8/1 to 8/31 MUSIC PROGRAM UPDATE

Nadiia, Music Program Manager and Instructor, is working to return refugee children to their music training. The program has 5 instructors for 10 children: Joel (Saxophone), Emin (Piano), Mariam (Piano), Nadiia (Violin), Svetlana (Guitar). Many thanks to Matt and Jackie for lending the alto saxophone! The program needs a keyboard and guitar teacher. The music program is a partnership with Kimu Wien (@kimu_wien), Liberty Education, and Domivka. VM4U donations are used for instrument maintenance, instrument rental, and instruction materials.

8/1 to 8/31 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 includes Pasha, Artem, Arkady, Anatolii, Adam, and others. Collaborations with Roland, Team Munchendorf, and Yuliia from Baden on furniture and general material donations to The Feel Good Store are regularly occurring. VM4U donations are used for van fuel.

8/1 to 8/31 ART PROGRAM UPDATE

Juliia, Art Program Manager, hosts an arts and crafts workshop, typically each Monday, for children at Domivka. Domivka was on a break this month and no workshops were conducted. Workshops will resume in September. VM4U donations cover the costs of art supplies.

8/1 to 8/31 MEDICS SUPPORT PROGRAM UPDATE

VM4U has a project to create an official non-profit organization in Ukraine around Lead Medic, Simon Johnsen, from Norway. Simon has been leading a team of international, volunteer medics rescuing civilians on the front lines in Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Together with other Vienna based non-profit organizations and volunteers, VM4U+First Aid First Hand+YOUkraine are providing Simon’s team a fully supplied ambulance while standing up all the business functions for his non-profit organization called TacMed Ukraine (e.g., website, email, social media, legal, fundraising, banking, IT, etc.). Now Simon can focus on saving lives and leave the rest to international volunteers including Lauren, Markus, Max, Solomiia, Toby, Artem, Jesse, Israel, Juliia, Adam, Chanda, and others.

8/1 to 8/31 FIRST AID FIRST HAND (FAFH) AMBULANCE PROJECT UPDATE

Medical supplies, requested by Simon, TacMed Ukraine Lead Medic, for the FAFH Ambulance have been ordered thanks to Max (FAFH), Lauren (VM4U), Solomiia (YOUkraine), and Emiliia (YOUkraine). Fundraising to buy the medical supplies came from the FAFH Ambulance Fundraiser on July 14 organised by Lauren and a collection from Vienna Community Church on June 25, organised by Chanda, and VM4U donations. The medical supplies for the ambulance should arrive soon. After which the FAFH Ambulance will be delivered to Simon with the help of Team Fynn and YOUkraine.

8/1 to 8/31 VAN PROGRAM UPDATE

Nathan, VM4U Van Program Manager, has organized furniture deliveries, refugee support missions, regular donation pick-up and delivery for The Feel Good Store, and 6 separate transports of art and supplies for three separate Ukrainian art exhibit and fundraisers, including the “Hope for the Light” exhibit organized by Ptashka Art Project. VM4U donations are used for van fuel.

8/7, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28 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 the outdoor fields at Sport Center Donau City in cooperation with Domivka. Roxy, Psychological Support Program Manager, continues to bring snacks to the kids after each session which has become tradition. Field costs of €50/session were sponsored by Yvonne and John.

8/8 SVETLANA SUPPORT CASE

Irina, VM4U Welfare Program Manager and Gebhard, VM4U Integration Program Manager, have been working with Svetlana to apply for additional social benefits to help her care for her mother who is in a wheel chair and has dementia. After completing all the necessary medical visits and administrative paperwork, Svetlana was denied benefits on account of not being Austrian.

8/11 LENA SUPPORT CASE

Adam, driver, using Michaels SUV, transported Lena and her husband, both elderly and originally from Donetsk, to and from his post-surgery doctor’s appointment. VM4U donations are used for vehicle fuel.

8/16 JOYCES’S SUPPORT CASE

VM4U received a request from Joyce, Humanists Minnesota. A refugee family from Odesa was unsuccessful in making a connecting flight in Vienna, lost their luggage, and subsequently ended up in a hotel nearby. Svetlana, Case Officer, was available by phone to assist the family (though Svetlana’s support was not utilized).

8/16 MYKOLA SUPPORT CASE

Adam, driver, using the VM4U van, relocated Mykola, 34 yo, and Lydia, his 68 yo disabled mother, originally from Donetsk, along with their person belongs from Hostel Hutteldorf (refugee center operated by Volkshilfe) to Hotel de France (dormitory operated by Samariterbund). VM4U donations are used for van fuel.

8/17 CHRISTINA SUPPORT CASE

Adam, driver, using the VM4U van, relocated Christina and her mother Tatiana, originally from Odesa, along with their personal belongs from Hostel Hutteldorf (refugee center operated by Volkshilfe) to Haus Emma (dormitory operated by Caritas). VM4U donations are used for van fuel.

8/17, 8/18 VOLODYMYR SUPPORT CASE UPDATE

On 8/17 and 8/18 and Ella, translator, attended two doctor’s appointments with Volodymyr. Volodymyr, an elderly man from Vinnytsia, is completing a series of pre-surgery medical examinations prior to undergoing heart surgery.

8/22 HOSTEL HUTTLEDORF SUPPORT CASE

Adam, driver, using the VM4U van, relocated Tetiana and Volodymy (limited mobility), originally from Odessa, along with their personal belongings from Hostel Huttledorf (refugee center operated by Volkshilfe) to Haus Winkelackerweg (dormitory operated by Samariterbund).

8/27, 8/30, 8/31 DIMA SUPPORT CASE UPDATE

On 8/27, Vira organized an uber to urgently transport Dima to the hospital for dialysis and provided remote translation. On 8/30, David provided translation and advocacy. Until now Dima’s dialysis is ad hoc but going forward it will be routinely scheduled 3 times per week. On 8/31, Ella provided translation for Dima during some additional tests in preparation for his eventual kidney transplant.

8/29 ORPHANAGE SUPPORT PROGRAM UPDATE

Svetlana, Orphanage Support Program Manager, continues to monitor the needs of the orphanages in the VM4U network. On 8/29, Svetlana responded to a request for urgent assistance from the displaced Ukrainian orphanage in St. Georgen, about 3 hr west of Vienna by car. The orphanage management needed financial support for 3 train tickets to visit the Ukrainian Embassy in Vienna. The train tickets were purchased by Svetlana using VM4U donations.

8/31 ZHURAVNO ORPHANAGE SUPPORT PROJECT 2 UPDATE

Beginning in 4/30, Israel, Jesse, and Juliia launched a social media fundraising campaign to help the displaced orphanage in Zhuravno, Ukraine to raise urgently needed industrial washers and dryers. Several communities and donors responded, including a church from Munich and a group from Poland. VM4U donors supplied one industrial dryer on 6/10. The Zhuravno orphanage now has all their urgent needs met and the project is completed.