“Forum of Good Deeds” gathered those who save the wounded, keep Kharkiv and Zaporiznia, keeps Mariupol’s spit up

On the 22nd of May, 2023, the 8th “Forum Dobryh Sprav” (“Good Deeds Forum”) was held in Kyiv under the title “How to develop a strong public society. Charitable initiatives in practice“. It gathered public figures and volunteers within the walls of the National Library of Ukraine named after Yaroslav the Wise, who have been helping Ukrainians to overcome the consequences of the war for the second year.

The main theme of the 8th “Good Deeds Forum” was the issue of cooperation between authorities and volunteers for the purpose of helping people who suffered as a result of the war; interaction of authorities and volunteers for the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers; volunteers’ secrets to overcome emotional burnout.

The military who attended the “Good Deeds Forum” had the opportunity to talk about how they protect Ukraine, as well as to raise the question of how the state and social activists can help wounded soldiers with psychological and physical rehabilitation. The topic of the needs of volunteers was touched upon separately as there is a problem of burnout of volunteers who carry a substantial amount of work. For instance, Andriy Kucher, the founder of the Union of Wounded Military of Ukraine “Mitsni 300” (“Strong 300”), a political scientist, a paratrooper of the 79th Brigade of the Air Assault Troops Andriy Kucher talked about the need to help men and women who have received various types of injuries, and now, on top of the medical problems, they also need psychological and often legal aid. “The Union of Wounded Military of Ukraine “Mitsni 300” tries to provide assistance to fellows from the moment of injury to the moment of medical discharge from the army. The Union understands that Ukrainian legislation is imperfect, including in relation to servicemen who were injured. Kucher sees a way out – is to carry out work on improving legislation with the aim of making life easier for all defenders of Ukraine.

During his speech, Eliezer Feldman, founder of the Golda Meir Public Society Development Institute, co-founder of the “Good Deeds Forum” and head of the “Israeli Medical Mission”, noted during his speech that today the issue of medical assistance to defenders and the population of Ukraine, in general, is extremely important.

This is exactly what the Israeli Medical Mission does, which provides free medical assistance to displaced persons, as well as visits war-torn settlements of Kyiv region, where it conducts free primary diagnostics of residents. In 2023, the work of the “Israeli Medical Mission” grew into a medical center, where consultative and diagnostic medical assistance is provided free of charge to people who were forced to leave their homes as a result of the war.

The founders of the “Beregynia” Public Association (PO) talked about the example of uniting for the sake of saving others. This is one of the few non-governmental organizations that has been engaged in the search for the missing since 2014 – something that Ukrainian society knew little about before the full-scale invasion.

“We have been taking care of the families of the missing since 2014,” Alla Makukh, founder of “Beregynia” PO, presented her organization at the “Good Deeds Forum”. – Our organization includes relatives of volunteers who were captured, and military personnel – Ilovaisk, Debaltsevo, and even civilians who were captured in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Back then, we were trying to draw the attention of Ukrainian society and foreign politicians to this problem with our actions. And now we all understand how significant victory is to all of us, so that all prisoners of war are released.”

Deputy Mayor of Kharkiv for health and social protection of the population, recipient of the “Dobre Sertse” (“Good Heart”) Order Svitlana Gorbunova-Ruban told how they, along with volunteers and public organisations, manage to care for destitute citizens and people who suffered as a result of military actions. Coping with the unprecedented challenges of wartime and keeping aid at a decent level was possible due to the fact that the Kharkiv’s authorities formed a market of social services a few years ago actively cooperating with public organisations.

During the first days of the war, social services’ representatives were unaware of the existence of hundreds of abandoned people for whom responsibility had to be taken, often in violation of existing peacetime instructions. Throughout March and April 2022, when it was very cold and snowy in Kharkiv, utility services identified such people and then took them for maintenance.

“First of all, volunteers helped us a lot in this regard. They promptly responded to all questions, as well as the neighbours who stayed in the house. And at the beginning of the war, we had completely empty houses, when we came to the entrance and found only one flat where people were staying. This hampered our work,”  Gorbunova-Ruban said about the unusual problem for the multi-million city.

Lyudmila Lyubim, the first deputy head of the Zaporizhia Regional Council, arrived at the “Good Deeds Forum” almost from the front line. “We live while hearing the counter-battery fire and every day we hear explosions all over Zaporizhzhia. This synergy with volunteers and people who continue to help volunteers is crucial to us now. Since now we are really building a new Ukraine,” – Lyudmila Lyubim mentioned during her speech.

She said that representatives of regional authorities, along with the people, constantly support our defenders on the front line. They weave nets, raise money for cars, deliver goodies. Since February 24, 2022, many officials of the Zaporizhia Regional Council have become regular volunteers.

An attorney Yuriy Bilous explained how he chose his direction of public activity in the first days of the full-scale invasion of the Russian invaders into his country. Based on his professional experience, Yuriy decided to devote his free time to collecting evidence of war crimes committed by the Russian occupiers in Ukraine for the upcoming procedure in the International Court of Justice procedure in The Hague.

He started this as a conscious citizen from the first days of the massive invasion of the Russian occupiers on our land. So far, he has collected several hundred video recordings of crimes against Ukrainians.

The participants of the “Good Deeds Forum” noted in their speeches that the war awakened in many of them the understanding that today every conscious citizen should help his country to cope with constantly arising challenges. And then, these conscious citizens will need to rebuild Ukraine as a country where everyone can comfortably work, have children and age.

We would like to remind you that on June 4, 2021, the 4th “GOOD DEEDS FORUM” will be held, where ordinary Ukrainians and representatives of charities and organisations that independently develop public society will meet to discuss urgent issues.

On December 10, 2021, the first “Bal Dobryh Sprav” (“Ball of Good Deeds”) in Ukraine was held on the territory of the Mezhihirya National Park – at the place that has become a symbol of the victory of public society – during which the organisers presented the Order of “Good Heart” to volunteers and public figures. “Mezhyhirya” is a vivid example of public activism, a symbol of transparency, openness and integrity, that wins where people fight for their rights.

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240 non-governmental organizations gathered at the anniversary «Forum of Good Deeds»

Public figures and volunteers gather at the anniversary «Forum of good deeds»