On February 24, 2022, the world watched as Russia launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine. Today marks day 1,000 of the war in Ukraine, and many people have long lost interest in what’s happening in that part of the world.
  

But Jewish Federations haven’t forgotten Ukraine. In fact, this month the organization will have enlisted more than 1,000 volunteers through its Global Volunteer Hub to help either in person or virtually.
 

“Jewish Federations were uniquely positioned after the war began to respond immediately and effectively because of our long presence in the region supporting our partners in Ukraine and neighboring countries,” said Jewish Federations President & CEO Eric D. Fingerhut. “Federations have a duty to support Ukraine’s vibrant and active Jewish community, which has chosen to remain through the fighting to build on over 1,000 years of rich history.”
 

One month after the war began, Jewish Federations, working with partners JDC and the Jewish Agency for Israel, established a Global Volunteer Hub as part of Federations’ multi-pronged response. This platform identified a roster of volunteer needs with vetted organizations supporting Ukrainian refugees in Europe, leveraged the Federation system and its network to recruit skilled Russian and Ukrainian-speaking volunteers, and launched a central application and screening process to match qualified volunteers with placements.
 

Many who served in these initial months have remained so committed to these communities that they have since returned to volunteer more than three times, offering not only the necessary language skills and professional experience but their deep compassion and connection to this population and the local professionals supporting it.
 

In the third year of the war, Jewish Federations’ efforts have expanded to meet a changing landscape of needs.
 

In addition to the ongoing in-person volunteer placements, the continuation of this work has also included the launch of a virtual volunteering initiative, Connect for Good: Chat with Ukraine, in partnership with ENGin, to recruit and match English speaking volunteers with young Ukrainians seeking to learn English for weekly conversation practice and cross-cultural exchange.
 

Below is a snapshot of the program’s progress in sending of in-person volunteers: 

• As of this month, the Hub will have facilitated 235 in-person volunteer placements in Poland, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Moldova, Estonia, Latvia, and Hungary. 
• Of which, 31% were repeat volunteers (and 41% of those served 3+ times) 
• 80% of volunteers serving in 2024 are repeat volunteers 
• 21+ partner organizations supported in 8 countries over the past 2.5 years 
• 89% shared that their experience made them more connected to Jewish values.  
• Volunteers have come from 20 U.S. states and 6 Canadian provinces 
• Age range:19-76, with the majority working in psychology, social work, education, Jewish non-profit, and medicine.