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AFUR American Fund for Ukrainian Reconstruction, 2776 E. Main Street, Columbus, OH (2026)

03/14/2024

Rebuilding Ukraine, Now and Later: Procurement Workshop
March 14, 2024

American Fund for Ukrainian Reconstruction (AFUR) joined webinar, 'Rebuilding Ukraine, Now and Later: Procurement Workshop', featuring insights from The US Government Commercial Officers embedded at leading international financial institutions (IFIs) including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the World Bank, and the UNDP. This exclusive event is tailored for U.S. companies interested in gaining insights on effectively bidding for tenders in support of Ukraine's reconstruction efforts and other opportunities worldwide. We discovered first-hand best practices, valuable strategies, and expert guidance.

Commercial Officers and IFI representatives guided the participants through the ins and outs of bidding on global procurement opportunities offered by the EBRD, UNDP, and the World Bank, with additional attention given to Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction.

03/11/2024

In one of the most competitive races in years, "20 Days in Mariupol" won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature last night.

In accepting the best documentary award for "20 Days in Mariupol" Director Mstyslav Chernov's speech was stunningly emotional.

"I wish to be able to exchange this for Russia never attacking Ukraine, never occupying our cities," Chernov said, speaking deliberately and clutching his Oscar statuette. "I wish to give all the recognition to Russia not killing tens of thousands of my fellow Ukrainians. I wish for them to release all the hostages, all the soldiers who are protecting the land, all the civilians who are now in their jails. But I cannot change the history, I cannot change the past."

Chernov ended his speech by switching to his native language, uttering his nation’s salute, “Slava Ukraini,” which means “Glory to Ukraine.”

We will remind you that "20 Days in Mariupol" is the first film in the history of Ukraine to win an Oscar. The tape talks about the first weeks of fighting in Mariupol, Donetsk region, during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Director and photographer Mstyslav Chernov, photographer Yevhen Maloletka and producer and journalist Vasylyna Stepanenko worked on the film. They became the last journalists to cover the beginning of Russia's destruction of Mariupol — for which all three won the Pulitzer Prize.

Also, in 2024, they were awarded the Shevchenko Prize for a series of journalistic materials about the siege of Mariupol, in particular for the film "20 Days in Mariupol".

The film also won the Best Documentary Award at the British BAFTA Film Awards, and director Mstyslav Chernov won the Directors Guild of America Award.

WE ARE PROUD OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE!

03/08/2024

"Ukrainian TRACES” in Cannes

The exhibition: "Ukrainian Traces" has been opened in Cannes, as a part of the International Festival of Contemporary Art "TRACE" and with the support of the American Found of Ukrainian Reconstruction (AFUR)

Iryna Fedorenko SEMIRA - artist, organizer, curator of the Festival and AFUR director for international relations says:
"Two years have passed like a moment. For each of us, this time is a huge scar, a mark that will remain forever. We were scattered all over the world, but each of us is doing our job in our place and bringing our Victory closer step by step.
The “TRACE” Art Festival has been taking place for several years now, with the first exhibitions taking place in Ukraine and the last one in Munich, Germany. Over a hundred artists from different countries have taken part in the Festival. The Festival's exhibitions have become the most interesting projects during the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence and among the cultural events on the eve of 2022.
Everyone dreams of leaving their own traces as a reminder of their achievements, and artists do it in a surprisingly vivid way.

This project aims to improve the image of Ukraine and the recognition and popularization of Ukrainian art and culture, and to discover new names. Event mission is 💛💙, 20% of all proceeds will be donated to the AFUR charity fund for ongoing projects.

This time, the International Festival of Contemporary Art "TRACE" turned into a real celebration, in which the art exhibition became not just a static background, but rather an active participant. The format of the exhibition changed from action to action, we used not only light but also shadow, breaking the canons on the way to creating something new, in search of our own path.

Over the 12 years of its existence, the Franco-Ukrainian Association "Ideas Without Borders" has evolved from a cultural and educational association into a powerful international mechanism for rescuing and helping its countrymen! In addition to the Paris branch, a branch was founded in Cannes, as this city is the second cultural capital: it is here that world-famous festivals take place, and it is here that stars from all over the world fly to the Cannes red carpet every May.
The Franco-Ukrainian Association is grateful to the volunteers of the association who immediately responded to the request for help to organize an art exhibition, as well as the American Found of Ukrainian Reconstruction (AFUR) and the Mayor of Cannes-Mr.David Lisnar for their support and assistant.

03/06/2024

Yesterday, AFUR participated in the virtual summit, organized by U.S.-Ukraine Foundation. With four panels of fabulous experts discussing topics from “Ukraine in NATO Secures Global Security,” to “Victory for the People of Ukraine – What is needed?” to "Justice for Ukraine – Accountability for War Crimes,” to “Reconstruction & Rebuilding" (reparation, assets, closing sanctions loopholes) and now two prominent members of our Friends of Ukraine Network (FOUN) who participated in the virtual summit have been published in Newsweek attempting to educate the naïve – or worse – junior senator from Ohio.
Debra Cagan and Ambassador John Herbst dispassionately dissect one of J.D. Vance’s ongoing and ill-advised arguments against American support for Ukraine. Hopefully, the senator will read and learn, and one must hope others who have adopted ill-advised reasons to oppose support for Ukraine will also learn and change their opinions and votes.

02/24/2024

24.02.2022

730 days of full-scale Russian invasion and 10 years of war against Ukraine.

Eternal glory to every hero that gave theirs's life for the Freedom of Ukraine,
low bow and respect to the defenders.

Glory to Ukraine!
Forever independent and always free.

02/15/2024

THE ANNUAL WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM TOOK PLACE IN DAVOS, SWITZERLAND

For a few days, a small ski resort turns into a center for making the main world political and economic decisions, the Ukrainian situation remains the main agenda.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Swiss non-governmental organization best known for organizing the annual meetings in Davos. Top business and political leaders, prominent thinkers and journalists are invited to the meeting. The subject of discussion is the most acute world problems.

During the forum, American Fund for Ukrainian Reconstruction (AFUR) Director of International Relations – Iryna Fedorenko held important meetings. The preliminary agreements were reached on the signing of Cooperation Agreements with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Office of the President of Ukraine, as well as new connections with possible future partners from business representatives. Iryna spoke about the importance of humanitarian and social projects that AFUR is currently working on, and about the power of cultural diplomacy.

There is still a lot of work ahead, and we hope for the further development of the agreements made.

02/15/2024

REAL EXPERIENCE OF DELIVERING AID TO UKRAINE FROM A FORMER BRITISH ARMY CAPTAIN AND THE MEMBER OF AFUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A former British Army Captain has described the “sobering” experience of delivering essential supplies and vehicles to Ukraine to support casualty evacuation efforts during the Russian invasion.

Last week, islander James Baker delivered a Landrover to a vehicle workshop in Lviv as part of his third convey with the ‘Driving Ukraine’ initiative. The initiative was set up last March by 22-year-old Flynn Watt from Oxfordshire. Since its launch, Driving Ukraine has delivered 81 vehicles to the war-torn country – including ex-ambulances, helicopter-evacuation team vehicles, 4×4 evacuation vehicles, and first aid responder vehicles which are now stationed on the eastern and southern frontlines of Ukraine.

Driving Ukraine founder, Mr Watt said: “The situation in Ukraine is very difficult, now more than ever as we are entering the winter. That’s why I appreciated the help of James from Jersey so much, and the rest of the team of 19 volunteers who helped to deliver the recent convoys of nine vehicles. In the east, there is a war that is constantly raging. It is awful. Lives are being lost every day. In the west of the country, people try to live as best as they can, but this life is constantly pieced by air-raid and the fear of rockets.”

Explaining his decision to get involved with the initiative, Jerseyman Mr Baker said: “I felt like I had had something to offer with 10 years of experience in the military.”

He described the situation in Ukraine as “horrific”, adding: “There are thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians living through unimaginable horrors in sub-zero temperatures and without any functioning infrastructure. Earlier this year, I was introduced to an incredible network of volunteers on the ground and humbled by the stories I was told by the soldiers, the medical teams and the families whose lives have been torn apart by the invasion.”

The ex-police pickup truck that Mr Baker initially set out in broke down halfway into the three-day journey – but he was able to collect another Driving Ukraine vehicle from Poland. All nine vehicles in the convey were delivered successfully and are being prepared for service in the workshop.

Describing what it was like on the ground, Mr Baker said: “The impact of being immersed in a country at war with Russia was profound. It is a sobering reflection. However, the resolution of the country and its people is inspirational and unrelenting. And their gratitude for our support is humbling.”

Mr Baker funded his trip to Ukraine himself after his fundraising page was frozen. He has since set up a new page and would be grateful for donations for sourcing, preparing and delivering the vehicles as well as other humanitarian and medical supplies.

02/15/2024

ASSISTANCE FOR PROJECT FINANCING HAS COME FROM THE VATICAN

Kandinsky: “The Bauhaus Album Rediscovered” now in Portugal! This exhibition, presenting 15 original works by Wassily Kandinsky (one of the most important artists of the 20th century), will take place in the exhibition hall of Torre dos Clérigos from November 21, 2023 to March 17, 2024 and will occupy a unique place in the cultural life of Portugal.

It is probably no coincidence that the first large exhibition of Wassily Kandinsky’s sketches, which turned into one of his most famous works, “On White II”, was held at the Kyiv National Art Gallery in 2021. The life and development of Kandinsky as an artist is inextricably linked with the Ukrainian city of Odesa. Kandinsky’s father Wassily Silvestrovich, a capable businessman who settled in Odesa and began to manage a tea-packing factory there when his son was 5 years old, did a lot to ensure that his son’s creative inclinations developed freely. He not only sent his son to the newly opened 3rd gymnasium, but also began to teach him music, like any Odesa child from a decent family, this is the way it was – and at the same time piano and cello.This seemed not enough, and he was also given classes with a private drawing teacher. Already in his child’s drawings, there were very unusual color combinations, which he explained by the fact that “each color lives its own mysterious life”. “I remember that drawing and a little later painting pulled me out of the conditions of reality,” he wrote later.

It is also unforgettable that the spiritual leadership of the historical complex of Clerigos, operating under the direct patronage of the Vatican, not only organized an exhibition of the brilliant artist, whose fate is inextricably linked to Ukraine, but also generously donated funds to the American Fund of Ukrainian Reconstruction; which is working on two projects for the reconstruction of temporary housing buildings for refugees from Mariupol.

02/15/2024

COOPERATION AFUR WITH THE WENDE MUSEUM (LOS ANGELES, CA)

The Wende Museum located in Los Angeles, California www.wendemuseum.org has been organizing the exhibition Captives and Nomads: Creating Space in East and West, highlights communities in the East and the West that largely remain out of the public eye, either by choice or by design. It focuses specifically on nomads, those who live outside of mainstream society, and captives, those who are forcibly detained.

The exhibition is supported by the Andy Warhol Foundation and will be on view from November 11, 2023 to April 7, 2024.

Captives and Nomads will include arts from K Gallery’s art collection and artifacts created during the Cold War period and beyond under capitalist and socialist regimes: by prisoners in gulags, prisons, immigrant detention centers, and mental institutions; by wandering Soviet hippies, Roma and Sinti communities, and the unhoused in Los Angeles; and by migrant workers and illegal immigrants.

The Wende Museum will be kindly donating some funds to the American Fund for Ukrainian Reconstruction.

Source: https://kgalleryarts.com/News/Captives-and-Nomads-in-the-the-Wende-Museum-Los-Angeles-California

02/15/2024

AFUR PARTICIPATES IN THE RESTORATION OF TEMPORARY RESIDENCE DORMITORIES FOR REFUGEES FROM MARIUPOL.

AFUR participates in the restoration of temporary residence dormitories for refugees from Mariupol.

During the meeting of the Deputy Mayor of city of Mariupol Serhiy Zakharov with the famous Mariupol artist, public figure and representative of the AFUR Charitable Fund Iryna Fedorenko, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the AFUR Charitable Fund and the Mariupol City Council was signed.

“As part of the cooperation agreement between AFUR and the Administration of city of Mariupol, right now AFUR is finishing development of project sketches for dormitories with the purpose of housing refugees from Mariupol. Design is being worked on pro bono by a team of American and Ukrainian architects who understand the importance and necessity of this project. Results of this work will be presented to Mariupol Administration as part of annual observance of City Day. Afterwards our team will move on to the next stage of implementation of these projects.” – report says.
Iryna Fedorenko noted that AFUR (American Fund for Ukrainian Reconstruction) was founded with the purpose of helping restore Ukrainian schools, hospitals, civilian housing and other facilities damaged during the war.

“Our Fund, with headquarters in Columbus, Ohio was granted non-profit status 501 (c)(3) by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) as an organization that provides help during disasters. Location of headquarters in Columbus, Ohio isn’t an accident, as here in the neighboring state, resides the largest Ukrainian diaspora in the USA which dates back to the 19th century.
Our goal is to determine the most essential reconstruction projects in regions affected by war and to raise the necessary funds for completion of as many projects as possible: housing for refugees, reconstruction, designing and construction, participation in creation of general plans for restoration of cities. AFUR consists of professionals who volunteer their time. We work with charity organizations, state institutions, and non-governmental organizations on choosing appropriate projects, providing needed direction, and financing. We are also interested in forging new partnerships and engaging new volunteers”- highlighted Iryna Fedorenko.

As a reminder, the first dormitory for refugees was opened in Dnipro. Right now, second one is undergoing construction there.

Source: https://www.0629.com.ua/news/3668736/amerikanskij-blagodijnij-fond-rozroblae-proekt-rekonstrukcii-dvoh-gurtozitkiv-dla-mariupolskih-pereselenciv-foto

02/15/2024

American Fund for Ukrainian Reconstruction is proud to announce the news about Mr. James Baker, our Board Director from England.

Early this year with his own money he bought a Land Rover Discovery SUV and drove it through the war zone to Ukraine to donate it to a helicopter unit that need it.
“I was introduced to an incredible network of volunteers on the ground and humbled by the stories I was told by the soldiers, the medical teams, and the families whose lives have been torn apart by the invasion.
We learn a bit by the news broadcasts at home, but the impact of being immersed in a country at war with Russia was profound and the overwhelming gratitude of the people we helped was very powerful.” Mr. Baker said.
Now he is raising money to buy another vehicle and drive it to Ukraine around 24th of November.

AFUR American Fund for Ukrainian Reconstruction

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