5/1 to 5/31 VAN PROGRAM UPDATE

Nathan, Van Program Manager, continues to utilize the VM4U van to circulate donations in Vienna as well as deliver medical supplies in Ukraine. VM4U donations are used for fuel and maintenance.

5/1 to 5/31 MUSIC PROGRAM UPDATE

Nadiia, Music Program Manager and Instructor, continues to return refugee children to their music training. The program has 4 instructors for 10 children, thanks to volunteer instructors Joel (Saxophone), Emin (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.

5/2 VAN MISSION – TACMED UKRAINE SUPPORT

VM4U volunteer drivers, Ken, Michael, and Adam, repositioned TacMed Ukraine ambulances in Kyiv. VM4U donations were used to refuel TacMed Ukraine vehicles which were bone dry. VM4U transferred 2 full 20L jerry cans of diesel to TacMed Ukraine as well.

5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5/27 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. In May, the training has returned to the outdoor fields at the SportscenterDonaucity. Field rental and equipment costs are covered by VM4U donations.

5/7 ANDRIANNA SUPPORT CASE

Andrianna is a 16 year old who previously was a refugee in Vienna and has returned to Ukraine. Andiranna is investigating opportunities to attend University in Vienna. Eileen, VM4U University Programs Manager, communicated with Andrianna. Andrianna also communicated with two students, Katia and Alex (who were also under 18 years old when they came to Vienna) who Eileen has previously helped relocate to Austria, find a dormitory to live in, and begin their studies.

5/7 BOGDAN SUPPORT CASE

Bogdan is interested in starting a business in Vienna. Gebhard, VM4U, Integration Program Manager, with support from Michael, provided basis advice to Bogdan and referred Bogdan to the Unlimited Democracy organization which had an upcoming lecture on this subject by a local Ukrainian who has successfully started a business in Vienna.

5/8, 5/22, 5/25, 5/27 FURNISHINGS 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, had 4 days of furniture deliveries in April. VM4U donations are used for van fuel.

5/10 HOSTEL HUTTLEDORF SUPPORT CASE

Adam, volunteer driver, using Michael’s vehicle, transported Larissa, with limited mobility, from Hostel Huttledorf (refugee center operated by Volkshilfe) to/from her Police registration at Hernalser Gurtel 6-12. VM4U donations were used for fuel.

5/12, 5/16 MEDICS SUPPORT PROGRAM

VM4U donations were used to support TacMed Ukraine medics. Specifically, VM4U donations were used to cover the expense of urgently needed medical grade portable oxygen systems and the repair of one of the TacMed Ukraine ambulances.

5/15 BOHDAN SUPPORT CASE

Through Tanya Meier, VM4U was introduced to 8 year old Bohdan. Bohdan and his father encountered a landmine while playing football in Kharkiv and each lost a leg. The family was relocated to Vienna under an Austrian government program to support civilian amputees and burn victims. VM4U would like to help Bohdan to return to sport with kids is own age as soon as possible. Before that can happen, Bogdan will need to obtain a sports prosthetic (aka. Performance prosthetic). On 5/26, Coach Oleksander, Coach Sergii, Dr. Liliana, and Adam met with Bohdan, his mother Viktoriia, and his father Yefgehnii. Currently, Dr.Lilana is communicating with the Austrian government to determine if a sports prosthetic would be covered under the Austrian government program which relocated the family to Vienna.

5/17 MUTUSYA BICYCLE SUPPLY PROJECT

Gebhard, Bicycle Program Manager, procured 19 very low cost bicycles (and 5 scooters) from MA48 which were transferred to Matusya, a children’s aid collection and distribution center in Vienna, for distribution to local children. Nathan and Adam, driver and crew, used the VM4U van to transport the bicycles to Matusya, children’s aid collection distribution center. VM4U donations were used to purchase the bicycles and cover van fuel.

5/20 UAID-DIRECT/VM4U MEDICAL SUPPLY CHAIN PROJECT 2

The VM4U/UAID-Direct Project Manager has completed a needs driven medical supply chain between the Partners for World Health Organization in the USA and Ukrainian hospitals and medics. The second such medical aid shipment, an estimated 10 tons, has been initiated thanks to sponsorship from the Tullman Family Office. The shipment is expected to arrive in Ukraine in July 2024.

5/20 TACMED UKRAINE MEDICAL SUPPLY PROJECT

Michael, Project Manager, is organizing the procurement of ALL the medical equipment currently needed by TacMed Ukraine nternational volunteer medics to fully outfit ALL TacMed Ukraine’s ambulances thanks to sponsorship from the Tullman Family Office.

5/21 ARKADY’S SUPPORT CASE

Nathan and Arkady, drivers, used the VM4U van to relocate a refugee household in Vienna. VM4U donations were used to cover van fuel.

5/22 OKSANA’S SUPPORT CASE

Oksana’s relative Natallia, 47 year old with stage 4 gall bladder cancer, is urgently relocating to Vienna from Ukraine for life saving treatment. Michael, Irmgard, Oleg, and Alena are providing guidance and infield administrative support to quickly pass Natallia through the police registration, meldezettle, and medical administrative processes and quickly admitted for treatment. Irmgard was able to assist with the Meldezettel as Natallia is staying with one of the families Irmgard (and her son Maximillian) current host. Alena is a Ukrainian nurse at specializing in cancer treatment at Ottakring Klink and was able to advise. Oleg has managed similar cases and was able to advice. On 6/30, Michael accompanied Natallia during a doctor’s appointment.

5/23 VAN MISSION – MATUSYA SUPPORT

Nathan and Adam, driver and crew, use the VM4U van to collect a complete van load of donations from Yuliia-Baden and deliver them to Matusay, children’s aid collection and distribution center. VM4U donations were used for diesel.

5/27 HOSTEL HUTTELDORF SUPPORT CASE

Konghee, driver, using her personal vehicle, relocated Luidmyla and Ihor, an elderly couple from Lviv, where Ihor has cancer, is weak, and mobility limited, to a Yuliia-Baden accommodation in Baden. Yuliia-Baden is a volunteer introduced to VM4U by David in 2022 who has been assisting refugees with accommodations and raising donations since the beginning and is a great Team Vienna partner over in Baden.

5/31 DIABETIC SUPPLY PROJECT UPDATE

Oleg, Project Manager, is working to provide diabetic orphans in Ukraine with glucose monitors and education on modern diabetes management. Unfortunately, VM4U has been informed by the Ukrainian government that there is no centralized information to help identify the orphans with diabetes in Ukraine. Oleg is currently exercising new approaches to finding diabetic children in need of support including cooperation with Pascal, head of Kleine Herzen. Pascale is also director of a displaced Ukrainian orphanage in Burgenland, Austria which includes a 2 year old with diabetes.

5/31 UAID-DIRECT VAN SUPPLY PROJECT UPDATE

The van raised for UAID-Direct with support from VM4U and sponsorship from the Tullman Family Office has been out of service for May. An unresolved maintenance issue has led the van to 2 repair shops in the UK and 2 more in Kyiv. Mechanic reliance on the onboard computer for diagnostics has led to repeated unsuccessful repairs. The van is headed to a trusted mechanic in Kyiv (and not the Ford mechanic) to get an opinion other than that of the onboard computer.

5/31 UAID-DIRECT MYKOLAIV ORPHANAGE PROJECT

UAID-Direct is planning a major renovation of a Ukrainian government orphanage outside Mykolaiv, Ukraine. VM4U has been extending specialized volunteers and networking UAID-Direct with other organizations, including Kleine Herzen and Elevate Ukraine, which may be able to support the project.