Lessons from the Ukrainian Pitch Night: Are You Serious?

Published: June 1, 2017

One of the goals of Razom IT is to give more opportunities for Ukrainian startups and entrepreneurs to be placed front and center of the New York startup scene. The Hatchery’s “Are You Serious?” pitch night, which has run in the city for six years, is one such great opportunity. Razom IT partnered with The Hatchery for the second time to bring a Ukrainian edition of AYS and showcase five early-stage startups* with Ukrainian roots in front of a panel of investors tasked with giving their honest feedback about the startups’ technology, business, presentation, financial plan, marketing strategy, and more.

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The Co-Pilot Project Launch Event in New York, March 5th 2017

Published: April 11, 2017

New Global Neurosurgery Initiative launched by Razom in Ukraine

By: Tamara Lashchyk

On Sunday, March 5th at the Ukrainian Institute of America, I had the privilege of attending the launch of the Co-Pilot Project (CPP), an initiative of Razom that seeks to raise the quality of neurosurgical training in Ukraine through surgeon-to-surgeon mentoring. There I listened to Dr. Luke Tomycz, the lead physician on the project, describe in detail the complex surgeries that he performed last year in Ukraine to remove deadly brain and spine tumors from otherwise young and healthy patients who in many cases were refused from neurosurgical centers throughout the country. Much like a co-pilot helps land a plane safely, Tomycz and his colleagues hope to serve a similar function, guiding Ukrainian surgeons safely through complex neurosurgical operations.

The Co-Pilot Project Launch Event

Thanks to everyone who made The Co-Pilot Project happen. More about the initiative here: razomforukraine.org/cpp. Video by Bad Duet.

Posted by Razom for Ukraine on Sunday, March 12, 2017

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Razom MathOlymp: Support the bright young Ukrainians attending the International Mathematical Olympiad 2017 in Rio De Janeiro

Published: February 10, 2017

Razom is pleased to announce a new RazomPartners project to support students from Ukraine at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) – MathOlymp.

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Reformers Without Borders – What Has Been Done Since the Launch

Published: December 16, 2016

Reformers Without Borders (RWB) was conceived, funded and launched as a full-scale program within 5 months (January – May 2016). The program brings fellows from the United States and other countries to Ukraine to work on building a bridge of trust between local government and citizens. The initial idea came from one of the 2015 projects, Razom Odessa. Back then, two of our volunteers, Lyuba Shipovich and Natalia Shyrba spent 3 months as part of a team of reformers at the Odesa Regional (Oblast) Administration. The first RWB fellow, Hugo Spaulding, a Washington D.C analyst, was chosen from more than 20 applicants from all over the world. He successfully finished his 3 months assignment in Odesa in August 2016. After a year, the region was rated #1 in Ukraine in investment climate. The year coincided with Lyuba, Hugo and other Razom volunteers working in Odesa. We think there is a connection.

Our goal is to create a sustainable pipeline of international talent and expertise going to Ukraine and building a successful country on the ground, shoulder-to-shoulder with local activists. Throughout 2016 we have seen many examples of the very real impact of this work.

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Engaging and Informing on Capitol Hill

Published: December 16, 2016

When a group of graduate students attending meetings on Capitol Hill were told that there is a need for more policy-oriented information on Ukraine, they sprung into action. Led by Razom volunteer Mykola Murskyj, a team of writers came together to create the report titled U.S. Policy on Ukraine: Challenges and Opportunities. The team expects to release the 100+ page report by the end of February 2017.

“Our objective is to engage and inform policymakers about Ukraine so that they build policy that continues to help Ukraine become stronger and more prosperous,” explained Mykola Murskyj.

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Razom helped bring twenty artists to Galicia Cult: a cultural festival in Kharkiv 2016

Published: December 15, 2016

Razom is happy to announce that with the support of our donors and volunteers we were able to sponsor the transportation of 20 artists participating in the Galicia Cult festival in Kharkiv that ran Oct. 2-18, 2016.

Galicia Cult is a multidisciplinary social-cultural forum that aims to introduce eastern Ukrainians to modern western-Ukrainian culture. Besides promoting a cultural exchange, the forum also intends to break common stereotypes in both the east and the west.

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Razom in Austin: Charity Photoshoot and Networking

Published: December 12, 2016

On October 8th, 2016 Razom volunteers organized a costume photoshoot with a photographer Waytao Shing (Getty, SXSW). The idea came from Alyona Owens, a volunteer from Izmail, Ukraine who now lives in Austin, TX and is the founder of Choobchik, an online learning platform. Big thanks to Austin TX Ukrainians group and Chicon Collective for being part of this event.

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Getting the Historical Truth with Kipiani in Columbia

Published: December 9, 2016

Razom hosted a discussion at Columbia University with Vakhtang Kipiani on November 19th at the university student center. Current undergraduate and graduate students joined activists and volunteers for a two-hour discussion about how history affects the future, especially in the time of war and decommunization. Lyuba Shipovich and Dora Chomiak moderated the conversation with Kipiani, who was visiting from Ukraine.

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Razom announces a new program: The Co-Pilot Project – Neurosurgery Training in Ukraine

Published: December 5, 2016

The Co-Pilot Project (CPP) is an initiative that aims to address the significant deficit in high quality neurosurgical and spine surgery training in Ukraine, a country of 45 million people in eastern Europe. Just as a co-pilot acts as another set of eyes and ears for the pilot, our mission is to send surgeons from North America to mentor and aid Ukrainian surgeons through difficult cases.

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Razom visits SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont

Published: December 1, 2016

On a hill in Brattleboro, Vermont, a group of 70 master students speak a language more often heard in the cultural cafes of a progressive metropolis. The language borrows only the big words from the English dictionary that breathe of lofty goals and social revolution. Terms like cross-cultural, advocacy, social change, justice, exchange, political policy, peace and education are the cornerstones of communication at the SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont.

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