LIFE AND WAR GO ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS MEANS THAT WE HAVE TWICE AS MUCH WORK TO DO

For three years, the Charitable Organization «Charity Fund «Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya» has been part of a large humanitarian movement that unites the efforts of civil society institutions in Ukraine and abroad, international foundations, government agencies, and communities of like-minded people who are overcoming the consequences of the great war together. This year, in March, the Committee celebrates its 25th anniversary. And it may seem that we have been experiencing the most active stage in the last 3 years. But in my opinion, nothing has changed – the trend is that we are working harder over time. The current situation in the country leads to new areas of activity for our organization, but this does not mean that we are abandoning what we have been doing for more than 20 years. Yes, we are now installing solar power plants, providing socially important infrastructure with generators, building and repairing, taking care of the reconstruction of war-affected facilities, supporting the military, maintaining shelters for IDPs... But at the same time, our efforts are also aimed at comprehensive work with people with disabilities, participation in promoting deinstitutionalization reform, improving social and other services for vulnerable groups, and increasing the human resources potential of the region and the country in the field of social protection and healthcare, including mental health. 

When we appear in the public sphere, we are most often asked where we get the resources to implement humanitarian initiatives, and less often where we find the strength to do this amount of work. As for the former, everything is transparent: our reputation and horizontal connections allow us to attract funding from abroad to help Ukraine. We have not spent a single hryvnia, but have paid the full amount of taxes required by law. And yes, we are proud of that. As for the second one, the answer lies in our team – we are comfortable working together, and we have been for 25 years. The success of our projects also gives us strength and energy. The feeling that all this is not in vain motivates each and every one of us.

Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya has been and remains committed to the principles that are sustainable for the organization. Some of them, so to speak, are for internal use, and some, such as impartiality, tolerance and indifference, fully reflect the social component of our activities. The period of the full-scale russian-Ukrainian war proved the effectiveness of another approach – together we can do more! We have made our choice to scale our activities by developing ties with like-minded organizations rather than by increasing our own structure. This way we manage to be where help is needed and be there on time.

A quarter of a century for a non-governmental organization is definitely a long time, but given the plans and intentions we have for our 26th year, it is definitely not a «limit» or «milestone». So the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya is moving on.

Nataliya Kabatsiy, director of the Charitable Organization «Charity Fund «Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya»

Read more about the activities of the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya during the three years of the full-scale russian-Ukrainian war here.