The year 2024 was a year of exhaustion and resilience for Ukrainians. It was the year when we fully realized that the war would be prolonged, and only through inner strength and unity could we protect ourselves from being destroyed by a great totalitarian empire. We understood the importance of conserving our life resources, learning to recover, paying more attention to those around us, and telling the world about ourselves as loudly as possible.
This year’s projects at YMCA Lviv were dedicated to resilience and mutual support. In 2024, despite the full-scale war, we not only continued our work but also updated our organizational structure, supported those who support others, and even took on new initiatives.
INTRODUCTION
Sofiia Burtak, Chair of the Board, YMCA Lviv:
“The year 2024 was yet another testament to our resilience in the fight for Ukraine — marked by the ongoing challenges of war and relentless daily work. We stood our ground once again. Like many other Ukrainian organizations, YMCA Lviv never stopped. Our team of dedicated and extraordinary people mobilized every available resource, experience, and connection to be present where we are needed most.
One of our key missions this year was to support those who support others. Throughout 2024, we assisted military families, supported veterans, organized educational and recreational programs for children, and launched artistic projects. We looked for ways to protect ourselves and one another from burnout, despair, and the loss of hope. And at the same time — we were building the future we believe in.
We are deeply grateful to all our partners who stood with us, and we continue our work for a just peace and a brighter future for Ukraine.”
The most large-scale initiative of the year was the project “Building a Women’s Volunteer Network and Strengthening Its Capacity in Ukraine’s Frontline Regions” (#VolonterkyUA), implemented with the technical support of UN Women in Ukraine and funding from the Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund. Through this project, we provided comprehensive support to Ukrainian female volunteers: psychological assistance, legal consultations, creative workshops in floristry and singing, conferences, educational programs in the Carpathians, outreach visits to volunteers in frontline areas, musical performances, art installations, children’s trainings, film productions, and the publication of an art book featuring poems written by the volunteers — along with many other activities.
Thanks to our close friends at KFUM og KFUK i Distrikt Aarhus, together with Y’s Men International, who generously gifted us a Large and Small Minibus, we were able to deliver humanitarian aid to communities in frontline areas and to our defenders.
YMCA of the USA supported us in implementing the Bridge project, aimed at identifying the needs of Ukrainian veterans and testing activities for their rehabilitation and reintegration. This project provided us with crucial insights to seek further funding for veteran-focused initiatives. As part of it, veterans from YMCA Lviv took part in an experimental catamaran expedition in the Canary Islands called Titans Under Sails.
Together with KFUM og KFUK i Danmark, we received funding from CISU to carry out the long-term project Voices of Defenders, focused on supporting young veterans and volunteers and amplifying their voices in society. As part of this initiative, we will publish novels by Ukrainian defenders and volunteers, and produce audio versions of them. Young volunteers and activists from YMCA Lviv will collaborate with Danish youth to share their experiences and highlight the challenges Ukrainian youth face during wartime at the Folkemødet festival. In addition, we will run an advocacy campaign and organize training sessions — because creating societal change is a responsibility we all share.
Thanks to Fairbar in Aarhus, we were able to develop the youth anti-café initiative at YMCA Lviv, set up a welcoming space, and host meetings and training sessions.
With the support of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, our training hall was equipped with a new projector and blackout curtains, and now serves as a venue for film screenings and presentations.
For several years now, support from YMCA Calgary and KFUM og KFUK i Distrikt Aarhus has allowed us to cover the rent for our premises. However, due to an increase in rental costs this year, we were forced to vacate part of our space. Still, YMCA Lviv has managed to retain the training hall for ongoing activities. Securing funds for our own facility will be a major challenge for us in the years to come.
YMCA Lviv is currently seeking sponsors for the veteran rehabilitation program Titans Under Sails and donors for the vocal art rehabilitation initiative for veterans and their families. We continue our collaboration with volunteers, rotating programs focused on psychological support, burnout prevention, education, and networking. We hope to present a part of our Opera-Myth Ukraine — Terra Incognita at the invitation of YMCA Bavaria. We also support our vocal ensemble Circle of Heaven and run activities for youth and children in our training hall.
You are welcome to join our existing projects or partner with us to create something entirely new.
We now know for certain that with friends by our side, we can overcome any challenge. The key is to feel supported and keep looking forward!
