There is an overwhelming keenness amongst our followers to assist with support for Ukraine. We’ve been contacted by some offering help, and others asking how they can help.

Rafters offering support for Ukraine

• In Romania we have Mihai Mares, an IRF GTE Instructor, offering to assist with shelter, jobs in the summer and possibly food and money if any Ukrainian guides and their families are in or near Romania. Contact Mihai.
• In Czech, Svaz vodáků České republiky – Rafting (SVoCR) is offering accommodation and assistance in Prague to Ukrainian rafters. Contact Anna.
• In Canada, Jim Coffey, who is an IRF GTE Assessor, has jobs available for Ukrainian rafting guides, and their families are also welcome. Canada just announced 3 year work permits for Ukrainian citizens. Contact Jim.

Let us know of any other rafters assisting that you know of.

Support for Ukraine options

When looking at ways to give support for Ukraine we found a number of good options, ranging from well-known international charities who always step in to assist in times of crisis, down to small, unknown charities working directly in Ukraine. We have listed some options below so you can choose which charity you feel is the one you’d like to support.

Where Hope Lives is an official charitable organisation working right in the middle of it all in Ukraine. Every day they are on the ground driving supplies to key areas. One of the IRF’s own river guides, Olya, is working with them – driving refugees out of the Ukraine, bringing back much needed essentials and helping distribute them. They would be grateful for any help! You can follow their work on their Facebook page – it gives you a sense of the real life that these volunteers have at the moment and the incredible work they are doing. Their official charity certificate. KANIUKA SERHII (Sergey Kanyuka – Head of Charitable Foundation). More information and questions can be answered here +38 (067)4160735 Christina.

Ukrainian Rafting Federation – Donations can be made to them via Oleksandr Bakanychev.

Ukrainian Red Cross – The Red Cross is probably one of the oldest organisations that have been assisting in war zones through the decades. The URC website has been targeted for hacking but you can still find the links you need to donate or follow them. You can also donate via the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Humane Society International – aimed at animal protection. The Romanian Red Cross and animal protection organisation Humane Society International have launched an unprecedented agreement to get vital pet food and veterinary supplies into Ukraine to help tackle a worsening animal welfare crisis.

UN World Food Program – Providing food to the most vulnerable people inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries, especially those on the move in search of safety. They are scaling up their operations to reach millions in Ukraine and hundreds of thousands of displaced Ukrainians in bordering countries with emergency food assistance.

World Central Kitchen – WCK is rapidly expanding their #ChefsForUkraine response to distribute food—including hot, fresh meals—in five countries. They have multiple warehouses active in Lviv where trucks are filled with food to head east reaching cities like Odessa and Mykolayiv. They are also supporting more restaurants to serve meals in Ukrainian cities including Kharkiv and Kyiv, which remain under active attack.

United Nations Population Fund UNFPA – supporting women and girls impacted by the war in Ukraine. Delivering essential medicines, supplies and services to ensure that reproductive health care is sustained.

UN Refugee Agency  – Providing life-saving protection to families forced to flee their homes. Your support can help ensure that people fleeing Ukraine are sheltered and safe.

Ukraine Take Shelter is an independent platform helping to connect Ukrainian refugees with potential hosts and housing.

Airbnb – Help house 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine. Offer stays for free or at a discount through Airbnb.org, or donate to help their funding stretch further.

UK-Med – Their team is in Ukraine, assessing and anticipating the emergency health needs caused by the rapidly unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country. UK-Med is a frontline medical aid charity working for over 20 years towards a world where everyone has the healthcare they need when crises or disasters hit.