“Kazakhstanis’ charity funds help equipping shelters in kindergartens and schools of Chernihiv. Everyone who contributes to reconstruction of Ukraine receives a gift — a woven doll (an angel of freedom). National motanka-dolls became a genuine symbol of peace and kindness. Activists of the Angels of Freedom public foundation are sure: even the smallest help in a big country revival is a huge contribution.”
Iryna Semenchuk is a PR manager from Ukraine. She has been living in Kazakhstan, her husband’s homeland, for five years. But at the beginning of the war the family found themselves in Kiev. They had to sleep in a basement for three days. After it they were evacuated with the Kazakh embassy help. With like-minded people in Kazakhstan Irina launched an “Angels of Freedom” campaign, which soon turned into a relief fund — the money is used to equip shelters in Ukrainian schools and kindergartens. Educational institutions can’t operate permanently without it now. 20 million KZT (more than $43,000) raised over the year has already helped two kindergartens and three schools attended by 2,800 children. In the “Eyewitnesses” project Iryna talks about big deeds done in small steps, and about penance, without which reconciliation will not be possible.
“The Angels of Freedom fund, founded in Kazakhstan, is raising funds to equip bomb shelters in Ukrainian schools. We tell you how a traditional Slavic doll helps protect children from shelling and bombing.”
“In order for the children of Ukraine to be able to safely go to school, destroyed educational institutions need to be restored and also equipped with safe shelters. This is what the Angels of Freedom do.”
“We talked with the founders of the foundation, Iryna Semenchuk and Yevgeniy Ribalko, about the work of the foundation, volunteering, and how Kazakhstanis can support Ukrainians in their difficult struggle.”
“In Chernihiv, schools and kindergartens were damaged by explosions. They need to be restored, but it is equally important to convert the basements into bomb shelters so that children can wait out air raids under normal conditions. The Angels of Freedom public foundation not only collects donations for this good cause, but also gives in gratitude amulets, motanka dolls made by the hands of volunteers at cleanup events in different cities of Kazakhstan.”
“In Kazakhstan there’s a tradition of mutual support — Asar, in Ukraine it’s called Toloka. The Angels of Freedom foundation is making tolokas in Astana, Almaty and other cities of Kazakhstan. Toloka is an event where volunteers make motanka dolls, which are given for donations at offline and online markets. Collected funds are used to help Ukrainian children, precisely for schools’ and kindergartens’ basements arrangement and equipment in Chernihiv. Children go down to basements during air alert.”
The idea to tell the story of the Crimean Tatars’ forced self-deportation came from the Kazakh journalist Ainur Koskina during one of the “Angels of Freedom” tolokas.
“‘Now children will be able to breathe normally: Kazakhstan volunteers have equipped shelters in two more kindergartens in the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv.”
“The charitable foundation reported that following the results of the run, three residents of the West Kazakhstan region came second at distances of one and five kilometers. David and Anushavan ran together. They covered one kilometer in six minutes and 15 seconds. Aktobe resident Maxim ran five kilometers in 24 minutes and 7 seconds. Among the participants there were children, namely three young residents of Atyrau.”
“On August 27, the ‘Vyshyvanka’ run starts for amateur and professional athletes. Wearing Ukrainian vyshyvankas, they must overcome the chosen one of the three proposed distances.”
“The donations raised for participation will be used to equip bomb shelters in schools in Ukraine.”