The information and communication campaign #ThoseWhoSupport (#ТіХтоПідтримує) has launched in Kyiv, highlighting civil society organizations that help Ukrainians every day. Until June 30, the stories of five CSOs will be featured on the capital's outdoor advertising media—including metrolights, billboards, and citylights.
The campaign, under the slogan "How Civil Society Organizations Support Ukrainians," is implemented by the NGO "Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research" (UCIPR) in cooperation with the Department of Public Communications of the executive body of the Kyiv City Council (Kyiv City State Administration - KCSA).
According to UCIPR Executive Director Valeriia Skvortsova, the campaign aims to raise awareness about the contribution of NGOs to supporting people and communities during the war, as well as to build trust in the civic sector and cultivate a culture of public participation.
Kyiv was intentionally chosen for the project as Ukraine's largest city, which, since the start of the full-scale war, has become a new home for hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons and one of the primary hubs for volunteer and civic activism.
"The heroes of the campaign are five civil society organizations operating in different fields. They assist displaced persons and veterans, develop blood donation networks, support the military and war survivors, care for animals, and respond daily to the challenges facing our society," noted Iryna Yakovenko, campaign coordinator and UCIPR communications officer.
The organizations featured in the campaign include large all-Ukrainian support networks as well as volunteer and charitable initiatives that work directly with people and communities every day.
One such organization is the "YaMariupol" Charitable Foundation, which has created Ukraine's largest network of support centers for Mariupol residents. The organization helps displaced persons adapt by providing social housing, medical services, and social support. Today, over 1,300 Mariupol residents live in social housing created under the "YaMariupol. Housing" project, and thousands of people gain access to consultations, diagnostics, and rehabilitation in the medical hubs of the "YaMariupol. Health" project, notably by relocated Mariupol doctors and specialists from the Donetsk region.
Over the past ten years, the public organization "DonorUA" has grown from a grassroots initiative into the largest Ukrainian public organization in the field of blood donation.
Today, it unites over 220,000 donors who regularly give blood on a free and voluntary basis. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the organization has joined the development of a system for delivering donor blood to frontline regions—together with partners, they have successfully completed 140 blood deliveries to the front. In 2024, "DonorUA" also joined the implementation of the "Your Blood. My Life. Our Victory" project—a mobile donation format that allows for blood drives in various locations across the city to respond quickly to the needs of the blood service system.
"Each of the organizations featured in the campaign demonstrates how significant the contribution of civil society can be in solving socially important problems. It is crucial for us that capital residents see these examples and understand how civic activism changes people's lives for the better," stated Olesya Zubrytska, Director of the KCSA Department of Public Communications.
One of our campaign heroes is the "Happy Paw" Charitable Foundation, which has been systematically working for over ten years on protecting stray animals and promoting humane treatment toward them. Over this time, the foundation has helped find homes for more than 11,000 cats and dogs, facilitated the sterilization of over 52,000 stray animals, and implemented educational programs that shape a culture of responsible attitude toward animals among children and youth. For instance, over 3 million children in schools and kindergartens received knowledge on responsible and humane treatment of animals thanks to the "Bioethics" project. In addition, the foundation regularly supports 70 shelters across Ukraine, which care for approximately 19,000 animals.
Another participant in the campaign is the Charitable Organization "Charitable Foundation 'Field Kitchen B-50", whose volunteers provide hot meals every day to the military, wounded defenders, internally displaced persons, the elderly, and survivors of Russian attacks. The foundation also regularly assists in liquidating the aftermath of shelling in Kyiv, providing hot food to rescuers and victims, and supports military units, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers.
The "Hurkit" Charitable Foundation emerged in response to the challenges of the full-scale war and today provides the military, medics, and rescuers with vehicles, equipment, and humanitarian aid. Throughout its operations, the foundation has delivered more than 200 vehicles for evacuation and logistics, and over 120 tons of humanitarian aid.An important area of the foundation's activity has been charitable sports events—the "I Run for Those in Combat Boots" race (now Hurkit RUN) and the "Honorary Swim," which have already united more than 10,000 participants in Ukraine and abroad. All proceeds from these events are directed to the needs of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
The #ThoseWhoSupport campaign is meant to serve as a reminder that behind numerous stories of help and support stand real individuals and civil society organizations. It is their daily work that helps Ukrainians overcome the consequences of war, supports communities, and strengthens the country's resilience.
It is implemented by the NGO "Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research" (UCIPR) in cooperation with the Department of Public Communications of the executive body of the Kyiv City Council (Kyiv City State Administration) with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. The content of this material is the sole responsibility of UCIPR.
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