3/1 to 3/31 UAID-DIRECT MEDICAL CONTIAINER PROJECT UPDATE

The VM4U/UAID-Direct Project Manager has been working to build a sustainable needs driven medical supply chain between the Partners for World Health Organization in the USA and Ukrainian hospitals and medics. The first such shipment departed the USA on 26 February 2024, is approaching Gdansk, Poland, and is scheduled to arrive in Ivano Frankivsk, Ukraine in the second week of April. This aforementioned Partner’s for World Health/VM4U/UAID-Direct medical supply chain is one example of the many humanitarian aid supply chains UAID-Direct contributes to. VM4U and Rotary Club Vienna Maria Theresa donations covered the cost of transport of this shipping container.

3/1 to 3/31 TEAM VIENNA SUPPORT PROGRAM

VM4U supports our volunteer partner organizations in Austria and Ukraine. In March, VM4U was able to direct financial support to our partner UAID-Direct in the form of a new cargo van. UAID-Direct is composed of international volunteers, many from Vienna, and leverages a fleet of van, warehouse, and volunteer drivers to raise and transport humanitarian aid from the EU to those in need across Ukraine. VM4U and Rotary Club Vienna Maria Theresa were also able to direct financial support to UAID-Direct in the form of cover the cost of shipping a 40 ft container from the US to Ivano Frankivsk. This is in addition to local VM4U collaborations, such as the Furnishings Program together with The Feel Good Store; Bicycle Program together with Matusya; Children’s Football, Music, and Art Programs together with Domivka; Orphanage Support Program with Kleine Herzen; and Medical Supply Program together with YOUkraine.

3/1 to 3/31 MEDICS SUPPORT PROGRAM

TacMed Ukraine is an international volunteer medics organization, currently with 6 international volunteer medics which operate in eastern Ukraine. VM4U donations are being used to cover the cost of repairs and tires for the TacMed Ukraine ambulances and casevac.

3/1 to 3/31 FURNISHING PROGRAM UPDATE

Nathan, Furnishings Program Manager, continues to work with Olga, The Feel Good Store, to transfer furniture and appliances directly from donors to refugees on a regular basis using the VM4U van and Nathan’s van. The furnishings team, better known as the VM4U Crew, includes Pasha, Artem, Arkady, Anatolii, Jake, Jesse, Coach Oleksandr, Adam, and others. VM4U donations are used for van fuel.

3/1 to 3/31 VAN PROGRAM UPDATE

Nathan, Van Program Manager, continues to utilize the VM4U van to circulate donations among the volunteer organizations in Vienna, including The Feel Good Store, Matusya, YOUkraine, and Unlimited Democracy. No supply trips to Ukraine occurred this month. VM4U donations are used for fuel and maintenance.

3/1 to 3/31 MUSIC PROGRAM UPDATE

Nadiia, Music Program Manager and Instructor, continues to return refugee children to their music training. The program has 5 instructors for 12 children, thanks to volunteer instructors Joel (Saxophone), Emin (Piano), Mariamv (Piano), Nadiia (Elementary music), and Rosa (Guitar). The music program is a partnership with Kimu Wien (@kimu_wien) and Domivka. VM4U donations are used for instrument maintenance, instrument rental, and instruction materials.

3/4 DIABETIC ORPHANGS SUPPLY AND SUPPORT PROJECT

Oleg, Project Manager, has landed a grant from Tullman Family Office, with support from Frank, for a project to provide diabetic orphans in Ukraine with glucose monitors and education on modern diabetes management. The project involves the purchase of wearable monitors which can be read with a smart phone which tracks the child’s glucose levels in real time. This permits the timely administering of insulin prior to a person feeling unwell. If a child waits until they feel unwell to administer insulin, the child is already suffering irreversible kidney damage. These wearable monitors are used for 3 months with the goal of educating the child (and their caretaker) so that they can better understand and manage their medical condition and significantly increase their life expectancy.

3/4, 3/11, 3/18 FOOTBALL PROGRAM TRAINING

Coach Oleksandr, Football Program Manager, and Coach Sergii continue to host football training for children ages 6-11 on Monday nights from 17:30-19:00 in cooperation with Domivka. For February, the training occurs at an indoor facility which is free of charge.

3/18 HOSTEL HUTTLEDORF SUPPORT CASE

On 3/18, Alsu, driver, relocated Nuhzari, a blind elderly refugee, from Hostel Hutteldorf (refugee center operated by Volkshilfe) to Klinik Heizing, Pavilion A (assisted care dormitory operated by Red Cross). VM4U has assisted Nuhzari several times since first meeting him during the Heidehof Haus dormitory closure in April 2023.

3/20 UAID-DIRECT VAN SUPPLY PROJECT

Thanks to significant donations from the Tullman Family Office raised by Oleg (with a nod to Oleg’s diabetic supply activities) with 501c3 support from Anna, Jerry, Radu, and the Team at Elevate Ukraine, VM4U has been able to financially support the procurement of a cargo van for the UAID-Direct organization, which was finalized yesterday by volunteers in the UK. UAID-Direct raises and delivers aid throughout Ukraine leveraging their warehouses at Medyke and Kyiv, their van fleet, and international volunteer drivers and volunteer warehouse operators. This new van, ‘The Tullman Van’, is critical to the delivery of the 40 ft shipping container of medical supplies due to arrive in Ukraine in April as part of the UAID-Direct/VM4U/Rotary Club VMT Shipping Container Project.

3/20 HOSTEL HUTTLEDORF/OLEKSANDR SUPPORT CASE

Adam, using the VM4U van, relocated Oleksandr, 42 year old from Odesa (motorized wheel chair with Parkinson’s disease), from Hostel Huttledorf (refugee center operated by Volkshilfe) to Haus Penzing (assisted living dormitory operated by Häuser zum Leben). Oleksandr relocated to Vienna from German a few weeks ago and was living in the Vienna Main Train station for 2 days until Caritas employees found him and brought him to the refugee center. VM4U volunteers including Dr. Anya, Ukrainian neurologist, and Dr. Halyna, Ukrainian General Practitioner, are in communication with Oleksandr and together we will help him get the medical support he needs.

3/22 TANYA SUPPORT CASE

Alsu translated during a doctor’s appointment for Tanya, 50 year old from Charkasy, who recently had major surgery.

3/26 HOSTEL HUTTLEDORF SUPPORT CASE

Keonghee, driver, transported Volodymyr, 74 year old elderly gentleman with a walker, first from Hostel Huttledorf (refugee center operated by Volkshilfe) to an administrative appointment, and then to his government sponsored accommodation where four other members of his family reside. Keonghee covered the cost of fuel.

3/27 TACMED UKRAINE AMBULANCE SUPPLY PROJECT UPDATE

TacMed Ukraine recently received a donated ambulance from Swedish donors and also is beginning to incur growing maintenance and operations costs. Thus, it was decided the suspend this project and reserve VM4U donations to support TacMed Ukraine ambulance and casevac maintenance costs instead.

3/28 YULIIA SUPPORT CASE

Iryna, Case Manager, supported Yuliia, a young women from Kamianske (outside Dnipro) following an eviction. Yuliia made a 1 month trip to Ukraine which exceeded the 2 week allowance afforded by Samariterbund which resulted in her eviction. Adam, driver, using the VM4U van relocated Yuliia and her personal belonging from Haus Liebhartstal (dormitory operated by Samariterbund) to Karwan Haus (dormitory operated by Caritas). VM4U donations were used for van fuel.