ABOUT THE PLAN B KITS

Project Kesher (PK), a leader and model in gender-responsive programs in Ukraine for 30 years, has introduced a new trauma-informed initiative to reach more Ukrainian women and girls in crisis. The first 1,000 Plan B kits for women supported by Project Kesher are being distributed in war zone hotspots in Ukraine and will include emergency contraception, sanitary pads, instructional and psychosocial support pamphlets, and items such as wipes, ibuprofen, deodorant and lip balm. The medication was purchased from Pfizer in Europe, and the rest of the contents of the kits were sourced and purchased in Ukraine, including self care products created by a woman entrepreneur in Bucha, Ukraine. PK is strategically targeting distribution into areas where heavy fighting is likely to begin, and in the most war torn cities, through a grassroots woman to woman campaign.

Through its trusted network of 300+ grassroots leaders in over 40 Ukrainian cities, PK has been leading programs that adress rape, gender-based violence, and trafficking for many years and since February 24, 2022, has drawn on its expertise on the ground in Ukraine to provide a blueprint for humanitarian organizations aiming to support women in the country. Since the first days of the war, PK has facilitated and funded evacuations for 8,767 people and provided food for 33,395 displaced people, and provided direct emergency relief for Ukrainian women, heads of multigenerational households.

Project Kesher CEO, Karyn Grossman Gershon shared that, "It is critical to provide Ukrainian women with the support and resources they need to navigate the war in the most dignified and constructive ways possible. We are hopeful that these kits will be effective tools to respond to the unacceptable situations many are experiencing."

Project Kesher (PK) is a nonprofit based in New York that supports Project Kesher Ukraine (PKU) in training women leaders in response to the changing needs of civil society, rebuilding Jewish life, and advancing the status of women in Ukraine. Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, PK and PKU have brought its trained network of grassroots leaders into a high tech, global community of activists that model immediate response to a wide range of humanitarian needs. This model has transformed humanitarian relief in wartime. As of January 2022, PKU had built a grassroots network of  300+ trained leaders from Ukraine from over 40 cities. These trained women leaders developed a wide range of initiatives and voluntary programs responding to the diverse needs of the local Jewish community and the broader society in which they live. PKU has a trusted name and reputation, having collaborated with hundreds of Jewish, secular, and interfaith partners at local, regional and national levels. The best known programs included a popular women’s health podcast on Ukrainian Public Radio, women’s health and mental health programs in partnership with government, academic and medical institutions, and multicultural initiatives to build understanding among Ukrainians. PKU’s flagship programs support leadership and empowerment programs for women of all ages, new mothers, and mothers and teen daughters. While it is Jewish values that guide and connect the community, programs have always been provided in an inclusive and non-sectarian way to the public.