We have helped more than 5 million people. The Czech humanitarian organization People in Need celebrates the 10th anniversary of its work in Ukraine

Our portfolio of aid services has expanded significantly. We did not stop at meeting emergency needs. We repair homes so that people can return and live in comfort. We help water utilities provide clean water to residents. We create safe spaces for children and help them overcome educational losses. We repair school shelters so that students can once again attend in-person classes. We issue grants for business development or start-ups. We help those who have lost everything by providing financial assistance and a roof over their heads. We also care about people’s mental health, with our psychologists manning a 24/7 support hotline.

Over the years, People in Need has built an effective network of over 200 partners. Thanks to this, we have significantly increased our capacity. We cooperate with national organizations, civil society initiatives, government authorities, and academia to strengthen the self-reliance and resilience of people and meet their current and future needs. We support collective advocacy to protect the rights of those affected by the war and promote effective long-term solutions for them.

Here are just a few figures from our 10 years of work: People in Need has repaired over 29,000 homes damaged by shelling. We have improved living conditions in nearly 70 collective centres for people who were forced to leave their homes due to the war. We have repaired 84 shelters, providing residents of cities and villages with a safe place to stay during air raids. We have helped 42 schools with repairs, which means children will be able to study in person rather than online.

Paraskeviia Aleksenko from the village of Klymentove in the Sumy Oblast shared how important the assistance she received was: “I was incredibly lucky because when the shelling happened, which damaged my house and my neighbours’ houses, I was hiding in the basement. The blast was so strong that not a single window remained intact, the doors were blown out, and the roof was badly damaged and started leaking with the first rain. I live alone, and restoring the house on just my pension would have been nearly impossible – it would have taken me years to save up the money. So I don’t know how I would have survived without the financial assistance for repairs from People in Need. I’m very grateful to their team for their compassion and support during this difficult time."

On October 4, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ukraine hosted an event to mark the 10th anniversary of People in Need. 

In his speech, Radek Pech, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Ukraine, stated: “Ukraine and its nation experience enormous suffering. And I am really happy that People in Need is active here as never before and continues in its mission. Your activities bring not only material help but also at least a pinch of normality, humanity, and hope for suffering people during these extraordinary cruel times.”

Country Director of People in Need Ukraine, Anna Duda, thanked those who make this assistance possible: “I admire the dedicated PIN team who continuously strategize, secure funding, deliver vital aid amidst dangerous circumstances, and raise awareness among global audiences about the situation in Ukraine. Your commitment has saved and improved many lives. I also express deep gratitude to PIN partners and donors for their unwavering support, which enables us to continue our impactful work.”

Like millions of others, we hope for a swift and just end to the war in Ukraine. We are actively working on recovery plans and believe that, through joint efforts, we can create conditions in which every person in Ukraine can live a dignified life.