9/19 to 10/27 Recap
9/19 to 10/27 KOGL ORPHANAGE SUPPLY PROJECT UPDATE
On 9/25, Filipp, Kogl Orphanage Supply Project Manager, organized a collaboration with the Vienna Family Network, to raise a donation of winter clothing and toys, which was delivered to the Kogl Orphanage by Cliff and Nathan. On 10/12, Svetlana, Case Officer, attended a meeting with representatives from the orphanage and local government to continue discussions on the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables to and extracurricular activities for the orphanage.
9/19 to 10/27 ZHURAVNO ORPHANAGE SUPPLY PROJECT UPDATE
The Zhuravno Orphanage director, Olha, provided VM4U a list of needed supplies, mostly furniture, furnishing, and appliances. On 10/2 and 10/19, some of the supplies on the list, raised by Cliff, were delivered to the Zhuravno Orphanage. Following the final inputs by Olha, VM4U will launch a dedicated website and targeted fundraising campaign for the Zhuravno Orphanage, thanks to Julia, VM4U webmaster, and Israel, digital content designed.
9/19 to 10/25 FURNISHINGS PROGRAM UPDATE
Nathan, VM4U Furnishing Program Manager, and teams of volunteers continue to move donated furniture to refugees on almost a daily basis. Vans generously provided by Nathan and the First Aid First Hand (FAFH) organization. Through collaboration between VM4U, The Feel Good Store, Domivka, and Osterreich Hilft Ukraine, and significant coordination activities, each piece of furniture is delivered direct from donor to the refugee family in need. VM4U donations cover the cost of diesel for the FAFH van while fuel for Nathans van is generously donated by Nathan.
9/19 to 10/25 MEDICAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT CASES
Dr. Halyna, Medical Support Program Manager; Irina, Refugee Welfare Program Manager; and Roxy, Psychological Support Program Manager have be working on several challenging refugee support cases of a medical and psychological nature. Dima, is a refugee with a life threating condition requiring periodic hospitalization which are facilitated by Oleg, David, Elli, Svetlana, Dr. Halyna, and Dr. Liliana. A volunteer, Roman, facilitated Volodymyr receiving medical consultation where it was determined that Volodymyr will need heart surgery. Dr. Liliana and Irina are working with a refugee with cystic fibrosis, currently in living in Lithuania, to help them access to medication available in Austria. Roxy and Natalia are working with the caretaker of a 29 yr old with down syndrome to overturn an incorrect diagnosis filed with the Austrian government which prevents this individual from receiving government support. Roxy and Natalia responded to an urgent request from volunteers in Lviv related to an American volunteer who was at-risk.
9/21-9/22 VAN MISSIONS
VM4U van teams, Adam and Michael, transported art from/to locations in Vienna in support of an upcoming Domivka fundraising event. The vehicles were generously provided by the First Aid First Hand organization and Michael and VM4U donations covered the cost of diesel.
9/23 DOMIVKA FUNDRAISING EVENT
VM4U volunteers, Elli, David, Michael, Nathan, and Adam, attended the Domivka Fundraiser. The event hosted distinguished speakers sharing their personal stories of perseverance, a Ukrainian art exhibition, Ukrainian food, and an opportunity to network with other volunteers and organizations. VM4U engaged with Natalia, a Ukrainian Psychotherapist licensed in Austria and Ivan, Österreich Integrationsfonds.
9/24 VAN MISSION – Lviv
VM4U car team, Israel and Adam, transported Oleg’s insulin to Lviv for continuation on to Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Irpin. The car had a breakdown after hitting a pothole. Thanks to Julia, Director of Operations, and the local YOUkraine team, the car was towed, repaired, and back on the road in 24 hours. Ukrainian art was transported from Lviv to Vienna in support an upcoming YOUkraine fundraiser. The vehicle was generously provided by Oleg. VM4U donations cover fuel, tolls, and repair costs.
9/25 VIENNA FAMILY NETWORK COLLABORATION
Filipp, VM4U Project Manager for the Kogl Orphanage Supply Project, collaborated with the Vienna Family Network (VFN), to raise clothing and toy donations for the Kogl Orphanage and the Feel Good Store. The VFN is an organization which focuses on integration of families new to Vienna. On 9/25, VFN organized a pop-up market for families to sell outgrown children’s clothing and toys. At the end of the day, unsold items were donated to the VM4U Kogl Orphanage Supply Project and the Feel Good Store.
Website: http://www.viennafamilynetwork.com
9/25 VAN MISSION
Cliff and Nathan transported 4 van loads of clothes and toys from the market to the Kogl Orphanage and the Feel Good Store. The vans and fuel were generously provided by Cliff and Nathan.
9/28 LET’S PLAY COLLABORATION
David, VM4U Accommodations Program Manager, introduced the Let’s Play organization to Domivka. Let’s Play is an organization which plays with refugee children and operates at the Vienna Refugee Center (aka Sports and Fun, aka Ukraine Arrival Center) and soon will open a second location at Domivka’s facility in the 2nd district. Domivka is a Ukrainian community center for women and children here in Vienna.
Website: http://www.letsplayvienna.org
9/28 VM4U INTEGRATION PROGRAM
Gebhard, Integration Program Manager (and Employment Program Manager), has undertaken the task of helping Ukrainians ‘Integrate’ into Austria society. The exact scope and meaning of ‘integration’ remains fluid. Integration includes learning German, obtaining employment and benefits, and attending Austrian schools (as required by law). The working goal of the Integration Program (fluid as well) is for refugees to have the ability to independently function in Austrian society (while being dependent on State subsidies for survival). A longer term working goal is for refugees to be contributing members of Austrian society (and not dependent on State subsidies for survival). Gebhard is conducting meetings with Österreich Hilft Ukraine, the Feel Good Store, Domivka, Österreichische Integrationsfonds, St. Barbara’s Church, the Vienna Family Network, and others to begin collecting needs and resources so that the Team Vienna community can further organize resources and activities in support of these integration goals.
10/1 to 10/2 VAN MISSION
A cargo van team, Adam, delivered 7 large dining tables, 5 single mattresses, 1 large refrigerator, and 1 large freezer, all raised by Cliff, to the Zhuravno Orphanage (1.5 hours outside of Lviv). Ukrainian art was transported from Lviv to Vienna for a future YOUkraine fundraiser. Ukrainian language children’s books were attempted to be transported from Lviv to Vienna for Österrh Hilft Ukraine, but was blocked at the Polish border unsuccessful due insufficient documentation. The van was generously provided by the First Aid First Hand organization and VM4U donations were used to cover diesel and tolls.
10/5 PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT TEAM UPDATE
Nataliya, a Ukrainian psychotherapist licensed in Austria, joined the VM4U Psychological Support Team which includes Roxy, Inga, and Alexandra.
10/6 ÖSTERREICH HILFT UKRAINE SUPPLY PROJECT 3 – “Elli’s List”
Elli, Duty Executive Director and Project Manager, has organized an Amazon gift registry so that anyone can quickly and confidently donate supplies directly by Österreich Hilft Ukraine aid collection and distribution organization in the 9th district. To donate, go to https://www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/10PJ42UQSBFVL?ref_=wl_share
10/6 REFUGEE SUPPORT CASE
David assisted 2 refugees in abruptly moving to a different apartment following an untenable situation with the landlord.
10/7 MEETING – AUSTRIA STANDS WITH UKRAINE (ASWU)
Adam, VM4U Executive Director, met with Fülop, ASWU CEO and Co-Founder, and Kateryna, ASWU Co-Founder, at their office in the 1st district. ASWU specializes in raising and sending humanitarian aid from Austria to Ukraine, often in large lories.
Website: http://aswu.at
10/14 MEETING – DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS, VIC UKRAINIAN CLUB, YOUKRAINE
Adam and Elli, VM4U Executive Team, and Dr. Halyna, VM4U Medical Support Program Manager, met with Luis from Doctors without Borders; Yaroslav, Solomiia, Anya from the Vienna International Center (VIC) Ukrainian Club; and Ivan, Solomiia, and Sofiia from YOUkraine, over dinner at GRND to discuss medical support and supply to Ukraine.
10/15 VM4U SOCIAL EVENT
VM4U hosted a social event at Ferrari Café which was attended by representatives from Domivka, The Feel Good Store, Österreichischer Integrationsfonds, YOUkraine, and others. No VM4U donations were used to cover this event.
10/15 OLEG HONORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PAEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT DIABETES (ISPAD)
At their Annual Conference, ISPAD honored Oleg with the ‘IPSAD Hero Award 2022’ for his work supplying insulin to Ukraine. Oleg partners with the Insulin for Life, St. Barbara’s Church, YOUkraine, and VM4U to raise and transport his insulin.
10/17 VAN MISSION
A cargo van team, David, transported supplies for the Let’s Play organization to their new location at Domivka in the 2nd district. The van was generously provided by First Aid First Hand with fuel covered by VM4U donations.
10/18 to 10/19 VAN MISSION – LVIV
A cargo van team, Adam, transported medical supplies to Lviv for YOUkraine for continuation to hospitals in Ukraine. Additionally 4 single mattresses, raised by Cliff, and hygiene and food supplies raised by YOUkraine, were delivered to the Zhuravno Orphanage (1.5 hr south of Lviv). The van was generously provided by First Aid First Hand and fuel and tolls were covered by VM4U donations.
10/21 ST. NICHOLAS PROJECT
Svetlana, Project Manager for the St. Nicholas Project, will coordinate winter holiday activities and gifts for Ukrainian families and children here in Austria. This project includes, but is not limited to the multi-organization collection and distribution of toys to Ukrainian children, beginning with the Ukrainian orphanages in Austria. For the Orthodox religion, toys are generally received on St. Nicholas day, Dec. 19, and New Year’s Day, Jan 1; toys are not received on Christmas, Jan 7.
10/20 THE FEEL GOOD STORE ACADEMIC LECTURES
The Feel Good Store, Domivka, and VM4U participated in a series of academic lectures on ‘the Human Cost of War’ for a group of ~20 students. The event was organized, hosted by, and held at the Feel Good Store in the 1st district. The initial lectures were by the Feel Good Store volunteers, who are mostly refugees, who shared their personal stories. This was followed by presentations by Adam and Natalia, who presented a slide show of past VM4U and Domivka activities. Lastly Inga, VM4U Psychological Councilor, presented on the psychological status of refugees.
10/22 REFUGEE SUPPORT CASE
A refugee staying with a VM4U host family was transported by Michael, along with their household, to a long term accommodation elsewhere in Vienna. The vehicle and fuel was generously provided by Michael.
10/26 to 10/27 VAN MISSION
A cargo van team, David and Rupert, completed a delivery to Lviv of Insulin for Oleg; 574 kg pasta, 1 ultrasound, and medical supplies for YOUkraine; and clothes, toys, pet and medical supplies for UAID-Direct, donated by David. The van was generously provided by First Aid First Hand and fuel and tolls were covered by VM4U donations
