Act 4 Ukraine

On the 6th of March 2022, two weeks after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, the MIF Board passed a resolution to provide humanitarian support to all those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, under the project ‘ACT 4 Ukraine’. In order to facilitate this aid effort, a building was rented by Mohanji International Foundation in Dorohoi, North Romania near the border with Ukraine. This served as our volunteer and humanitarian aid hub.

Since then, volunteers of Mohanji International Foundation and our sister organisations of ACT Foundation and World Consciousness Alliance dedicated themselves to swift action and unconditional support to all who required aid, beyond the boundaries of nationality, religion, and other man-made barriers. 

We started in early March 2022 with our teams from the Balkan regions joining hands and organized a fundraising initiative to deliver much-needed health supplies, medicines, diapers and food for the new-born babies at the Chernivtsi Regional Children’s Hospital in Ukraine followed by a second batch of humanitarian supplies delivered to the Odessa Region Children’s Hospital in Ukraine. 

As the impact of the conflict worsened, many people tried to escape into neighbouring countries such as Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and Poland. In order to support these refugees, on 25th March 2022, our UK team joined a convoy of 6 lorries and 3 vans working with another two charities (TEECH and UK AID) and went out to Moldova and Romania to provide aid to the displaced from Ukraine. 

This convoy of goods contained tons of dry food items including rice, grains, beans, pasta, oil, tinned food, biscuits, tea, coffee, sugar and flour. A significant amount of the food was provided by one of our food aid partners, Skanda Vale ashram in South Wales. Other items provided included beds, medicines, toiletries, toys for children and boxes of clothes in particular for women and children. This much needed aid was distributed to various community centres and schools in Moldova and Romania that were housing refugees

Mohanji International Foundation and ACT Foundation made joint efforts to help and support all the people affected by the crisis, regardless of their nationality, religion, or any other criteria.

The main streams of humanitarian efforts:

• Food aid. A 30 ton articulated lorry full of food aid is sent every couple of months from the UK and ferried to the various establishments mentioned above. In addition to this our teams also created food parcels and packages which are delivered directly to needy people in the local areas who could not easily travel, in particular the elderly and disabled. In total, approximately 60 tons of food were delivered to our hub in Romania to be distributed in Ukraine. In addition to this food was bought locally for distribution in other areas including Odessa and to refugees in Romania. Food was also provided to animals in shelters.
  
  
• Improving living conditions: Our team funded building projects in multiple facilities to improve the lives of the refugees including installation of showers, toilets. Washing machines, dryers, ovens, cooking equipment were installed to help them live in dignity and make lives easier for the families.
  
  
• Medical aid: Provision of Pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, wheelchairs, toiletries, diapers and hygiene products. Medical aid was sent from the UK and also purchased locally in Romania to be sent across the border to support the local hospitals and medical centres in and around Chernevtsi, individual families and people with disabilities. Veterinary products were also provided to animals in various shelters.
  
  
• Mental health and overall wellbeing: Our teams organised performing arts activities, sports, yoga, and meditation. Mai Tri sessions were offered as requested. We provided sports facilities and equipment for the children to keep them engaged and active. A very successful Yoga festival was held at the Boyani school for the children and their families. A concert was held in collaboration with the “Through Human Eyes” charity at the Chernivtsi Regional Philharmonic Hall inviting all internally displaced Ukrainians in the Chernivtsi region.