CF “Volunteering and Help Center“ in Lviv has been working in the field of charity for almost two years. During this time, it has been involved in dozens of projects to help the civilian population in the medical, humanitarian, and construction sectors.
The Foundation has opened seven logistics centers. CF “Volunteering and Help Center“ has partnered with the world’s most famous donor organizations. At the beginning of this year, the foundation officially launched its new charity project, ™ Mylanka, which will give impetus to the development of all current humanitarian projects of the fund, as well as unite society to help war victims.
How the Mylanka project came about
The Mylanka charity project is primarily about how, in times of war, every citizen of Ukraine can help those people who have suffered the most from the war, who have lost almost everything: their homes, relatives, jobs…
Every citizen of the country can become a link in the chain of aid: We are the link! (literally in Ukrainian “Ми-ланка”, My-lanka that means “We are the link”). Olha Artyukhova, marketing manager at the CF “Volunteering and Help Center“, explains that the concept behind the name “Mylanka” is that every single home and family is a link in society. We are a link of unity and help.
The foundation came up with the idea of how, in the face of a significant decrease in donor support, not to refuse to help, but, on the contrary, to ensure the stability and development of those charitable projects that are being realized for two years already.
As a result, the idea of own production of household goods for the home was born: napkins, toilet paper, paper towels, foil, baking sleeves under the Mylanka brand.
The main idea is that 100% of the earnings from the sale of goods will be donated to charity. The products can already be found in Ukrainian retail chains.
Today, these are the Rozetka and Aurora chains, and several more agreements with well-known retailers are at the stage of signing. The entire range of products under the Mylanka brand is made from imported raw materials, including 100% high-quality cellulose from leading European manufacturers.
Andriy Nemyrovskyy, Head of the CF “Volunteering and Help Center“, explains that the project is not financially burdensome for citizens, it does not bring additional costs to the consumer or business, these products are still needed for daily use and to supply offices, shopping centers, for example, and individuals. In fact, this is a new opportunity for a charitable donation.
Who will the Mylanka project help
With the launch of the production of goods on the basis of volunteers warehouse CF “Volunteering and Help Center”, the Mylanka project was immediately joined by internally displaced persons, whom the Foundation takes care of by providing housing in sheltered houses.
There are families, for example, from Bakhmut, who lost their homes and have been living in these houses for two years. The Foundation provides them with various humanitarian aid, and they, in turn, socialize by working in the production of household goods and receiving a salary for this.
Part of the Foundation’s mission is to preserve and improve the health of citizens. The Foundation pays considerable attention to the development of humanitarian medical projects.
Last year, the Center began to take care of key medical institutions in Donetsk Oblast: the cities of Kramatorsk, Konstantynivka, Kurakhove and Pokrovsk. The range of assistance includes rehabilitation equipment, resuscitation beds, surgical instruments, and medicines. All these projects require huge investments and donor support.
Part of the costs of logistics and purchase of medicines and equipment will be covered by the Mylanka project.
By the end of 2023, the Foundation, in cooperation with international donors, provided assistance for the restoration of 500 homes in Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk regions.
The need for housing reconstruction is growing exponentially as people return to their destroyed homes. The Mylanka project will become a link in the Reconstruction project.
The Foundation will be able to expand its support for cultural and social facilities and increase the number of Ukrainians’ homes rebuilt.
With the development of the Mylanka project, we are considering expanding the production of products under the brand throughout Ukraine. Especially in the de-occupied territories, where people are gradually returning and the need to restore small industries for the employment of the population is increasing.
How to support the Mylanka project
Andriy Nemyrovsky, Head of the CF “Volunteering and Help Center“, notes that if all concerned people and businesses join the project and create collaborations of charitable assistance, the Mylanka project will make an innovative revolution in raising funds for charity.
We should not dismiss such an advertising tool as word of mouth. Everyone in their place can help promote the brand and build consumer trust and loyalty.
As far as I know, there are no similar projects in the world yet, and we can become pioneers by introducing such know-how in charity.
Marketing research on brand development shows that if a consumer is given a choice between two companies that offer services or goods at the same price, 82% will choose the brand that is involved in charity.
We must unite, enter foreign markets with this product, supporting the people who survived and continue to fight for their lives. Today is not the time to stop!