CF “East SOS” Team Carries Out Advocacy Visit to Sweden
On June 24-25, Yuliia Matviichuk, Human Rights Coordinator, and Kateryna Dorosh, Project Manager, embarked on an advocacy visit to Stockholm. Their trip included key meetings at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
The SIDA meeting saw the participation of representatives from departments working on Ukrainian issues and the humanitarian support for civil society organizations. The Foundation’s representatives elaborated on the assistance rendered by CF “East SOS” to affected populations, detailed the Foundation’s human rights endeavors and its efforts in documenting war crimes.
A key part of their presentation was an international monitoring mission report. This report delved into the conditions and challenges of residential care facilities for the elderly and people with disabilities amidst the full-scale war in Ukraine. To analyze the situation and formulate recommendations, the Foundation’s representatives visited facilities in Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv Oblasts, which, among other things, including those providing long-term accommodation for evacuees from the frontline areas.
The Sida meeting gave us space not only to present our work but also to to discuss the broader context in Ukraine — the challenges faced by communities along the front line, and why long-term support for humanitarian foundations is crucial. What truly resonated was hearing not only about a commitment to continue providing support but also a genuine respect for local expertise
emphasized Yuliia Matviichuk
Yuliia also underscored that the project currently implemented by CF “East SOS” with direct funding from Sida is a strong example of trust placed in a Ukrainian organization that deeply understands the context and is capable of crafting effective humanitarian response solutions independently. She expressed hope that this funding model would be scaled up, allowing more Ukrainian local organizations to receive financial support in the future.
It’s important to note that with SIDA’s funding, our Foundation is implementing a pilot project aimed at supporting evacuees from Donetsk Oblast. Through this initiative, individuals rescued by CF “East SOS Charity” teams at the transit hub in Pavlohrad receive assistance with accommodation and arrangements for onward transfer, psychological support, and access to social services. Additionally, for six months, the project covered the costs of providing hot meals to evacuees residing at the Center for Social Adaptation of People with Disabilities run by NGO “Ocean of Kindness” while they awaited further resettlement.
The recommendations produced as part of the monitoring mission are available here.
The advocacy efforts are carried out as part of the project “Support to War-Affected Vulnerable Populations and Residents of Remote Areas of Ukraine,” implemented by the CF “East SOS” and funded by the European Union. The contents are the sole responsibility of the CF “East SOS” and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
