We are proudly launching a fundraising initiative to support The Kharkiv and Przemysl Project (KHARPP). This project is run by Ada Wordsworth (an Oxford U. student doing an MA in Russian and Czech) and Alex Trustrum Thomas (an Oxford Ph.D. graduate), who have spent most of 2022 in Poland and Kharkiv helping as they best could those impacted by the war on Ukraine.

They are supported by several other volunteers, including some which have taken an indefinite sabbatical to use their Russian language skills, time and money to assist those in need. KHARPP is run efficiently, with no salaries paid, no marketing expenses, minimal overheads, etc. which means all funds received are used 100% in the field, supporting those in need.

So far in 2022, KHARPP's team has helped thousands of refugees crossing the border, providing verbal assistance, financial help, supplies, suitcases, powerbanks, emergency accommodation, bus and train tickets, hygiene products, etc. (c.£40k). They have also sent 10 ambulances to Ukraine (Kharkiv, Irpin, Borodianka) (worth c. £60k), and have provided emergency support (food, hygiene products, medical equipment, etc.) across locations in the Kharkiv oblast and surrounding areas (c. £70k). This has been financed with c. £120k of cash donations plus c. £50k worth of material donations, while most of the overheads to date have been covered by the volunteer’s personal savings. Going forward, and given the flow of refugees has now dropped significantly, they are re-focusing their efforts in assisting the elderly and vulnerable in the Kharkiv region by helping with emergency repairs in households which were damaged (i.e. by helping fix shattered windows, broken roofs, etc.) ahead of the winter, among other initiatives.

We are helping KHARPP part-finance its 2023 work plan, and we are doing so within the framework of the EBRD Community Initiative. Subject to a number of pre-conditions, the EBRD will TRIPLE the donations raised! (up to EUR 50,000 equivalent) making this an ultra-efficient way for donors to multiply their impact.

Feel free to take a look at KHARPP's Substack (https://kharpp.substack.com/), website (https://kharpp.com/), and Instagram (@KHARPProject), as well as the the EBRD Community Initiative website (https://www.ebrd.com/who-we-are-ebrd-community-initiative.html). For questions, comments, or to share ideas on donors which might be interested in helping KHARPP, please reach out to Alfonso Reina (reinaa@ebrd.com).

Wishing you a peaceful festive period, thanks for your support!