Embedded in communities. Delivering humanitarian relief. Promoting sustainable recovery.
Yashchenko Foundation is a humanitarian organisation founded and led by local responders who have worked at the front line since the start of the full‑scale invasion. We operate in some of Ukraine’s most dangerous and hard‑to‑reach areas, supplying hospitals, IDP shelters, and front‑line communities with essential aid, and helping civilians reach safety.
Vision and mission
Vision: A world where vulnerable communities receive timely, dignified, and needs‑based humanitarian assistance, minimising suffering, addressing real needs, and empowering people to recover and thrive after disasters.
Mission: To deliver vital humanitarian assistance, foster resilience, and restore hope to the most vulnerable communities. Through rapid, decisive action and an unwavering commitment to those affected by crisis, we strive to make a meaningful and lasting impact.
Our approach
- Needs‑based: We prioritise assistance according to the severity and urgency of conditions on the ground.
- Community‑driven: We work hand in hand with community leaders, healthcare providers, and local authorities.
- Agile: Flexibility and responsiveness underpin every aspect of our work.
We operate across the disaster risk management cycle:
- Disaster preparedness to equip local communities and responders for future crises.
- Disaster response and relief across Health, WASH, Shelter, and Food Security.
- Recovery and reconstruction in water, infrastructure, and health systems.
What we do
- Health: Supply medical equipment and consumables, support damaged facilities to restore services, and connect people to specialist partners for health and MHPSS. We also invest in the Walking Blood Bank, recruiting pre‑typed local donors to reduce dangerous stock‑outs, especially near the front line.
- WASH: Provide emergency access to safe water, hygiene kits and promotion, and support health facilities with clean water and sanitation. As access improves, we rehabilitate boreholes, wells and pumps, and strengthen sanitation infrastructure for equitable, reliable services.
- Shelter: Distribute emergency shelter kits and NFIs for impacted households and collective centres, and support community‑led repairs and green recovery options for critical infrastructure such as schools and community centres.
- Food Security & Livelihoods (FSL): Deliver emergency food assistance tailored to local diets, plan for cash where markets function, and promote sustainable food systems through climate‑smart agriculture, rehabilitation of small‑ and medium‑sized farms, and household and community gardens.
Our story and name
The Foundation was established in March 2024 in honour of Maksim Yashchenko, a colleague known for his warmth, dedication and courage. Maksim was declared missing in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in November 2023. His legacy guides our work and values every day.
