Emergency Support for Women and Girls
OUR WORK IN UKRAINE
Project Kesher is meeting the needs of women and girls in Ukraine as they face the current crisis and the fallout, including those who are displaced. The funds will follow the people in need.
In Ukraine, prior to Putin attacking on February 24, 2022, PK had over 300 trained leaders active in 40 cities around the country. The well-trusted reputation that the network had earned through years of grassroots work meant that PK was prepared to facilitate communications with Ukrainians in need and emergency humanitarian aid. In the first three months of war, Project Kesher Ukraine (PKU) provided food and medicine for 30,000 people, distributed cash support of more than $110,000, and facilitated over 8,000 evacuations. PK has supported a new website to connect Ukrainian refugees in Europe. PK Israel also taken on a major role in settling Ukrainian immigrants and providing for their immediate medical, mental health, legal, and educational needs.
Most recently, PKU created First Aid Rape kits with Plan B emergency contraception to embed in conflict zones. While the first 1,000 kits were created and distributed, local distributors found it nearly impossible to get the kits into the war zone where they are needed most. Moving forward, PK will work with Ukrainian OB-GYNs on the ground to support women who have remained in the country by obtaining and distributing both basic and critical medical supplies in short supply and high demand in Ukraine. Read about our current funding priorities below.
If you have any questions about your donation, please email us and we will respond as soon as possible.
Current Funding Priorities
Providing Hygiene Products and Medical Supplies for Women in Ukraine
During wartime, the needs of men - Ukrainian soldiers - are prioritized, and it is difficult to get the resources that pregnant people and women need to live with dignity. Working with Ukrainian OB-GYN Dr. Natalia Leliukh, Project Kesher has put together a plan to address some of the key needs of women in Ukraine right now. Project Kesher Ukraine (PKU) has a long history of working on the health needs of Ukrainian women and girls. Needs include:
Basic Hygiene Products: Ukrainian women do not have access to the menstrual hygiene products they need such as tampons, sanitary napkins, and sustainable menstrual products or incontinence underwear and adult diapers.
Healthy Pregnancies and Deliveries: Pregnant people in Ukraine cannot access key prenatal vitamins right now including D3, D with Calcium, Folic acid (required to avoid birth defects of the brain and spine), and Iron and those who do not have access to a medical clinic are also in need of at-home tests for issues such as leaking amniotic fluid, to ensure the safety of the mom and fetus. Ukraine is facing a shortage of umbilical cord care kits, putting mothers and new babies at risk of infection. Pregnant and older people also require compression socks to help minimize damage from varicose veins that are being exacerbated by wartime conditions.
Postpartum Care: There is a great need for diapers, wipes, formula, and breast pumps in Ukraine right now. In addition, women need to be able to self-test for problems such as candida and vaginosis so that they can get tele-med support in areas where the medical infrastructure has been decimated.
Maintaining Jewish Life, Jewish Materials in Ukrainian and B’not Mitzvah
Ukrainian Jews are swiftly moving away from using Russian language materials and we are committed to continuing to provide them access to meaningful Jewish life. To that end, PKU is commissioning the creation of a Ukrainian siddur and haggadah. In addition, after our successful launch of the B’not Mitzvah program in 2022, PK will conduct a second year of celebrations in Jerusalem, Moscow and Minsk. Moreover, with sufficient funding, we will gather Ukrainian women and girls across Europe for study by Zoom and in-person for their B’not Mitzvah.
Supporting Financial Self-Sufficiency Now and Post-War
PKU has decided to use its new Ukrainian Women’s Opportunity Fund to assist women in purchasing equipment and supplies to reopen small businesses, learn skills specifically identified by hiring partner companies, and sell goods and services from home. PKU has already begun to support small businesses and purchase their products for other programs including deodorant and lip balm from a woman-owned business in Bucha and challah covers that are being sewn in Central Ukraine and printed in Lviv.
Supporting Ukrainian Women and Children Refugees in Europe
As PKU-trained leaders land in different countries across Europe, they are working with PKU staff to share key information with others entering these countries - how to register for benefits, purchase inexpensive cell phone plans, and enroll their children in schools and summer camps. PKU is also subsidizing medical care for women who cannot immediately get appointments and have specific medical issues that need to be addressed, often injuries related to the war or that occurred as a result of domestic violence or assault while moving to safety. PKU is also providing online English language classes for women at different levels of proficiency because English is the best way for temporarily displaced Ukrainians to communicate.
Supporting Ukrainian Refugees in Israel
PKI is providing support programs for hundreds of new immigrants to Israel, including virtual and in-person mental health groups and tours and classes for Ukrainians to learn Hebrew and Israeli culture. And in partnership with local municipalities and other partner groups, PKI is assisting refugees with applying for benefits, opening bank accounts, and getting children enrolled in schools and summer camps. In addition, PKI is giving out debit cards to refugees - particularly households with non-Jewish partners and those in the LGBTQ+ community who are struggling to get Israeli citizenship and access to benefits.
Donate By Mail:
Please make checks payable to Project Kesher and mail to: Project Kesher, 2660 Broadway #16, New York, NY 10025.
Donate By Phone:
To donate by phone or to get assistance with your donation, please email us and we will respond as soon as possible.
Compassionate Communications
PK leads new feminine health and safety initiatives as women are targeteD
FEMSMS
PK has teamed up with Footage Foundation, mobile communications experts at Verb, and trafficking prevention experts from The Mara Partners to develop and fund a gender-responsive SMS communications network. The purpose of this network is to share compassionate, trauma-informed SMS messages on women’s wellbeing, mental health, and safety. By disseminating this sensitive, value-added trauma support, PK will create a sense of resilience and protection around those at risk.
Podcast on Hromadske Radio / Ukrainian Public Radio
Project Kesher Ukraine has launched a 24-episode podcast whose focus will be women’s mental and reproductive health during war. The show will build on Project Kesher’s longstanding relationship with Hromadske radio and presents critical information and resources to Ukrainians during the crisis, in a format that is compassionate, fact-based, trusted, and accessible to the public.
Plan B Kits
PK partnered with experts in the field and assembled a task force to source, produce and distribute feminine hygiene kits that include first aid in rape (FAR) supplies in Ukraine. With the kits, PK takes the lead in making emergency contraceptive and basic health needs available to women who are trapped by fighting and cannot reach organized medical facilities within the necessary treatment window post-sexual assault.
Stories from Ukrainian Women
Anastasia P, Odesa: Anastasia P, Odesa: Pregnant with her second child, Anastasia has a four year old daughter, who she is now raising alone, as her husband has been missing since the third day of war. Her mother passed away a long time ago, and she recently lost her father. She has no close relatives left, and no means for living, as she relied financially on her husband. PK Ukraine has provided diapers, baby clothes, bottles, and other care items, in addition to groceries and clothing for her older child.
Anastacia C, Kyiv: "Thank you so much for supporting my family financially. Because of the war, I lost my job, my husband joined the army, and we currently do not have regular income. I used the financial aid from PKU to buy food and a jacket for my son. He was studying in Kyiv and lost all of his belongings when the room he was renting was hit by a missile."
News & Features
JWA Podcast
Project Kesher Ukraine Executive Director Vlada Nedak was featured on Jewish Women's Archive's most recent podcast episode. When Russia invaded Ukraine, like many Ukrainians, Vlada was faced with the difficult choice of whether to stay or try to leave the country. "I love this ground. I love these views. I love these people. For me, it makes sense to stay here, to struggle for this."
JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY
“The war in Ukraine has turned empowered and independent Jewish women into the displaced.” Article by Project Kesher CEO Karyn Grossman Gershon.
KVELLER
“Despite the War, I’ll Be Hosting My Family’s Seder in Ukraine.” Article by Project Kesher Ukraine Executive Director Vlada Nedak.
On May 18, Project Kesher, together with Crisis Management Innovation Network of Europe, sponsored and convened a workshop for experts in the field on Preventing and Responding to Conflict-Related Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Ukraine. Speakers included Project Kesher Ukraine Executive Director Vlada Nedak and representatives from Ukrainian and international organizations including the United National Population Fund's Olena Kochemyrovska. UNFPA has taken a lead role in coordinating issues of gender violence and reproductive health in Ukraine. The event was closed by Abby Pariser, American activist in women's and reproductive rights since the 1960s, including volunteering with "Jane" in Chicago.