As long as volunteer hearts are beating, Ukraine is fighting!
This is how we can assess the invaluable work of millions of people who give their souls, time and money so that Ukraine and Ukrainians succeed in doing everything. In order to succeed in getting the victory!
Volunteers are actually another kind of Ukrainian troops, another invincible force. It is a guard of non-indifferent people. They do not have their own uniform or official slogan and most often use two important words: “plus” and “thank you”. However, the things they do are fantastic; there is hard work of ordinary people behind those.
Nevertheless, for all of us volunteers are real Heroes. Thus, at the first need, they do not hesitate to go to the hottest points of “ground zero” to help the military defend Ukraine. It is not from the ground that they get needed things and bring light to the darkness with that.
These are the volunteers of the public organization “Guardians of Light”, established under umbrella of Energoatom. The organization, whose activities are primarily aimed at supporting the Defense Forces of Ukraine in order to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine, help military personnel, in particular, employees of JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom” and their family members who stand in defense of our country, celebrates its first birthday on November 01.
It would seem that one year is so little, but how many things have already been done during this period. Therefore, this public organization has a lot to talk about.
During this year, “Guardians of Light” made a significant contribution to the strengthening of Ukraine's defense capabilities by more than 206 million hryvnias. Owing to the coordinated work and support of Energoatom and the Company's employees, the public organization managed to transfer:
By joint efforts, it was possible to help more than 100 military units, other army units and individual memberы of the armed forces, as well as send about 2,000 defenders of Ukraine to the best medical institutions in the country for rehabilitation.
There are ordinary people behind this tremendous work. Today, “Guardians of Light” has 23 members; all of them are employees of Energoatom. Each of them joined the team at different times and for different reasons, but with one goal – to bring the Victory of Ukraine closer!
“We have assembled a great team! It unites volunteers who believe in the indomitability of Ukraine and are ready to make efforts every day to support those who risk their lives for our safety,” Olena Donchuk, head of the public organization “Guardians of Light” says.
War came to Olena 10 years ago – back in 2014, when russia launched an offensive in Eastern Ukraine. A native of Kyiv, who spent her childhood at her grandmother’s in Donetsk region, could not get past this tragedy. Together with her husband, she decided to join the defense of native land. He became a volunteer “in the anti-terrorist operation”, and she volunteered to help him on the front lines.
It was only in 2017, when Olena gave birth to a daughter, and her husband was demobilized to be with his girls, that they managed to get away from the war. However, in 2022, the Ukrainian joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine without any hesitation, and Olena took up volunteering again.
“When my child gets upset because she can’t help fight the enemy, I understand why I’m doing all these things: so that our boys and girls return home, and our children do not know what war is,” head of the public organization “Guardians of Light” emphasizes.
Iryna Boyarin is also a part of the organization for the sake of the future of her son and that there will never be another war in his life. The war caught her and her child at her parents’ home near Bucha. Then the family lived for seven days without electricity, heat, water and communication, but lately they managed to evacuate. It was at that moment that the woman decided that she would stay with Ukraine and in Ukraine until the end.
“My grandmother used to say the same phrase at every family gathering: “I wish there was no war.” At that time, we did not understand that and objected, insisting that such a thing could not happen in the modern world. So now I have a goal – to help and contribute to our Victory with specific actions, not words!” the volunteer explains.
After taking her son to a safe place, Iryna returned to Kyiv and continued to work and help her military friends. Moreover, after a time, she joined the “Guardians of Light” team, where she provides the defenders with the necessary transport now.
“For me, volunteering is a voice of heart. Even when I’m very tired, ill or I’m going somewhere with my child, I’'m always in touch. I deal with some questions, problems; and there are always many of them related with cars. However, I know why I do that - for the sake of our Victory! Moreover, these are not just loud words; I am really trying to contribute to the fight against the enemy. There will be Victory for sure! That’s why I would like our children and future generations of Ukrainians not to know what war is,” Iryna Boyarin concluded.
Artem Denysov, an employee of Energoatom, also makes his contribution to the approach of our Victory. He joined “Guardians of the Light” from the first days of the organization establishment. Artem is sure that every Ukrainian has only two options: either to defend Ukraine in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, or to help the defenders in the rear as much as possible:
“In today’s realities, you either defend our country on the front lines, or you do everything you can to help those accomplishes that. For me, the public organization “Guardians of Light” is gratitude, respect and the desire to support those who take risks for our future every day, it is an opportunity to join the activities and make at least some contribution to the common Victory!”
Alyona Kunytska has been part of the team since the first days of the organization establishment. The girl stresses that no one in the rear can be aloof from the war: “I am convinced that everyone, absolutely everyone, can help in some way until we defeat the enemy.”
Moreover, at the same time, she emphasizes that the work of volunteers is not easy and requires a lot of time, efforts and nerves, but when you know what it is for, everything is possible:
“Volunteer activities is constant work, regardless of the day of the week, time of day, mood, well-being, etc. Before the establishment of “Guardians of Light”, I also volunteered, but not within such large scopes. Currently, we can cover more needs of our defenders. This means that more lives and health of our defenders will be saved, and that is extremely important.
Of course, volunteering is not an easy work. There are experiences and moments of uncertainty, but when you receive a notification from the defenders that they have received everything and it has saved their lives, you understand why all these things are being done. I hope that people will not stop helping and will not leave our Heroes alone in the fight against the enemy!”
And there are members of the “Guardians of Light” team, for whom volunteering is like a balm for the soul, it inspires and motivates them. Volunteer activity brings positive emotions to Kostiantyn Yassirskyi.
“Working at the public organization “Guardians of Light” inspires me and makes me desire to help more and more. An incredible feeling of elation when you receive an application, process it and provide the military with the necessary things; then you understand that everything is not in vain, because you have been able to help Ukraine. And at the same time, your colleagues are doing the same, and together we are helping Ukrainian defenders in various directions to drive the enemy out of our native land,” Kostiantyn shares his impressions of the activities of the public organization.
“Guardians of Light” are not ready to rest, they continue helping and supporting, and they also express their gratitude to everyone who donates.
“Every contribution and every donation means a lot to our work. It is thanks to the continuous support of the employees of JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom” that we can continue to help the military and provide them with everything they need. This is a kind of support that allows us to promptly respond to the needs of our defenders and provide help in the shortest possible time. We sincerely thank everyone who joins our common cause, because every contribution, every support is a step towards Victory” “Guardians of Light” emphasized in the annual report.
The public organization calls on Energoatom employees to join the team, where everyone is welcome. Moreover – to ask for help, if one of the relatives, colleagues or family members at the front needs help with the purchase of arming or equipment.
The needed steps:
1. Personal appeal or military unit appeal
2. Sending
3. Processing
The main mission of the organization is to provide timely and qualitative support to Ukrainian defenders! As long as volunteer hearts and the spirit of help and support are beating, the Ukrainian people will be fighting, Ukraine will be fighting. It is fighting non-stop!
“Our volunteers are doing a very important thing every day, all this time. We are grateful for everything you do, for every car, drone, body armor, thermal imager, first-aid kit and no less important children’s drawings or postcards with the wish “Come back alive” given to the army! Your active public position, concern and tireless work add the belief that our people have a future, and the dreamed Victory is close!”- Petro Kotin, Head of Energoatom, thanked the public organization “Guardians of Light”.
You can find more details about the public organization “Guardians of Light” and what they have done during the year of their activities at the link.
Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!
