The Folkowisko Foundation provides effective humanitarian aid to those most in need since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Members of the Folkowisko Foundation started helping refuges crossing the Ukrainian-Polish border on day 1 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. Within a month, it grew into one of the biggest humanitarian aid points in Europe, helping refugees by organizing housing assistance, setting up a humanitarian town on the Ukrainian side of the Budomierz-Hrushiv and Korczowa-Krakovets border crossings, and transporting tons of humanitarian aid deep into Ukraine. During the first month of the war alone, the Folkowisko Foundation sent nearly 3000 tons of humanitarian aid to those most in need in cities such as Mariupol, Kiev, Kharkiv, Sumy and Mikolajew. They also equipped several Ukrainian hospitals with modern equipment, sent 50 power generators with a total capacity of 195kW and their 5 ambulances are now being used in Kiev, Bila Tserkva, Irpin and Yavoriv.
Today, their efforts are primarily turned towards helping the 7 million refugees currently displaced internally within Ukraine. In close coordination with various local town councils and organizations, they continuously deliver food, medical supplies, clothing etc. to people and places in need. Other initiatives put in place include: the set-up of respite heating centers in various Ukrainian towns in anticipation of the coming winter, where the supply of coal and gas has been cut-off by Russia, “#trainingfortrainers ” (6-day training for Ukrainian women that will offer psychological support to refugees in Ukraine, while providing respite from war and fun activities for their children during classes), “Books not Bombs” (bringing Ukrainian-language books to refugees in Poland), “Victory Gardens” (collecting and sending seeds to grow food in Ukraine), delivery of “life boxes” to civilians in need, and a school supplies drive for kids going back to school in Ukraine.
As stated on their website https://fundacja.folkowisko.org/en/ : “The Folkowisko Foundation was established to provide quick, effective and systematic help where it is most needed.” They are an extremely dynamic grass roots organization that is proud to react swiftly and effectively to the changing needs of people seeking refuge from war. The needs are enormous, but the flow of aid to those in need is slowing down a lot. The Folkowisko Foundation desperately needs continued support from worldwide donors. This KBF Canada project has been established to facilitate donations from Canada.
The little history of the Folkowisko Foundation and the KBF Project
The Folkowisko Foundation is the wartime child of Stowarzyszenie Folkowisko (The Folkowisko Association), which has a mission to promote folk art and music. The Association has been organizing the yearly Polish-Ukrainian-Belorussian borderland folk festival in Gorajec (Poland), close to the Ukrainian border, and other local cultural events. Their contacts on both side of the border and their experience managing crowds set them up on a path to become one of the most dynamic humanitarian organizations on the ground, and one of the few to help refugees inside Ukraine. According to a member, “We’ve been doing festivals for years. Usually in a bare field without infrastructure. We know how to deal with chaos and thousands of people. Maybe that’s why we manage to help so quickly and effectively on the Ukrainian side of the border.”
KBF Canada’s involvement in this project started when it was approached by the Korwin-Szymanowski Family Foundation and asked to provide fundraising logistical support and humanitarian project management abroad know-how for the Concert for Peace, held at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal on March 22nd, 2022. The concert was the brainchild of Polish violinist Nadia Monczak, who co-organized the concert with Canadian actress Claudia Ferri and Marta Korwin-Szymanowski of the Korwin-Szymanowski Family Foundation. The concert raised over 200,000$ for the Folkowisko Foundation and was followed by a few other initiatives to further the cause, such as the Artists for Peace exhibit, organized by Andrea Lavergne and Odile Cloutier at the McClure Gallery & Westmount Visual Arts Center on April 26th, 2022, which raised some 10,000$.
The Concert for Peace can be viewed at pianomtl.ca, thanks to Scratch Takes Productions’ high-definition recording. It features a chamber orchestra under the direction of Nicolas Ellis, conductor, Jean-Michel Blais, piano, Natalie Choquette, soprano, Serhiy Salov piano, Steven Massicotte, piano, Marc-Antoine d’Aragon, baritone, Yuriy Konevych, tenor, Nadia Monczak, violin, Pierre Grandmaison, organ, Benjamin Deschamps, clarinet, Mariusz Monczak, violin, Lorraine Gauthier, cello, Julien Bélanger, percussion, Pierre Grandmaison, organ and musicians of the Orchestre de l’Agora.
KBF CANADA is working closely with the Folkowisko Foundation to collect funds, provide due diligence and to monitor the project to ensure that donations have the greatest impact.
KBF CANADA’s role is to carry out charitable activities across the globe in accordance with its charitable purposes. We control and monitor the use of funds and the progress of charitable activities to ensure that donations made to KBF CANADA have the greatest impact in accordance with donors’ expressed wishes. As a member of the Myriad Alliance with offices in Canada, the US, Europe, Asia and Australia, KBF CANADA has a vast international network and extensive practical expertise.
How to support this project?
By credit card: At the top right of this page, indicate the amount you wish to donate, and make the donation online by credit card. You will receive a receipt for tax purposes by e-mail just a few minutes after making the donation. Simple and fast!
By cheque: Mail the cheque to the KBF Foundation CANADA, mention ‘Project B204 – Ukraine Folkowisko’ in the ‘For’ section and send it to: KBF Foundation CANADA, 1 Place Ville Marie, Suite 1670, MONTREAL, QC, H3B 2B6 – CANADA.
By Direct Deposit: Send an email to Mélina Zitiello [email protected] or call +1 5438-300-8122
All donations are eligible for a tax receipt in Canada.
The projects are managed with the greatest care and professionalism.