History of the fund
This page contains key information about the UA FREE Foundation, our history, and the team behind all of the organization's achievements. UA FREE is more than a charitable organization, it is a union of people united by a common goal to help Ukraine and Ukrainians.
The history of the UA FREE Foundation began in 2019 with the creation of a public organization Center for Social Development "Initiative"This team became the driving force behind many social and educational projects. Among the main areas and initiatives were:
- The “Road Culture” project, which contributed to the development of safe road behavior among young people.
- Large-scale environmental campaign “Greening Ukraine” — restoration of Ukraine's ecosystem and popularization of environmental responsibility.
- Educational events “British format of parliamentary debates” — popularization of teamwork, development of oratory and analytical skills among students.
- A series of pilot trainings on information security for teenagers, which was especially relevant in the modern digital world.
- Holding the ZIEIT CYBER CUP e-sports tournament (December 14, 2019 at ZIEIT), a Dota 2 competition at the professional level.
- The educational project “Debate the Past, So as Not to Lose the Future” is an intellectual team game among students in the format of British parliamentary debates.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, an informal team of volunteers emerged on the basis of the “Center for Social Development 'Initiative'” — "Volunteer gang "What are you, uncle". It was this team that united those who did not remain aloof from the events of 2022 and joined in supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and residents of the region. During the year of work, "What are you, uncle?" provided assistance to more than 50 units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as thousands of civilians.
In July 2022, the UA FREE charitable foundation was created — the next step in the development of our organization, which officially united the “What are you, uncle?” project team under a single legal identity. Since January 2023, UA FREE has been operating as an independent foundation and systematically raises funds for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, IDPs, and the reconstruction of Ukraine.
The main area of activity of the fund is the Zaporizhia region, as well as units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the East of the country.
The UA FREE team is made up of volunteers, specialists, coordinators, partners, and friends who work daily to provide targeted, transparent, and effective assistance.
Our “About Us” page is open to anyone looking for verified information about the foundation, our experience, and our team.
We invite you to join our community, support the foundation's activities, or become part of the UA FREE team.
Together - to Victory!
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Media about us
The famous Zaporozhye volunteer center brought 15 cars for the military, breaking its own record for the number. The volunteer gang transfers them to the needs of the Armed Forces.
To get to the community, the car traveled a long way. The non-governmental organization "Patriot" transported him from Japan to Ukraine. And the "UA FREE" fund provided logistics from Kyiv to Zaporizhzhia. It took another week to register the car at the executive committee of the Dniprorudna City Council at the service center. Now the car is fully ready to work for the benefit of the Dniprorudna community.
More than three dozen cars, as well as walkie-talkies, thermal imagers, body armor and medical equipment. All this has already been handed over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine by Zaporizhia volunteers from the association, with the ironic name "What are you, uncle".
Serhiy Matviets is a Zaporizhia designer, traveler, and now a medical volunteer. After the start of a full-scale invasion, he realized that he could be useful, and now he is queued up, because he can get a unicorn if he saves the lives of our defenders
They buy and transfer cars, generators and walkie-talkies, collect military first-aid kits and make chemical heaters - and this is only part of the assistance to the Ukrainian military from volunteers from Zaporizhzhia. They jokingly call themselves a gang. They united to help the military in the spring of last year. And it all started with a chat with the name-meme "What are you, uncle?".
Volunteer association "What are you, uncle?" for the fifth time since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he is importing a batch of cars from abroad for the needs of the military. This time, the volunteers personally selected and drove 12 purchased cars and two "ambulance" cars for the Armed Forces, donated by Denmark and Poland, from Frankfurt and Berlin. 061 tells the story of volunteers with dozens of congregations behind them, a strong team of like-minded people and an important goal.
When the money arrived, somewhere in the middle of February, we started to prepare. We prepared the documents, submitted them to the OVA, so that they would open the "Shlyah" to us, and we were already driving according to the order. They drove us 4 jeeps and 4 trucks. Now these 8 cars have been driven and we already have a new queue of 5 cars
Volunteer gang "What are you, Uncle?" is currently preparing another vehicle, a Mitsubishi L200 pickup truck, for transfer to the combat unit of the Zaporizhia Separate Territorial Defense Brigade. Since February, this will already be the eighth car that the volunteer gang sends to strengthen the defense capabilities of the Zaporizhzhia region.
Today, December 5, the whole world and in Ukraine in particular, the International Volunteer Day is celebrated. On this occasion, a solemn event was held in the regional center, which was attended by representatives of the Zaporizhia Regional Military Administration, public organizations, and charitable foundations.
Yuriy says that separation from his relatives became the biggest emotional test for him. At the same time, he is glad that he can not worry about them and devote all his free time to helping the army.
In a few days, the multi-functional Mitsubishi L200 military pickup truck will be transferred to the combat unit of the Zaporizhia Separate Territorial Defense Brigade. This was reported on the brigade's page on the social network. Today, military volunteers presented the most favorite car to Zaporozhians.
Volunteer gang "What are you, uncle?" Today, it is one of the most powerful and long-lasting volunteer associations in Zaporizhzhia. One of their main directions is the delivery of cars to the military. And with each new batch, volunteers break their own records for the number of cars.
Fortunately, there are compassionate people in Zaporizhzhia who are ready to provide support. In particular, "Volunteer gang "What are you, uncle?". Since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, like-minded people have been collecting aid for the Armed Forces, police, ground defense, rescuers and medics. And recently, attention was paid to the residents of the zone of active hostilities.
Winter and wet weather add to the difficulties of the military at the front. It becomes difficult to dry clothes, shoes and keep warm. But thanks to Zaporizhia volunteers of the gang (as they call themselves) "What are you, uncle?" our defenders now have chemical heaters that can be placed in a shoe, glove or pocket. This was reported on the website of Zaporizhzhya City Council.
Volunteers buy ingredients for the production of chemical heaters themselves or receive them from partners
The main prize of the lottery is a book by Les Poderevyansky with his personal autograph. For the second place, the winner will receive the work of Vadim Mytkov - but which one, the winner will choose himself. The third winner will receive a wonderful raccoon hat, made by craftswoman Konfeta.
Danish musician Robert Yantsevich is volunteering in Zaporizhzhia for five weeks. The man came to Ukraine because of the war and the desire to help somehow. Robert got to know the children who had left the temporarily occupied territories and began to teach them how to play the guitar, English, and Thai boxing.
Another large volunteer association in Zaporizhzhia calls itself "What are you, uncle?" and is engaged in experiments. In particular, they produce chemical heaters. For example, you can put them in your pocket to warm your hands.
The Mitsubishi L200 pickup truck was shown to Zaporizhzhya residents by the charity organization "Volunteer gang "What are you, Uncle?" In a few days, the multi-functional Mitsubishi L200 military pickup truck will be transferred to the combat unit of the Zaporizhia Separate Territorial Defense Brigade. This was reported on the brigade's page on the social network.
Anton Kozyrev is one of the representatives of the volunteer gang "What are you, Uncle?", which helps the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the police, the TrO Forces, medics and rescuers. The volunteer association focuses on providing defenders with the necessary equipment, as well as medicines and medical means for rescue (tourniquets, stretchers, devices for operative surgery, etc.).
Volunteers of the Zaporizhia association ("volunteer gang", as they call it themselves) "What are you, Uncle?" will organize a real holiday for adults and children in Zaporizhzhia. There really is a reason for celebration. After all, finally the car, which was collected by the efforts of caring people, will go to the front line to our defenders - the Zaporizhia Territorial Defense Brigade. This is a real multifunctional military pickup truck.
According to the volunteers of the "What are you, uncle" association, this is the largest batch of cars that they have brought to Zaporizhzhia since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. The car was bought for donations. The cost of the batch with delivery to Zaporizhzhia is about 40 euros.
From Germany to Zaporizhzhia, volunteers of the association "What are you doing, uncle" drove 8 cars, which will be handed over to the military protecting the Zaporizhzhia area. This is the largest batch of cars that volunteers brought to Zaporizhzhia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The cost of a consignment of cars with a consignment to Zaporizhzhia is about 40 euros. The money was collected thanks to donations. Volunteers drove 4 jeeps and 4 Volkswagen transporter T4 buses to the order of the military. Jeeps were bought at a site near Berlin, buses - near Frankfurt am Main.
Another 8 cars for the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were brought from Europe by representatives of the Zaporizhia volunteer association "What are you doing, Uncle". Today in Zaporizhzhia, they presented this batch of cars, which has become the largest for volunteers to date.
