape plays its part. The quiet mountains, the absence of sirens, and the soothing sounds of nature offer profound calm and restoration.

🔍 Camp's Impact: Post-camp, these brave hearts join our charity club SviTY in Lviv, Cherkasy, and Khmelnytskyy, which provides a safe space and ongoing support. More club locations are set to open, expanding this network of hope.

💭 Their Mantra: "Everything is fine, I will manage, I can do everything, it’s not scary." This is the empowering mindset we instill in our campers, equipping them to face the world with confidence and courage.

🙌 Your support turns these initiatives into reality. Every contribution helps us extend this lifeline to more children in need.

🔗 For more details and how you can help, visit our website.

03/12/2023

📚🌟 Bringing Joy & Hope to Kherson's Children 🌟📚

🤝 Thanks to the incredible generosity of SA2U's individual donors, we at HopeKeeper Foundation have had the privilege of sparking joy in the lives of Kherson's children. With CHF 1,800 raised, we've been able to provide essential school supplies and support crucial medical needs in the region.

🎒✏️ For the young minds of Kherson, we've distributed school sets including backpacks, pencil cases, pencils, pens, markers, notebooks, and pads of drawing paper. These supplies are not just tools for education; they're symbols of hope and normalcy for 34 children living in a liberated yet regularly shelled area.

🩸🏥 Meanwhile, the Kherson Central Clinic, a beacon of bravery and care, received 5,600 test tubes for blood analyses. This donation is vital for the continued health and well-being of countless patients, cared for by medical professionals who risk everything daily.

🌞💭 Vladimir, Ilona Malytska’s husband and a key figure in our distribution efforts, shared his hope that these new school supplies will bring a ray of sunshine to the children and the community as they step into the new school year.

👉 Your support makes all the difference. Every contribution, big or small, helps us continue our mission in regions like Kherson.

🔗 For more stories and how you can help, visit our website.

21/11/2023

🌍✨ Hope in Action: The Journey of HopeKeeper Foundation in Kherson & Mykolaiv ✨🌍

👫 In the wake of the devastating Kakhovka dam disaster in June 2023, we've witnessed the power of solidarity and resilience. Thanks to the generous support from ASVUC, our team at HopeKeeper Foundation has been able to reach over 5,000 individuals affected by the flooding.

🚰💡 From delivering essentials like sleeping bags, pillows, and nutritious food, to more complex solutions such as 15 motor pumps for water removal and two water pumps for clean drinking water, our journey has been one of hope and dedication. The impact in communities like Snihurivka has been profound - providing clean water to over 3,000 residents in dire need.

❤️💉 In a crucial move, we delivered 5 blood and plasma storage refrigerators to the Kherson Regional Blood Service Center, addressing a critical shortage and ensuring life-saving supplies remain available.

🏠🔌 Our continuous support extends to IDP shelters, alleviating burdens like electricity debts and enhancing living conditions with 100 folding cots for those still unable to return home.

🇺🇦 The spirit of Ukraine is unbreakable. Amidst the rubble and ruins, the Ukrainian flag stands as a symbol of unyielding hope and a brighter future. Our commitment remains strong - to rebuild, to support, and to bring hope where it's needed most.

🙏 A special shoutout to Ilona Malytska, the heart and soul behind HopeKeeper, and her tireless team, including volunteer Konstantin. Your work doesn't just change lives; it saves them.

🔗 For more stories and how you can help, visit our website.

10/11/2023

❄️In preparation for winter, our esteemed project partner, HopeKeeper Foundation, delivered 320 wood panels to Kherson on November 2nd. These will be used as insulation for windows and doors to provide structural support and some additional protection. 🍀

Thank you so much for your tireless dedication and hard work! 🥰

31/10/2023

We're taking our next event on November 29 to a new level ⬆️

Come to TrustSquare at Paradeplatz to exchange and directly engage with selected Ukrainian associations 🍀

Special Theme:
The event will explore the transformative impact that future generations can have on both Ukraine and Switzerland. We invite you to join us in envisioning and contributing to a brighter, more resilient future for both nations.

Event details:

Thursday, 29.11.2023 at 18:30
TrustSquare, Poststrasse 7, 8001 Zürich

What Sets This Event Apart:
- Interactive discussions with project leaders from Ukraine 🗣️
- Varies opportunities for impactful support 🙌
- As always, you will be treated with sounds and a taste from Ukraine 🤩

More details about the program will be revealed in the upcoming days.

26/09/2023

We are honored to share the accomplishments of our first financial year at SA2U, presented during our annual members' meeting on June 5, 2023. Thanks to the incredible support from our donors, we've had a remarkable impact:

🔹 Raised approx. CHF 340,000 in just 9 months
🔹 Financed 22 transports of humanitarian aid directly from Zurich to Ukraine, costing around CHF 120,000
🔹 Allocated CHF 160,000 to crucial projects aiding Ukrainians
🔹 Closed the year with CHF 38,563 in funds, which were promptly utilized in Q1 2023 for more direct financing projects.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our donors, partners, and volunteers. Your dedication in 2022 has been invaluable! 🍀 As we continue our efforts in 2023, we welcome and are grateful for any further contributions to our causes.

12/09/2023

We're incredibly excited to share some uplifting news! Swiss Aid To Ukraine has made another donation of €2,500 to Ukraine Alive 2022.

This contribution aims to support their invaluable summer kids' rehabilitation camps. These camps offer a safe space for children to heal, grow, and enjoy a slice of childhood amid challenging circumstances.

By collaborating with Ukraine Alive, we're taking a stand for hope and progress, aiming to bring smiles to the faces of children who need it most.

This is more than a donation; it serves to bring a brighter, more hopeful future for kids in need.

Together, we're making a difference—one summer, one child, one smile at a time.

27/07/2023

🌟 Gratitude and Hope in Action! 🌟

We are thrilled to announce that together, we have raised CHF 1,706.40 through the Kherson fundraiser! 🙌🏼❤️ Thanks to the incredible generosity of all the kind-hearted souls who donated, we were able to make a significant impact in the lives of those in need.

🤝 The funds have been donated to the Hopekeeper Foundation, a remarkable organization working tirelessly to provide urgently needed aid in Kherson. With this contribution, we are supporting their mission to bring hope and assistance to the communities facing challenging times.

💕 We couldn't have achieved this without each one of you! Your compassion and support truly make a difference, and together, we are changing lives for the better.

05/07/2023

We are happy to announce that Swiss Aid to Ukraine (SA2U) is launching a new fundraising campaign aimed at supporting the future generations of Ukraine! ❤️

In cooperation with our partners and volunteers on the ground, for the rest of 2023 we will focus on a number of initiatives in support of Ukrainian kids, in particular orphans of war and children living near the front lines. We aim to support projects like rehabilitation camps for kids who have lost one or both parents because of the war, witnessed violence and require support in reintegrating back to normal life; medical and mental health initiatives; and other projects to support and strengthen the future generations of Ukraine.

If you would like to support the children of Ukraine on their way of physical and mental recovery, please donate any amount using one of the options on our website (link in bio).

Our fundraising campaign will culminate in a kids-focused event in Zurich in late fall 2023 – stay tuned! 🙌🏻

11/06/2023

08/06/2023

URGENT FUNDRAISING CALL

On June 6, the Kakhovka dam in Kherson region was destroyed, causing a mass destruction of more than 80 cities and villages. Thousands of people lost their homes and were forced to leave the area with nothing on them. This is one of the biggest tragedies that Europe has seen in the recent years.

We are announcing an urgent fundraising campaign to help affected people of the Kherson region. Please help us to raise funds to source the following desperately needed aid:

🥫 Long-lasting food items like canned food and pasta
💧 Essential water supplies including drinking water, water filters, and disinfection tablets
🛌 Comfort and warmth items like blankets and pillows to provide some relief during the night
🩹 Basic first aid supplies for immediate healthcare needs
⛽ Fuel to facilitate transportation and other essential services

Please donate by TWINT, bank transfer of PayPal here: https://sa2u.org/donation/

We are focusing on providing sustainable assistance that will help rebuild and recover communities. We work closely with our team on the ground and local partners to make sure that all resources are utilised effectively.

Every donation counts and can make an enormous difference. Thank you for your support!

Photos:

19/05/2023

We are pleased to shared that SA2U used part of a generous grant from the Ingeborg Gross Foundation to help finance Camp for Kids, a 1-week camp for children struggling with psychological challenges, hosted for the third time by Ukraine Alive. 121 children took part in the camp in the Ukrainian resort city Truskavets, Lviv region.

Aid Partner Ukraine Alive was especially pleased to accommodate 121 children in its third camp initiative, surpassing their initial goal of having 100 campers. The camp is specially designed to work with children and teenagers who have lost parents or have experienced significant stress and trauma. Of the 121 participants, ranging in age from 7 to 17 years old, 93 children had tragically lost their parents, while 28 had experienced the complete destruction of their homes and now live in modular towns.

The camp’s program incorporated art therapy, children’s theater, and specialized techniques to process traumatic memories, examine flashbacks, and work with sound, visual, and kinetic memories. An evening entertainment program helped foster a sense of connection among the children, allowing them to work through any aggression and rebuild their sense of security. The children also took part in daily excursions to picturesque locations within the mountains.

If you would like tp learn more or interested in how you can support our future projects, please visit our website via a link in the bio.

13/05/2023

Thanks to support of the Association for the Support of Victims of the Ukraine Conflict (ASVUC), as a part of our “Gift of Warmth” campaign we helped the Ukrainian NGO Nasha Peremoga to purchase a generator and fuel for 50 residents and 30 staff members of a home for the elderly and disabled in the village of Peremoha, Kyiv Oblast.

The village of Peremoha was under occupation from February 28th to March 13th 2022. After de-occupation, the state allocated a small generator to the home, which, however, could not keep up with all the electricity needs of the home, such as cooking, refrigeration, and washing. “The decent life conditions of our wards depend on electricity,” explained charity founder Iryna Lutai. The purchase of a new, powerful generator ensures that residents and staff no longer have to dread or suffer through blackouts. The new generator also allows the home to re-launch its “Meals on Wheels” program for seniors in the region who are living in their own homes.

If you would like to learn how you can support our future projects, please the link in the bio.

11/05/2023

We continue to share our results of the “Gift of Warmth” winter aid campaign. Thanks to our Aid Partner Ukraine Alive, SA2U helped finance the purchase of generators for three public hospitals in the Chernihiv and Kharkiv regions: Communal Non-Profit Enterprise Snovska Central District Hospital, State Institution Territorial Medical Association of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, and Regional Clinical Specialized Dispensary for Radiation Protection of the Population.

All generators were connected to respective power grids and tested in the presence of the hospital acceptance committees and volunteers on the ground from Ukraine Alive. Each generator guarantees a supply of 1000 motor hours.

These three institutions were identified as those most urgently in need and prioritized by Aid Partner Ukraine Alive. Thanks to our support, hospitals could continue their work and help people, despite of constant electricity outages across the country.

If you would like to learn how you can support us, please use the link in the bio.

08/05/2023

Due to constant electricity shortages, last winter was one of the most difficult times for many Ukrainians. Ceaseless rocket attacks affect the power grid of Slavuta and the Khmelnytskyi region with catastrophic consequences for the city hospital. Blackouts of the city endanger the lives and health of everyone in the medical facility. In the absence of electricity, it is impossible to perform examinations or tests, or connect equipment for X-rays, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, and further laboratory analysis. Therefore, SA2U together with Kviten Association supported the Slavuta City Hospital through the purchase of generators to ensure that both excellent medical care can continue.

Furthermore, the remaining funds were used to support the Gymnasium (High School) No. 5 in Slavuta. During power outages, the staff and 562 students were left without light, heat, hot water, internet access, and hot lunches. The school has a bomb shelter, which, however, does not function without electricity. Thanks to the generator, the staff and students will have some of the basic comforts they require and the bomb shelter will always be in working condition, ready to provide protection when needed.

“Help with generators which became possible thanks to our long-standing partners Kviten Association and Swiss Aid to Ukraine will make it possible to ensure the continuity of the process of medical care, as well as the continuous educational process.” – shared our beneficiaries.

If you would like to learn on how you can support us and future projects, please check the link in the bio.

# donations

04/05/2023

Thanks to your contributions, we were able to provide these and much more to people across Ukraine this winter. SA2U’s “Gift of Warmth” campaign raised almost CHF 120,000 for much-needed winter aid from generous individual and institutional donors.

The “Gift of Warmth” campaign was an online fundraising effort aimed at helping Ukrainians survive an extremely cold and difficult winter season. The campaign culminated in the Ukrainian Cultural Charity Evening event on January 18, 2023 at Fame Gallery in Zurich. The “Gift of Warmth” campaign was an online fundraising effort aimed at helping Ukrainians survive an extremely cold and difficult winter season. The campaign culminated in the Ukrainian Cultural Charity Evening event on January 18, 2023 at Fame Gallery in Zurich.

The funds were used to purchase generators, heaters. power stations, and other urgent winter aid for hospitals and clinics, a school, a home for the elderly, and families in need in various regions of Ukraine, in particular in the hard-hit region of Bakhmut.

If you would like to learn more about our projects, please check the link in the bio.

02/05/2023

As a part of our recent “Gift of Warmth” campaign, SA2U supported initiative for winter aid to support Ukrainian electrical company TOLK’s “Do bright things!” campaign.

TOLK’s campaign seeks donations to pay off the electricity bills of families in need so that they can continue to have power and light, not worry about outstanding payments, and use their money for necessities like food and medicine. Donors are encouraged to select one or more specific amounts from those displayed on TOLK’s website. Each amount corresponds directly to a family’s current electricity bill.

We were able to pay the outstanding electricity bills and give light and peace of mind to 180 families.

If you would like to learn more about the campaign and how could you help, please check our website via a link in the bio.