Save and help: Europe celebrates the Day of Foundations and Donors

This day, October 1st, is considered to be The European Day of Foundations and Donors. The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation is the leader of charity in Ukraine. According to a recent survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) *, more than 90% of Ukrainians know about Rinat Akhmetov's charitable activities. Among residents of Donbass it is as high as 95%.

“The survey involved 2,450 respondents across the country. Among charitable organizations, the most famous, in their opinion, is the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation. Its performance is 10% more than that of the second-ranking International Red Cross. And the work of the Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center, which is the largest program of the Foundation, is favorably assessed by 72% of the population. Among those who know about his activities, the overwhelming majority - 86% of them - positively assess it”, - explains Vladimir Paniotto, director of KIIS.

The Foundation has received recognition from international charitable organizations. For example, the "Donbas and Civilians" photobook, published by the foundation in May this year, has been rated high at the international conference of the European Foundation Center (EFC) in Brussels. The event, which brings together more than 500 major benefactors, was one of the most significant philanthropic events in Europe. The photobook was highly appreciated by the conference participants.

“To tell about the difficult humanitarian situation in the Donbas through the fate of ordinary citizens is the best way to reach everyone. No statistics will touch the heart like the story of a little girl. These human stories presented in the book give me goose bumps, ”said Aida Kallender from Sarajevo.

According to Roman Rubchenko, director of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, the conference in Brussels opened many Europeans eyes to the conflict in Ukraine. And this is only the beginning of a difficult but noble path.

«Since the beginning of the armed conflict, Rinat Akhmetov has saved more than a million human lives in the Donbas. For the four years that the Foundation’s largest program, the Humanitarian Center, has been working, people who live on the line of demarcation call, write, and tell their stories. Their words freeze our hearts and leave no one indifferent. They should not be unempathized and leave unnoticed. These are stories of ordinary people that should be told.

The book "Donbas and Civilians" was the first sign in a series of publications that will allow the world to hear these stories. People continue to live there: children and old people, teachers and nurses who are in very difficult conditions every day. It is hard, they are scared and hurt, but they survive with the hope of peace. To let others to hear this hope, we need to talk about it. That is why the Foundation tells these stories, publishes books, works to ensure that as many people as possible learn about people with strong spirit and hope, setting an example for all of us to be steadfast”, - Rubchenko said.

From the first days of the armed conflict in the Donbass, all the efforts of the Foundation are focused on helping Civilians. The largest program of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation - the Humanitarian Center - is aimed at supporting the most needy civilians of Donbass affected by the hostilities:

- “Assistance to the civilians” - 12 141 087 food packages were issued;

- “Targeted assistance” - more than 50,000 people received individual assistance, more than 11.4 thousand people received targeted assistance for treatment, of which more than 5.8 thousand were children;

- “Peaceful Summer for Donbas Children” - almost 4,000 children received  summer rest and psychological support;

- “Rehabilitation of injured children” - More than 100 injured children received help within the program.

- “Evacuation and resettlement” - about 50 thousand civilians were evacuated. 15,000 of them are children.

* The study was conducted in July 2018, 2,450 respondents were polled.