Institute of Advocacy and Humanitarian Aid

by Alexander ZHILENKOV

Experience in social affairs and international humanitarian development:

2016 – present. – Founder and President of SIRIUS International Charity Foundation. 

2018 – 2021 – Founder and president of non-governmental organization KHARKIV – HUMANITARIAN. Organization of humanitarian aid receipts for city health care institutions, social protection institutions, education and sports institutions. Assistance to the state authorities of Ukraine in their activities in the humanitarian sphere.

2014 – 2015 – Red Cross Society of Ukraine.

– Specialist in foreign economic activity and implementation of international humanitarian projects and programs. Organization of receiving of humanitarian aid.

Areas of activity:

1. Development of international relations in the socio-economic sphere.
2. Development of international socio-economic projects and long-term programs.
3. Implementation of international humanitarian projects aimed at supporting socially vulnerable groups and refugees. Analysis and monitoring of humanitarian aid needs in frontline and border areas, as well as among social, medical, and educational institutions.

Implemented projects and milestones

1. The first steps 2014 – 2015. Due to the conflict in the east of Ukraine and severe socio-economic tension in the country, along with sharing the opinion of society, cooperated with Kharkiv organization of the Red Cross Society of Ukraine.

– September 2014. Fully engaged in the distribution of humanitarian aid cargoes supported by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine, humanitarian aid distribution to thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

– October 2014. Participated in receiving and distribution of 43 trucks (about 500 tons) of humanitarian aid, from the German government, headed by the Federal Minister of Cooperation and Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, Gerd Müller.

– November 2014. Leaded a large project under the auspices of the Irish Red Cross together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ireland, 80 tons, about 60 types of food for IDPs from Donetsk and Luhansk regions. All procedures with state agencies to recognize the cargo, customs clearance, and distribution to refugees have been ensured. This project was successfully completed in February 2015 by distribution of food kits to approximately 5,000 needy people.

– December 2014. Received 8 out of 30 humanitarian aid trucks from the Polish government, together with the Polish Ministry of Emergency Situations (STRAZ) and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine (more than 60 tons), which included: hygiene products for newborns from 0 to 3 years in total for 3,000 children (diapers, children’s food, etc.). During the reception of the cargo, being fully responsible for this project.

– December 2014. About 18 tons of medical equipment for hospitals in the city of Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region were handed over from the Workers’ Charity Fund of Germany.

 – April 2015.  12 tons of medical furniture and medical equipment from Germany were handed over from the “Workers’ Charity Fund of Germany” for municipal health care institutions in Kharkiv.

– May 2015. Received a cargo from Austria (GLOBAL 2000), about 20 tons designated for 10 hospitals in the city. The cargo includes industrial water filtration plants, hygiene products and medical equipment for children with cancer in Kharkiv. Given the imperfection of the legislative framework, in the state departments for passing non-tariff control, after 3 months (September 2015), successfully shipped the cargo in Ukraine as humanitarian aid and handed it over to the recipients. Meanwhile, initiating an amendment to the Law of Ukraine on Humanitarian Aid, a package of documents has been sent to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (adopted by the Decree of the President of Ukraine as of December 2015).

– June 2015. Took charge of one of the largest projects of the German government (GIZ) in Ukraine together with the German Red Cross, with a budget of 1 million euros for 6,000 IDPs. Organized my staff in the amount of up to 10 people. Conducted an analysis of the most vulnerable segments of the population among IDPs in eight categories. Developed a special program for the distribution of humanitarian aid with the best terms and conditions for IDPs. Subsequently, during one of the meetings of the UN Coordination Council for Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) in Kyiv, this project was recognized to be the most organized, with better working conditions for employees, volunteers and meeting the needs of IDPs. Сoordinated it until December 2015 as part of the Red Cross of Ukraine. Due to the high-quality organization and implementation of the Project, in the future the aid budget from the German Government will be increased to 10 million euros.

– April 2016. Organized the delivery of 15 tons of humanitarian aid from Austria for health care institutions, which includes: industrial water filtration plants, medical furniture, equipment, and things for newborns for seven maternity hospitals and three municipal hospitals. Also, upon receiving of this cargo, the most prompt receipt and quality of distribution of humanitarian aid was achieved, meaning full customs clearance and delivery to 10 organizations in one day.

2. Establishing your own charitable foundation 2016. In June 2016, I decided to establish my own international charitable foundation, SIRIUS, in honour of my daughter Kira, of which I am currently the founder and president.

– September 2016. Humanitarian aid cargo delivered, including a street playground for children in the village of Myronivsky, Bakhmutsky District, Donetsk Region.

– November 2016. Associate Department of Labor and Social Policy of Kharkiv City Council (“Single Social Network” of Kharkiv). Having developed the project “Humanitarian aid center for social and medical institutions of the city of Kharkiv”, won with the project at the competition of social projects of Kharkiv City Council.

– January 2017. Received about 8 tons of medical furniture for hospitals in Kharkiv and Kharkiv region from German funds.

– April 2017. Received a cargo of humanitarian aid from Austria, about 15 tons, 60 items for 10 hospitals, 3 territorial social service centers and 3 educational institutions in the city of Kharkiv. The cargo included: hygiene products, sports equipment, school furniture, laptops, social and medical equipment, etc.

A clear action plan for customs clearance of cargo at the Uzhhorod border crossing checkpoint is being developed, the result of which is full customs clearance and access the territory of Ukraine of humanitarian aid available for immediate delivery. This action plan of the sequence of actions represents “Transparent system for the prompt reception and distribution of humanitarian aid” without the use of warehouses, the delivery to the beneficiary organizations takes place “on board” the vehicle, after which, without additional time, humanitarian aid can be provided to the final beneficiaries in all locations of Kharkiv.

– October 2017. About 10 tons of humanitarian aid from Austria was transferred to 33 organizations of Kharkiv: 16 schools, 2 kindergartens, 5 hospitals, 6 territorial social service centers and 4 public organizations – partners of the “Single Social Network” of Kharkiv City Council. The cargo included: 23 drinking water filtration units, children’s clothing, stationery and school supplies.

– March 2018. Won at Kharkiv city competition of social projects with the project “Kharkiv – Humanitarian”. The single city system for the receiving and distribution of humanitarian aid, which is sent to health care, education and social institutions of the city of Kharkiv.”

3. Development 2018 – 2021. May 2018 – founded a non-governmental organization KHARKIV – HUMANITARIAN as a prelusion to the national network «UKRAINE – HUMANITARIAN», developed a project «E-window. The single city transparent system for the receipt and rational distribution of humanitarian aid, which is sent to institutions and social oriented organizations of the city of Kharkiv».

– November 2018. Humanitarian aid from Austria, provided at the same time, for a record number of recipient organizations – 43 organizations:

• 4 Preschools.
• 15 schools and gymnasiums.
• State institution “Institute of Health Protection of Children and Adolescents of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine”
• 4 hospitals of Kharkiv.
• 8 Territorial centers providing social services in the city of Kharkiv.
• 5 Social oriented organizations.
• 6 Socio-medical organizations of Luhansk Region (boarding schools, hospitals)

This humanitarian aid included: industrial installations for filtering drinking water, multifunctional beds for hospitals, medical furniture, orthopedic devices, clothes for adults and children, toys, hygiene products, etc. The total weight of humanitarian aid is about 10 tons worth UAH 3.5 million.

– March 2019. About ten tons of medical equipment, which was received from partners from the USA, was handed over to the children’s hospice in Kharkiv.

– May 2019. Participated the project New Leaders (Star Light Media Group, ICTV), entered the TOP-20 of Ukraine, having developed the project “UKRAINE – HUMANITARIAN”, namely a unified, nationwide, transparent system for socially oriented institutions and organizations regarding the receipt and rational distribution of humanitarian aid”, which is innovative and strategic in solving the issues of smuggling and pilferage of humanitarian aid.

YouTube Link

Left the “New Leaders” project due to the urgency of organizing the delivery of humanitarian aid. It resulted in receiving humanitarian aid in the amount of UAH 2 million, which was be received by 46 organizations and institutions of the city of Kharkiv, Kharkiv region and six towns of Luhansk region, in November 2019.

– November 2019.  «UKRAINE-HUMANITARIAN». A single, nationwide transparent system of receiving and rational distribution of humanitarian aid in action.

Receiving of the cargo of humanitarian aid from Austria, according to a transparent scheme and prior rational distribution.

Information:
Thanks to the developed system of the rational distribution of humanitarian aid, in order to identify needs among social, medical, educational institutions and socially oriented organizations, humanitarian aid was delivered to 34 organizations of the city of Kharkiv, 6 towns of Kharkiv region and 6 towns of Luhansk region, among which:

– 12 educational institutions (schools, preschools, boarding schools, infant orphanage).

– 11 health care institutions.

– 20 municipal social care institutions.

– 3 NGOs and socially oriented charitable fundations.

Cargo composition:

Industrial drinking water treatment plants – which solve the problems of Escherichia coli, such as Escherichia, Citrobacter, Enterobacter and Klebsiella. Natural water purification using ultra-filtration (from 0.02 to filter) makes drinking water free of bacteria and legionella. This type of water treatment will be the technology of the future. Legionella water filtration is very important in schools, hospitals, and public facilities with a circulating water system. Also, the cargo of humanitarian aid includes: hospital furniture, school furniture, stationery and school items, clothes, children’s toys – the total weight is about 10 tons, the amount is about 2 million UAH.

– March 2022. Due to the full-scale war in Ukraine, the SIRIUS humanitarian volunteer center was established. From March to June 2022, more than UAH 10 million in humanitarian aid was raised. We have food storage facilities, a pharmacy warehouse, and storage space for clothing and footwear in the city center for convenient distribution. Thousands of food packages have been distributed to residents of the city and region.

– April 2022. A project was implemented together with Lviv Regional State Administration and with the support of G5 ENTERTEINMENT. Diversified humanitarian aid with a total value of about 200 000 USD was sent to SIRIUS International Charity Foundation.

– May 2022. A project was implemented with NIKE to provide new, comfortable footwear for women working in emergency medical services and disaster medicine in Kharkiv.

– August 2022. With the support of International Cooperation Department of Kharkiv City Council, the Municipality of Poznan (Poland) and NOVA UKRAINE, a cargo of humanitarian aid with food products, lighting equipment, power banks, baby diapers, and personal hygiene products with a total volume of about 120 m3 was delivered to SIRIUS International Charity Foundation.

– November 2022 – April 2024. Implementation of a project with Volkshilfe (NachbarInNot, Austrian Development Agency, supported by the Austrian government and president) for 30,000 vulnerable families in the city of Kharkiv and frontline areas of Kharkiv and Kherson regions. Food kits, personal hygiene kits, diesel generators for institutions, gas burners and gas cylinders, adult diapers, winter clothing, heaters. In total, the aid supported more than 100,000 people.

– June 2025. The SIRIUS STAR CAMP project for the psychological rehabilitation of children from families of those killed, missing, or affected by armed conflict, based on Alexander ZHYLENKOV’s proprietary methodology, took place on the Black Sea coast in the Odessa region. The first 38 children from the Zolochiv community in the Kharkiv region underwent rehabilitation.

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Since 2014, he has organized and implemented international projects worth over €20 million with Austria, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the United States and other countries.

More than 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid have been delivered.

Approximately 500,000 people have received humanitarian aid, including refugees, internally displaced persons, and residents of frontline territories in Ukraine.

More than 300 organizations: hospitals, schools, kindergartens, social service centers, and public organizations and charitable foundations have received material and technical support and improved social conditions for people. Assistance has been provided to critical infrastructure institutions throughout almost the entire border area of the Kharkiv region and Donetsk, Lugansk, Kheson regions.

All actions are based solely on our own initiative and desire to develop the country and society. All actions are described on the website, on our social media pages, and in media appearances, which are freely available.