ElitExpert continues the series of publications about humanitarian and volunteer organizations of the Odesa region. Our interlocutor today — founder and head of BF "European Foundation for Ukraine", investigative journalist Hryhoriy Kozma.
He is remembered for the fact that in the first days of the war he gave two of his armored cars to the Armed Forces, and also founded a fund where volunteers in Ukraine, Norway, Romania, Poland, and Germany volunteer on the basis of contracts. Many experts call this Foundation a standard of organization.
— What has volunteering become for you and why did you start doing it?
— For me, volunteering became a kind of response to military aggression against Ukraine. None of our team was engaged in charity work before the war. For example, I was engaged in journalistic investigations on anti-corruption topics, in particular, I investigated how corruption harms our defense capability.
But on February 24, I gave two of my armored cars worth more than $20 to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I gave another car worth $000 for volunteer transportation of humanitarian aid. This is how volunteering began, and the activities of the Foundation began.
Now every citizen of Ukraine is helping in whatever way he can. The future of our country, our future and the future of our children depends on our help.
— How did charity work begin? What area of assistance are you currently engaged in and why?
— The Foundation was established unofficially from the beginning, waiting for the Ministry of Justice to open the register for state registration. Philanthropic activity was implemented thanks to close cooperation with NELCU, with the help of which the foundation's volunteers brought humanitarian aid to the Odesa region. A few years ago, I was an adviser to the Head of the Galaţi Municipality on cross-border cooperation, and I was in contact with a significant number of Romanian figures, and after February 24, many of them responded to the situation and offered their help. Thus, in the first two months of the war, we made almost 10 flights to the humanitarian hubs of Romania, via the Orlivka-Isaccia crossing.
They began with the distribution of the received humanitarian aid between the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Teroborony, as well as persons affected by the war. The total amount of assistance provided through the Foundation during this period amounted to more than €100, not including the cars that I have already mentioned.
At the moment, thanks to the Kimonix company, the Charitable Fund "European Foundation for Ukraine" is involved in the implementation of the USAID project "Strengthening Public Trust" (UCBI III) for the construction of shelters. In particular, it is planned to equip five shelters in Odesa region, and one more in Mykolayivska. In the near future, the organization of the activities of the shelter and the composition of humanitarian aid in the village of Solotvino, Transcarpathian region. The Foundation's office has already been opened there and negotiations are underway with the local authorities.
Why does the Foundation do this? Because there is a need for this, there is an appeal from both the immigrants and the communities that receive them.
The foundation highlights the amount of aid given on its Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Foundation4Ukraine/
— What is the most difficult thing for you in this job?
- To have time. Time to write down so you don't forget to help. Time to say "thank you" to those who helped. This is the most difficult for us.
— They say that there are intrigues and competition in the volunteer environment. Have you encountered this?
— I have not encountered, I do not know, I do not participate, I do not support. I welcome the partnership. There are a number of foundations with which we interact perfectly, acting as partners in their humanitarian campaigns. There are those who consult with us on keeping documentation, there are those with whom we consult on fundraising. There can be no competition in the volunteer environment. There are no degrees of respect here. Every volunteer, every fund, if it is aimed at helping the victims, at helping the fighters, at helping the society, is Good. And good devours evil. We do not encounter wars among volunteers. We know one war that we are facing - this is the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
— How can a potential donor check that this particular fund or volunteer is trustworthy?
- It's not easy. For example, I look at a person if I know him, and if I don't, I look at the publicity of the volunteer's or foundation's activities. Openness, publicity (not to be confused with PR, because it is different) - these should be the main indicators for integrity. And publicity should be such that it is easy to check. This is the right of the donor, the society and the duty of the foundation.
Volunteering is a movement that is subordinated, first of all, to society. Such subordination is implemented due to the openness of the work.
— With which of the foundations, volunteer organizations do you closely cooperate, are there any?
We partner with the "Trymai" Charitable Foundation, the "Peace and Goodness" Public Organization, and the "Kalyna" movement. I congratulate the activity of the "South Bank" foundation, which has been actively involved in volunteering since 2014. I know many, we cooperate with a few. We cooperate with OTG, we cooperate with foreign organizations. I welcome cooperation, partnership and openness.
— If you had the opportunity to address a potential donor, benefactor personally, what is the most important thing you would say to him now?
— Let us help with what worries you personally, what you consider important. Help as much as you can. Help and know: Good knows your names.
