2024/1/1 to 2024/1/31 Recap



1/1 to 1/27 ST. NICHOLAS PROJECT/ ORPHANAGE SUPPORT PROGRAM UPDATE
Pippa, St. Nicholas Project Manager, has completed her project (with thanks to dozens of volunteers) to raise 164 Christmas gifts and essentials (i.e., winter clothes) for refugee children in Vienna and the displaced orphanages in the VM4U network. 96 presents were raised by VM4U for the displaced Zhuravno orphanage and ~800 kg of presents were raised by Kleine Herzen for children in the Save Ukraine network. This last batch of presents were delivered to Ukraine by a VM4U van team and were delivered on 1/27. VM4U donations were used for van, fuel, vignettes, tolls, and driver lodging; no VM4U donations were used for presents; winter clothes were generously sponsored by Gebhard.
1/1 to 1/31 UAID-DIRECT MEDICAL SUPPLY PROJECT
Marian, VM4U/UAID-Direct Project Manager, has been working to build a medical supply chain between Partners for World Health and several hospitals in Kherson and Ivano-Frankivask and international volunteer medic organizations in Ukraine, including TacMed Ukraine and Operation Aid via UAID-Direct. All the medical supplies are donated AND needs driven (specifically requested by the end users in our network). VM4U’s role is (1) covering the cost of transporting the container from the USA to Ukraine, (2) connecting UAID-Direct to our North American network, including Tamara, Maple Hope Foundation – Vancouver, Canada (maplehopefoundation.org) and Lene, Arlene Campbell Humanitarian Foundation – Houston, Texas. Both Mape Hope and Arlene Campbell have experience transporting donated medical supplies via shipping containers to Ukraine. On 1/22, our four organizations had a conference call where the North American organizations shared their past experiences, resources, and networks with the European organizations. The first container shipment is expected to occur in February.
1/1 to 1/31 TACMED UKRAINE AMBULANCE PROJECT
Michael and Bjorn, Co-Project Managers, are working to source, procure, and deliver an ambulance for TacMed Ukraine. The specifications provided by Simon, TacMed Ukraine Lead Medic, for an off-road capable ambulance have proven extremely difficult to meet. Efforts continue. The ambulance will be purchased using VM4U donations with support from Rotary Club Maria Theresa Chapter.
1/1 to 1/31 EMANUEL AND THERESA’S FILM PROJECT
Emanuel, 15 yo, and Theresa, 16 yo, are Austrian students an amateur film produces who approached VM4U with a request to interview Ukrainian children close to their age. Together with Emanuel and Theresa’s parents; Roxy, VM4U Psychological Program Manager; Olga, The Feel Good Store; and Andreas, Pulse 24 News; Emanuel and Theresa are in the process of identifying a young Ukrainian to interview.
1/1 to 1/31 VAN PROGRAM UPDATE
Nathan, Van Program Manager, completed maintenance on the VM4U van from 1/2 to 1/8. Nathan also successfully executed new customs procedures; letters from donors, receivers, and transporters were prepared (in addition to the standard manifest) and provided to border guards at the Korczowa, Poland by the VM4U van team on 1/26. The VM4U van and the VM4U crew continue to perform circulation of local donations and furniture, deliveries to Ukraine, and support for Team Vienna partners. This included support for The Feel Good Store as it moved out of its location at the Social Work Hub as well as delivering Christmas from Austria to Ukraine for Kleine Herzen. Van maintenance and fuel costs were covered by VM4U donations.
1/1 to 1/31 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), Mariam (Piano), Nadiia (Violin, Elementary music), and Rosa (Guitar). The program needs a keyboard. The music program is a partnership with Kimu Wien (@kimu_wien),VIMAC and Domivka. VM4U donations are used for instrument maintenance, instrument rental, and instruction materials.
1/1 to 1/31 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. VM4U donations are used for van fuel.
1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29 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 at an indoor facility at Castellezgasse 35 in collaboration with Domivka. Indoor field rental is cost free.
1/26 VM4U VAN MISSION – LVIV
Keith and Alexander, drivers, using the VM4U van, delivered belated Christmas presents raised by VM4U and Kleine Herzen, to the displaced Zhuravno Orphanage outside of Lviv and to the Save Ukraine organization’s logistic relay point in Lviv. VM4U donations were used for fuel, tolls, vignettes, and driver lodging.
1/13 DIMA SUPPORT CASE UPDATE
Dima, a 28 yo refugee from Kharkiv, is currently on dialysis and needs a kidney and pancreas transplant. On 1/13, Dima received the call that a suitable donor had been found. At 6:00 AM on 1/15, Konstantine, translator and supporter, joined Dima in the Red Cross ambulance to the Innsbrucke hospital for the surgery planned at 20:00. In Innsbrucke, Dima and Konstantine were supported by local volunteer Olexandra, medical translator and supporter, who also arranged accommodations for the team through a local church. Unfortunately, 1 hour before the surgery, the doctors declared the organs not suitable for transplant and the surgery was cancelled. VM4U donations were available, but were not used.
1/25 SVITLANA SUPPORT CASE
Roxy, Psychological Support Program Manager, Olga, translator, and Nathan, driver, transported Svitlana, 67 year old with mental and visual impairment the result of a head injury, from Hostel Hutteldorf (refugee center operated by Volkshilfe) to a long term accommodation in Raasdorf (~45 min from Vienna by car). The long term apartment was a 1 bedroom apartment with 8 total tenants in rows of bunk beds. Roxy and Olga quickly went shopping and donated household goods for Svitlana including bed sheets, cooking, etc. Nathan, VM4U Furnishings Program Manager, will be on the lookout for furnishings, such as a large refrigerator, for these people. It is reported that the state of mind of the people living in these conditions in this remote location is very poor. It was further reported by the new roommates that Svitlana is not able to take care of herself. Eileen, case manager, is working to find a more suitable assisted living solution for Svitlana.
1/25 ANDREY’S SUPPORT PROJECT
A family from Vinnytsia, Yuriy, father; Svitlana, mother; Yuriy, 14 yo son; and Anhelina, 11 yo daughter; are in an urgent and complex situation. Anhelina has severe form of cerebral palsy and several other health problems including a displaced hip. The family came to Austria in March-April 2022 where hip surgery was performed and metal components installed. Following the surgery, the family their live in Austria to be unsustainable and returned to Ukraine. However, the surgeons in Ukraine were unwilling to perform the next phase of the surgery to remove the metal components. The family has since returned to Austria on 7 Jan 2024, however, they are unable to find accommodation. Maximilian and Irmgard have offered a donor subsidized low rent apartment in Ebendorf (~45 min from Vienna) for the family. On 1/28, Andrey helped the family relocate and prepare the new household. Sofja assisted the family with their administrative needs. The family moved in on 2/1.
1/29 NATALYA SUPPORT CASE
Adam, driver, and Karina, translator, transported Tanya, 51 yo from Charkassy, from Hotel de France (dormitory operated by Samariterbund) to Klinik Landstrasse where Tanya underwent major surgery. Karina provided translation and support at the hospital. The surgery was performed on 1/30. Karina will assist Tanya home from the hospital next week and make sure she has what she needs for her recovery.
1/29 HOSTEL HUTTLEDORF SUPPORT CASE
Beyungseok and Keonghee, drivers, transported Valentin, 80 yr old gentleman from Kharkiv, from Hostel Hutteldorf (refugee center operated by Volkshilfe) to and from an accommodations interview at Haus Damaris (government sponsored dormitory operated by Caritas). These accommodations interviews are inflexible and if missed can result in the refugee becoming homeless. Unfortunately, there is no suitable transportation system for refugees with limited mobility to reach these inflexible interviews and why VM4U volunteers are needed to fill this gap in the system and ensure the safety of these at-risk people.