Nurturing our Network: Ukrainian NGOs and Razom

Published: February 16, 2025

Like so many organizations serving Ukraine before February 2022, Razom could not have predicted Ukraine would be operating under sustained military assault for so long, fighting for its survival and doing so under the most extraordinary circumstances. But if asked to make any prediction at that time, it would have been that one should never underestimate the determination and courage of Ukrainian civil society.

After all, it was by the power of its example that Razom was founded in 2014 after the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine. That’s why strengthening and expanding our partnerships with grassroots organizations, who know the needs of their communities better than anyone, has been one of Razom’s key strategies in addressing humanitarian and recovery efforts since the full-scale invasion.

In three years, we’ve worked with over 200 local NGOs and granted $11.4M to support projects in humanitarian aid, renewal and renovation, provision of clean water and energy, household farming, children’s STEM education, reskilling and upskilling programs, and much more. But by 2023, Razom understood that for these hyperlocal and innovative solutions to challenges faced by war-affected communities to persist, Ukraine’s civil society organizations would need greater resources for their own sustainable development. That’s how the Razom Sylnishi project (“Stronger Together” in Ukrainian) was born.

This initiative aims to support the organizational capacity-building of Ukrainian NGOs. Less than 5% of financing goes directly to projects run by these types of organizations. The community of grantees we built through Razom Relief, revealed that 75% of our grantees named a lack of financing as their main problem, while 39% pointed to a lack of qualified personnel, and 30% the lack of long-term strategy. Through Razom Syl’nishi we are:

• Providing organizational grants and mentorship to raise the standards of professionalism, transparency, and cooperation between NGOs

• Organizing training and education in topics most important for organizational development

• Hosting an annual conference (since 2023) to inspire and connect a powerful coalition of civil society and community organizations

• Convening regular online meetings for grantees

All of this activity ensures that Ukrainian NGOs are on an accelerated path towards sustainable development, able to serve their communities now and in the long-term.

In 2024, Razom Sylnishi supported 16 organizations from our network with organizational grants. Thanks to these grants, they were able to strengthen their organizations, attract new donors, and launch new projects.

This year, as part of Razom Relief’s overall investments, another $1.8M has been earmarked to ensure that local NGOs have the support they need – both in getting effective projects funded and in strengthening their organizational development.

Indeed, a second wave of organizational grants and mentoring support will open to NGOs across Ukraine that work in the areas corresponding to our mission. These grants are targeted towards improving fundraising capacity. Applications are due March 8, 2025 with grant awards announced on April 8, 2025.

As Ukrainians continue to deal with the consequences of Russia’s unlawful, brutal invasion, and the U.S. shifts its policy toward foreign aid precipitated by USAID disruptions, we have a unique opportunity to address the need. Razom has been able to contribute to building a network of more robust CSOs over the course of its history only because of the generosity of our donors. Your gift to Razom today can have an immediate impact in ensuring this work continues.

Thank you!

Ukraine at Davos 2025: Innovation, Resilience, and the Global Stage

Published: February 16, 2025

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Razom for Ukraine, alongside Nova Ukraine, stepped onto one of the world’s most influential platforms to ensure Ukraine’s voice was heard. As the world’s top leaders gathered to discuss the future of technology, sustainability, and global security, we made it clear: Ukraine is not just a country at war—it is a country building the future.

Taking Up Space, Shifting the Narrative

At Davos, we engaged with global influencers, policymakers, and investors, reinforcing our role as a trusted bridge between Ukraine and the world. Our participation wasn’t just about awareness—it was about action. We inserted Ukraine into the conversations that matter, showcasing how Ukrainian innovation and resilience are shaping global trends.

Key Highlights from Our Participation:

Davos Lodge Panel: The Power of Innovation—Ukraine’s Key to the Future
Razom and Nova Ukraine hosted a powerful discussion on Ukraine’s technological leadership and innovation. Moderated by Dora Chomiak (CEO of Razom for Ukraine), the panel featured Mariam Naiem (Independent Researcher & Author), Yaroslav Azhnuyk (Founder & CEO of TheFourthLaw.ai), and Nick Bilogorskiy (Founder of Nova Ukraine & Managing Partner of Dnipro VC), who highlighted Ukraine’s contributions to sectors like AI, cybersecurity, and drone technology.

Freedom & Democracy: More Than Just Words
Mariam Naiem delivered an inspiring reflection on the Ukrainian meaning of ‘freedom’, reinforcing why Ukraine’s struggle is a fight for democratic values worldwide.

Ukraine as an Innovation Hub
Yaroslav Azhnuyk presented Ukraine’s advancements in drone technology, illustrating how Ukrainian engineers are pioneering defense innovations at an unmatched scale. Nick Bilogosrskiy highlighted Ukraine’s tech ecosystem, citing global successes like Grammarly and MacPaw as evidence of the country’s resilience and talent.

Watch full panel here:

Ukraine House Davos Panel: Aligning Interests—The U.S., Ukraine, and a Path to a Just and Sustainable Peace

Dora Chomiak, CEO of Razom for Ukraine, joined a high-level panel discussion on Ukraine’s economic potential and geopolitical role. Participants included Daniel F. Runde (Senior Vice President at CSIS), Ambassador Kurt Volker (Founder of Alliance Strategic Advisors), RDML (Ret.) Michael Hewitt (Co-Founder & CEO of IP3 Corporation), and Andy Hunder (President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine). The conversation explored Ukraine’s role as a future economic powerhouse, its path to EU integration, and the investment opportunities that will shape the country’s recovery.

Watch full panel here:

Justice & Accountability: Seizing Russian Assets
Yuliya Ziskina, Razom Senior Legal Fellow, spoke on the crucial issue of seizing $350 billion in frozen Russian assets, arguing that the financial burden of war should shift from Western taxpayers to the aggressor. Her message was clear: the legal mechanisms that promote justice, accountability, and sustainable recovery for Ukraine are there, we just need the political will to use them.

Watch full panel here:

Why This Matters

Ukraine’s participation at Davos was more than symbolic—it was strategic.

• Together with our partners we made sure Ukraine was included in key discussions on global security, democracy, and economic development.

• We connected with decision-makers, investors, and media to advocate for concrete support for Ukraine’s future.

• We demonstrated that despite the war, Ukraine is actively contributing to solving some of the world’s greatest challenges.

What’s Next?

Razom together with our partners will continue to push Ukraine’s presence on the global stage, ensuring that its resilience, innovation, and leadership are recognized and supported. We invite you to join us in this mission—advocate, invest, and stand with Ukraine.

Key Messages for Pro-Ukraine Advocacy

Published: February 11, 2025

Negotiate from a position of strength

President Donald Trump is preparing to open negotiations for a settlement to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. No one wants peace more than Ukrainians—but they need a permanent and just peace, which can only be accomplished with U.S. support and historic, bold leadership from President Trump. As allies, the U.S. and Ukraine must negotiate from a position of strength over Russia. It’s time for President Trump to put Maximum Pressure on Russia through sanctions, unleashing American energy, and stopping Russia’s battlefield advances in order to force Putin to the table.

• Arm Ukraine so it can stabilize the front line, stop Russia’s bombardment of civilians, and start pushing Russian forces back again.

• Russia is under pressure—it’s running out of manpower to fight, it’s about to run out of tanks and cannons, and the economy is at risk of a recession. Putin is under tremendous pressure at home and abroad—just look at how he couldn’t save his client Bashar al-Assad in Syria—it’s time for the U.S. to squeeze Putin to force him to make peace, not give him a reprieve.

• The Biden administration refused to properly sanction Russia’s energy or financial sectors. It’s time for President Trump to unleash sanctions and American energy exports to break Russia’s war economy and force Putin to the table to end his war.

President Trump has signaled that he’s open to economic pressure on Russia, but Maximum Pressure won’t work without military assistance to Ukraine. Thanks to U.S. weapons, Russia has suffered record casualties on the battlefield—if this battlefield pressure lets up, Trump’s economic pressure will fail.

Joe Biden failed to properly arm Ukraine to succeed on the battlefield—it’s on Trump to act decisively and fix this mistake to achieve peace. Congress has equipped the Trump administration with a $3.8 billion dollar Presidential Drawdown Authority for Ukraine. President Trump must immediately make a new Presidential Drawdown to give Ukraine leverage for peace.

Security guarantees for Ukraine are the key to peace

The only way to achieve real peace in Europe is for Ukraine to receive credible security guarantees such as NATO membership. NATO is a defensive alliance that will never attack Russia—the only threat it poses to Putin is it stops him from trying to conquer more free countries. Without security guarantees, Ukraine won’t be able to rebuild itself. The only way to assure Ukrainians that Russia won’t restart its war in a few years is by boldly acting and finally allowing them to join NATO. Barack Obama and Joe Biden both left Ukraine in NATO’s waiting room—President-elect Trump must fix this by letting the strongest military in Europe be a U.S. ally.

• When Ukraine joins NATO, it will automatically make the alliance stronger and make Europe more secure. President Zelenskyy has suggested that once Ukraine joins NATO, Ukrainian forces could help reinforce bases in Europe to give the U.S. the necessary flexibility to meet security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

• Vladimir Putin is trying to trick President Trump into thinking that Ukrainian neutrality will end the war—it’s just another Moscow hoax. Putin wants Trump to make the same mistakes that Obama and Biden made and leave Ukraine in no-man’s-land so that Russia can rearm and restart the war in a few years. Trump must fix Obama and Biden’s mistake and finally let Ukraine help the U.S. as its strongest ally.

• Europe must step up and take ownership of security on the continent as President Trump has called for. In addition to buying American arms, it can do this by providing an intermediate security guarantee while Ukraine joins NATO to end the war. At Ukraine’s invitation and with enablement from the U.S., European troops should help enforce a ceasefire and European fighter jets should stop Russia’s bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

Make Russia pay for Ukraine aid

Congress passed the REPO Act last year, giving President Trump the power to transfer the more than $5 billion in Russian state assets in the U.S. to help Ukraine. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said it would be “pure poetry” for Russia to be the first to pay for aid to Ukraine, and President Trump should do what Joe Biden refused to—use Russia’s own money to pay for aid to Ukraine.

The Biden administration also violated the REPO Act by failing to disclose a report on the true value of Russian state assets in U.S. jurisdiction, which experts believe are worth tens of billions of dollars. Once President Trump acts decisively on this issue, Europe will follow his leadership and make use of the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Russian state assets in European jurisdiction.

Pass the Ukrainian Genocide Resolution in Congress

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) reintroduced a resolution recognizing Russia’s war against Ukraine as genocide (H.Res.16). It’s time for the House of Representatives to pass this resolution and rightly recognize Russia’s barbaric invasion, annihilation of Ukrainian cities, and mass abduction of Ukrainian children as genocide.

Delivering Essential Disaster Relief to Ukrainian Heroes

Published: January 22, 2025

Razom has started 2025 with a strong commitment to our mission of supporting those who protect Ukraine and serve as first responders near the front. This month, we delivered essential equipment to the individuals serving in the First Presidential Brigade of Ukraine’s National Guard, known as “Burevii.”

Provisions of disaster relief included generators, floodlights, power stations, tablets, life-saving communications equipment, and a mobile shower and laundry complex. These complexes, which cost $20,000 each, are equipped with water filtration systems, washers, dryers, and showers, offering much-needed hygiene solutions for hundreds of people. Compact and easily camouflaged to avoid drone detection, they provide a lifeline for those actively defending Ukraine’s freedom.

This initiative is part of Razom’s ongoing efforts to enhance the safety, health, and well-being of those tirelessly working to protect Ukrainians from Russian attacks.

Colonel Valentyn Ostrizhnyi expressed his gratitude, stating:
“We deeply appreciate your continued support. Your commitment makes a difference for those serving on the front lines, helping them remain focused on their mission to protect Ukraine and its people.”

Evelina Kurilets, Razom’s Executive Director in Ukraine, emphasized the significance of the delivery:
“This marks the beginning of a broader initiative to provide critical resources to our partners in Ukraine. We’re delivering life-saving equipment to the First Presidential Brigade, and in the coming weeks, we’ll extend support to additional units across Ukraine.”

Razom remains committed to its work of educating, activating and delivering to help those who need it most. Together, we are building a brighter future for Ukraine.

Powering Ukraine Through a Complicated Winter

Published: December 17, 2024

Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure has been a primary target. This past year has brought a deliberate intensification of attacks on energy facilities, with Russia launching daily strikes against power grids and substations across the country. By now, more than 50% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been severely damaged or destroyed, leaving millions of Ukrainians without reliable electricity or heat during the coldest months.

Against this backdrop, Razom has stepped up with solutions tailored to meet urgent needs. Through the Razom Relief program, we delivered 30 charging stations and 13 high-capacity generators to civil society organizations and Razom grantees, ensuring they can continue their life-saving and community-building work.

Charging stations and generators provide the power to sustain education, healthcare, and shelter for displaced families. They enable public spaces and shelters to operate, even in areas heavily affected by Russian violence.

For example, the Korsakiv Center for Contemporary Ukrainian Art in Lutsk, which houses up to 100 internally displaced persons, uses the charging station we provided to power their educational center during the day, and their shelter at night.

Meanwhile, NGO “Platform Ednannia” in Zmiiv, Kharkiv region, now supports approximately 171 people with a fully functioning public space, thanks to the charging station it received.

As temperatures drop, the stakes become higher. The charging stations and generators Razom has delivered are used to not only power lights and phones but also to heat water, cook meals, and provide medical support. In Pershotravensk, Dnipropetrovsk region, a temporary shelter equipped with Razom’s charging station now serves as a sanctuary for older adults and children, offering warmth and a chance to recharge both their devices and their spirits.

Despite these hardships, the Ukrainian people persist. Every charging station, every generator is a reminder that even in the face of relentless attacks, Ukrainians find ways to carry on with life.

Your continued support makes this possible. Together, we’ve invested nearly $75,000 into equipment that directly supports communities in need—assisting everyday people l and enabling hope to thrive, even during the darkest days of winter.

Thank you for standing with Ukraine and Razom. Your generosity ensures that light, warmth, and resilience do not flag in the face of adversity.

Sources:
Kyiv Independent
Politico
Razom for Ukraine Grantee Reports

4th Medical Trip of American Facial Plastic Reconstructive Surgeons

Published: December 12, 2024

From October 2nd to 8th 2024, the fourth medical trip of facial plastic reconstructive surgeons from the United States successfully took place in Lviv, in collaboration with Razom for Ukraine and INgenius.

Preparations for the mission began in the spring of 2024 and lasted over four months. During the patient selection process, nearly 100 applications were reviewed, and 35 of the most complex cases were chosen for reconstructive surgeries. Some of these patients were scheduled for surgery in May 2025.

A total of 19 soldiers with serious defects of the ocular and frontal areas, midface area, significant damages of the soft tissues, nasal bones and oral cavity were successfully operated on.

Some of the patients received implants to replace bone defects, including expensive highly technological patient-specific titanium 3D implants, produced and donated by Materialise. All surgeries and consultations for the mission participants were provided free of charge. Ukrainian surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses worked for seven days together with the American medical team.

The following procedures were performed:

Nasal reconstruction with a free forehead flap on a vascular pedicle – 7
Placement of the PSI (patient-specific titanium 3D implant) – 3
Commissuroplasty – 3
Placement of spherical orbital implants made of porous polyethylene (Medpor) – 5
Orbital floor/rim repair with titanium/porous polyethylene implants – 3
Eyelid reconstructions – 10
Upper lid gold weight placement for the correction of paralytic lagophthalmos – 2
Midface lift – 3

Additionally, there were scar revisions, canthoplasties, upper and lower eyelid fornix reconstructions, eviscerations, placements of ocular prostheses, lip reconstruction, cranioplasty, fat grafting for cheek tissues, and other operations.

It is also important to emphasize the significance of the training provided to Ukrainian specialists during the mission. The goal of the American team was not only to help severely wounded soldiers but also to pass on their experience to Ukrainian doctors. Therefore, even after this team work, the skills acquired can be applied to treat other complex patients.

Moreover, all operated patients will continue to be monitored by Ukrainian doctors, who will report on their condition to the American colleagues, which will allow the optimization of the recovery processes.

Some patients will undergo further stages of surgery and, if necessary, will have the opportunity to seek help from American doctors during the future missions.

The first week of October was highly productive for the mission team and successful for our patients.

This mission was unique: originally planned as a large-scale operation, it was scaled down due to recent attacks in the region. In response the determined team of seven, including facial reconstructive and oculoplastic surgeons, adapted to the circumstances and went forward. Despite the challenges, Razom’s team—led by Yuliia Shama, Lilies Dzaliuk and coordinator Nataliya Kuts —mobilized resources, restructured logistics, and ensured the success of this critical mission.

Nataliya Sawka joined the team as safety specialist, and did due diligence with analyzing threats and coordinating safety protocol.

The smaller team found Lviv relatively calm during the week, allowing them to work through a packed schedule of surgeries and consultations. Dr. Parag Gandhi emerged as a leader among the group of oculoplastic surgeons, creating a seamless collaboration with local specialists. Dr. Gandhi gave a talk (remotely) during this mission on Pericular Soft Tissue Reconstruction for a conference Glaucoma+. This exchange allowed Ukrainian and American doctors to share advanced techniques, further strengthening the cohort of Ukrainian surgeons in Lviv who now have the skills to address complex cases independently.

Beyond the operating rooms, Razom equipped local hospitals and shelters with vital supplies, including cots, sleeping bags, water, snacks, and disposable items, ensuring readiness for any future needs.

The Razom team expresses its sincere gratitude to everyone who made this project possible.

We are grateful to:

The team of American surgeons and nurses:

For their invaluable contribution to the health of our servicemen and to the training of Ukrainian doctors.

The team of Ukrainian doctors:

Plastic surgeon Vitaliy Panchenko for his assistance in the implementation of the mission, organizing patient acceptance at his department, and performing surgeries at his hospital.

Also, a special thanks to the highly qualified and organized team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, interns, nurses, and junior medical staff at the Ukrainian hospital who were always ready and worked clearly, professionally, and in harmony.

The members of the INgenius team: Ivanka Nebor, Kyrylo Chuhai, Yelyzaveta Baran, Anna Tovkes, Ihor Solovey, Daryna Chernenko for organizing the patient selection and the high-level performance of the mission.

Materialise Company for the production of 3D implants for our defenders, and also to the volunteers from the company — Anastasia Krychun, Olga Hornyak, and Kateryna Stepura for their assistance in preparing models and their high-quality visualization during the surgeries.

Razom for Ukraine team: Yuliia Shama, Lileia Dzhaliuk, Alexandra Domaradsky, Nataliya Kuts, Nataliya Sawka, Alex Malikova and Evgenii Kulachenko.

Our partner organizations: FIGS, Cherokee Ukraine (Medgroup), Vasyl Shevchik’s Ocular Microsurgery Center

And finally, we thank Vasyl Salyha for the excellent photo report!

Original article and more photographs from the mission at ingeniusua.org

Learn more about and support the Co-Pilot Project and Razom Health.

OLIZ and Razom: Treasures of Ukraine

Published: December 3, 2024

We are proud to present Treasures of Ukraine, a stunning collection of silk scarves created by the preeminent Ukrainian brand OLIZ in collaboration with Razom. This exclusive collection honors Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage while shedding light on the devastating destruction caused by Russia’s war.

Half of the proceeds from each scarf sold will directly support Razom’s humanitarian aid efforts.

The collection features designs inspired by iconic landmarks and artworks that have been either looted, damaged, or destroyed by Russia’s invasion, including Chersonesus, the Hryhorii Skovoroda Museum, the house-museum of artist Polina Raiko, and the painting “Krasolia” by Heorhii Kurnakov, which was stolen from the Kherson Art Museum during the occupation.

Order your Treasures of Ukraine scarf today and join us in celebrating Ukraine’s cultural heritage. Preservation and reclamation of this heritage is imperative to reclaiming Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The Chersonesus silk scarf

The Chersonesus scarf was created as part of the “Treasures of Ukraine” collection, which is designed to tell the world about the destruction of a unique historical monument during ancient times. It was the only monument of world importance in Crimea, in the city of Sevastopol. In 2013, UNESCO listed Chersonesus as a World Heritage Site.

In the city of archaeological remains, the Russians built an open theater, and later an Archaeological Park and a cathedral.

Most of the artifacts found during the new construction were taken to Russia. Among the artifacts were frescoes, icons, and household items.

OChersonesus is depicted on the scarf as it was before the occupation of the peninsula, and which is now impossible to reproduce.

The Hryhorii Skovoroda Museum silk scarf

Dedicated to the Literary Memorial Museum of Hryhorii Skovoroda in the Kharkiv region, which the Russians destroyed during the night shelling on May 7, 2022. Skovoroda was a philosopher, poet, teacher, and composer of liturgical music who lived and worked in Ukrainian Hetmanate during the time of the Russian Empire.

The museum is located in the village of Skovorodynivka, on the 18th-century estate where Hryhorii Skovoroda worked, lived, and is buried.

The scarf portrays the remains of the museum after the hit and the sculpture of Skovoroda, which miraculously survived and became one of the symbols of Ukrainian indomitability.

Silk scarf with painting by Polina Raiko

The “Treasures of Ukraine” collection also included the “Angels” scarf, dedicated to the artist from the Kherson region, Polina Raiko, and her unique, fairy-tale house-museum in Oleshky, which was flooded due to an explosion of the construction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station by the Russian military.

Polina Raiko did not have an art education and started painting at a mature age, working in the genre of naive art. She painted her entire house with pictures that brought to life unprecedented fairy-tale animals, special patterns, and stories from the Bible. This painting with angels and flowers is characteristic of folk wall paintings, one of the varieties of which is the “wallpaper” painting, which is formed by the rhythmic repetition of motifs to fill the space, reducing the emptiness to nothing.

Unfortunately, many drawings have been lost forever.

Silk scarf with Heorhii Kurnakov’s “Krasolia” (1928)

The “Treasures of Ukraine” collection includes the eponymous silk scarf “Krasolia”, which is dedicated to a painting by the artist Heorhii Kurnakov, which was stolen by the Russian military during the occupation of Kherson from the Kherson Art Museum. Heorhii Kurnakov, a painter and graphic artist, was originally from Mariupol, but he lived, taught and painted in Kherson, so the creative life of the master is closely connected with the Kherson region.

The artist worked a lot in the genre of landscape and still life.

We invite you to explore the collection and order your silk scarf today. Be part of preserving Ukraine’s cultural legacy while supporting our ongoing mission. Thank you for your support. Together, we are Ukraine!

Razom for Ukraine: A Season of Giving

Published: December 2, 2024

This holiday season, join us in supporting families in Ukraine who are healing from the impacts of war and working to build a brighter future. Ukrainians have shown remarkable strength, and with your help, they can continue contributing their talents and energy to a better tomorrow.

Your support is giving new life to families experiencing trauma and loss. The immense resilience and determination of Ukrainians inspire us, and we at Razom remain fully committed to supporting Ukraine’s victory.

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Svitlana Rosadkina lived in Severodonetsk, a city in the Luhansk region in Eastern Ukraine, with her husband, young son, and parents. She and her family were forced to move into basements crowded with other people and animals, often going without gas, electricity, or water for days, making it impossible to wash or cook food. When her parents became ill with COVID-19, the city’s hospitals and ambulances were no longer functioning, and only four pharmacies in the entire city remained open—and sporadically, at that. Svitlana waited in the cold for hours to get her parents’ medicine, sometimes under heavy shelling.

“I shouted to people to lie down on the floor and cover their heads with their hands … you didn’t know if you’d make it home alive. Every time you went to the pharmacy or the store, you couldn’t tell your relatives what time you’d return.”

With the help of friends, Svitlana and her family evacuated to Dnipro, enduring nine hours of driving under constant fire. The bombed-out cities they passed remain etched forever in her memory.

After months of surviving extreme conditions and helping her son cope with unimaginable stress, Svitlana found herself emotionally depleted and numb. She participated in the “Recovery During the War” program organized by the NGO VAAD and supported by Razom. This intensive psychological rehabilitation program supports women and their children who have endured occupation, heavy shelling, or devastating personal losses due to the war.

Since May 2022, “Recovery During the War” has held 114 program sessions, helping 1,620 families—or 3,575 individuals, including 1,882 children. In 2024, Razom Relief provided $90,000 in grants, funding nine sessions of this life-changing initiative.

“I joined the program hoping to recover to the person I was before the war. I not only recovered but … my family was amazed by the changes in me. After the program, I felt life again.”

For millions of Ukrainians suffering from deprivation, trauma, and loss, programs like these offer hope and essential coping skills. Thousands remain on the “Recovery During the War” waitlist.

Your generous support can help us continue programs that save and transform lives like Svitlana’s. Together, we can help Ukrainians heal and rebuild.

Donate today and be part of Ukraine’s recovery and growth!

RAZOM CINEMA ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY “PORCELAIN WAR”

Published: November 26, 2024

Razom Cinema announced a new partnership with the powerful, award-winning documentary Porcelain War on the film’s North American theatrical release, which began on November 22, 2024 in New York and rolls out across North America. Earlier this year, the film won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

“The message of Porcelain War fits perfectly with the mission of Razom and its programs, so our partnership creates a unique opportunity to combine forces and amplify the voices of those whose lives have been forever changed by the war,” says Polina Buchak, head of Razom Cinema. “The grant assures that the filmmakers will be able to travel with their film and share their stories from Ukraine first-hand with audiences and continue shedding light on Ukrainians’ bravery in their fight for freedom and dignity during Russia’s unjust, full-scale invasion of Ukraine.”

The story of the Ukrainians in Porcelain War reflects the extraordinary transformation of life in Ukraine, where art and war collide. An artist crafting delicate porcelain creatures one day, may find themselves on the battlefield the next, fighting for their freedom and dignity. Porcelain War offers audiences the opportunity to go behind the headlines and dive into the layered reality of Ukrainian life during wartime, shedding light on how ordinary civilians—teachers, engineers, artists—have become extraordinary heroes in the face of unimaginable challenges.

The film, shot in Ukraine by the subjects of the documentary, is set amid the chaos and destruction of the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine. Three artists find

inspiration and beauty as they defend their culture and their country. In a war waged by professional soldiers against ordinary civilians, Slava Leontyev, Anya Stasenko and Andrey Stefanov choose to stay behind, armed with their art, their cameras and, for the first time in their lives, their guns. Despite daily shelling, Anya finds resistance and purpose in her art, Andrey takes the dangerous journey to get his young family to safety abroad, and Slava becomes a weapons instructor for ordinary people who have become unlikely soldiers. As the war intensifies, Andrey picks up his camera to film their story, and on tiny porcelain figurines, Anya and Slava capture their idyllic past, uncertain present and hope for the future.

Co-directed by Leontyev and Brendan Bellomo, with extraordinary footage from first-time cinematographer Stefanov, Porcelain War embodies the passion and fight that only an artist can put back into the world when it is crumbling around them.

Picturehouse will release the film across North America over the next few months. Make sure to visit the website, look up your city, and grab tickets to the screening: porcelainwar.url.film

For more information, check out the film’s website (porcelainwar.com) and follow their instagram page @porcelainwarfilm

The Razom Syl’nishi (Razom Stronger) 2.0 Conference

Published: November 23, 2024

The Razom Syl’nishi (Razom Stronger) 2.0 Conference has once again brought together a powerful coalition of civil society, business, and community organizations in Kyiv, with a shared vision of building a more resilient Ukraine.

Over two days, more than 100 participants from across Ukraine came together to explore how to tackle urgent humanitarian needs, support local communities, and reinforce Ukraine’s civic sector through Razom’s work.

Razom Relief network of partners unites Ukrainian NGOs that work in Ukrainian communities on projects in the area of rebuilding, child protection, providing humanitarian aid and shelter, evacuations and other.

Here’s what stood out at this year’s event:

Collaborative Panels and Workshops: Sessions focused on partnership best practices among nonprofits, businesses, and local communities, with speakers sharing successful examples and new approaches for overcoming social challenges. We welcomed speakers from “hromadas” (communities) from Kherson Kharkiv, Lviv, Kamenets Podislky and other regions,
Key Program Presentations: Leaders of Razom’s programs — Advocacy, Heroes, Health, and Relief — highlighted their latest initiatives, including humanitarian aid, mental health services, and veteran support for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Training and sharing of experience – we provided training session in fundraising and shared Razom’s experience in managing logistics
Facilitated Networking Sessions: Participants engaged in discussions on the most pressing issues such as fundraising, working with government, running different types of projects and shared solutions for maximizing the impact of local organizations.

Most importantly, the conference provided space for networking and informal sharing of experience between our partner organizations.

Razom is committed to supporting cooperation and networking among our grantees.

The conference concluded with actionable plans for deepening inter-organizational collaboration and scaling efforts to support local communities across Ukraine. Participants left with fresh perspectives, new connections, and a shared commitment to making a difference in Ukraine.

Together, we make Ukraine stronger.

Stay tuned for more updates and stories from Razom Relief.