Examples of Direct Aid distribution by Postcode Ukraine. Unlike our grants, here aid items are purchased by PU and distributed by the team.
The Marhanets book project was highly successful for our team. We realised that aid is not just about water, medicine, and food, although these are of course vitally important. To live a full life art and education are also vital.
In Marhanets, most of the literature found in schools and orphanages is in Russian language, brought there alongside propaganda over many decades. We received a request to provide local children with Ukrainian language books.
Yuliia, our charity liaison manager, had managed to purchase such a brilliant array of very high-quality books in Kyiv, ranging from classic literature to illustrated wildlife manuals, that when the children at the local school and orphanage saw what we had brought their eyes literally lit up. Each child was then given the chance to choose two books from the vast selection we put on display for them in their assembly hall.
In December 2023, our dedicated team embarked on a heartwarming journey to the Poltava region, visiting the children's homes in Druzhkivka Village and Runivshyna Village. This initiative was driven by a simple yet profound mission: to bring smiles to the faces of internally displaced children (IDP) and provide them with a day of joy, free from the burdens of war.
Our visit was filled with joy and laughter as we distributed an assortment of toys, puzzles, art supplies, and books to the children. More than just gifts, these were symbols of hope and joy, intended to kindle creativity, inspire dreams, and, most importantly, offer a brief respite from the ongoing full scale war that these young souls have been exposed to.
The impact of our project went beyond the physical donations. For one day, we succeeded in creating an environment where the children could let go of their worries, engage in playful activities, and just enjoy being kids. The smiles we saw and the laughter we heard were testaments to the resilience of the human spirit and the difference compassion can make.
This initiative in the Poltava region is one of many steps we are taking to support and uplift communities affected by conflict. Through these efforts, we aim not only to provide temporary relief but also to remind these children and their families that they are not alone, that there is a world of people who care and are willing to extend their hands in solidarity.
We are immensely grateful to our team and the generous donors who made this project possible. It is through your support that we can continue to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those who need it most.
Together, we can make a world of difference.
The car journey from Kyiv to Kramatorsk is about ten hours long, and it is a trip we have often made with our highly experienced driver, Yuri.
Sometimes, we break up the journey and stay the night in Kharkiv, where I may have meetings, take photographs, or deliver aid.
We had met some of the team at the children’s cultural centre ‘Terykon’ before and were impressed with how sensitively they communicate with and support the children and young people there.
When we suggested visiting them we asked what it is that you most need and their response was art materials. It is always an immense pleasure to deliver art materials.
I decided to interview a couple of the children, with help from our videographer Sofiia, on the subject of trust, and trust in world leaders.
I was really shocked at how easily they spoke of what they had endured. Places like Terykon provide an invaluable service for children in East Ukraine. Quite often schools are closed due to the threat of shelling, and the opportunities to socialise with fellow children is vital. Good quality art materials are really valued here. Mark Neville, Founder Postcode Ukraine.
