Helping Hand: NUJU’s JSCs hold a large-scale charity event

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) has organized a large-scale charity initiative called Helping Hand to support journalists affected by war and personal tragedies. Various regional Journalists’ Solidarity Centers (JSCs) adapted the event to local needs, raising funds through auctions, raffles, and sales of artistic and symbolic items to assist injured journalists and the families of fallen colleagues.

An auction in Zaporizhzhia raised funds:

The Zaporizhzhia JSC held a charity auction-fair, collecting over UAH 30,000 through more than 50 lots, including local art, jewelry, and war-themed crafts, to support the families of fallen journalists and wounded media workers.

Support for specific journalists:

Aid was provided to several individuals, including the mother of fallen journalist Oleh Shemchuk, injured reporters Olha Zvonariova and Kira Shupyk-Oves, and others recovering or serving in the military.

Ivano-Frankivsk raffle for rehabilitation:

Over UAH 7,000 were raised in a prize raffle to support injured colleague Andrii Shkvarla, a TV operator undergoing spine rehabilitation after military service. The event included unique works by local media artists and attracted contributions from other regions.

Dnipro fundraising for the displaced journalist:

More than UAH 17,000 was collected in Dnipro to aid journalist Iryna Stryzhka, who lost her home due to a hostile drone strike, with support from journalists across multiple regions and unique auction items.

Kharkiv fundraiser for a young mother:

The Kharkiv JSC gathered UAH 21,000 for journalist Anastasiya Fedchenko, a widow raising a young daughter after her husband had been killed in combat, through sales of her book and various war-related crafts and memorabilia.

Lviv support for the displaced journalist’s family:

The Lviv JSC collected donations for Olena Prototopova from Kherson, who fled occupation and whose family faces hardship after her husband lost both legs in combat; local journalism students actively participated.

Chernivtsi book sales aid military press officers:

The Unified Western Ukrainian JSC in Chernivtsi sold books by local authors, raising about UAH 3,000 to help repair a vehicle used by press officers of a mechanized brigade, demonstrating effective journalistic solidarity despite difficult conditions.

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REFERENCE INFORMATION:

Helping Hand is an all-Ukrainian charity event held in May 2025 under the slogan “Journalists for Journalists” by the JSCs of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine in various regions of Ukraine. During charitable offline and online auctions, fairs, lotteries, and other events, funds are collected to support the families of journalists who are volunteers or have been mobilized and enlisted in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as to assist injured journalists and their families. If possible, by decision of a JSC, part of the funds may be transferred to repair a car for the military press service (the collection was announced by the NUJU). The collected funds are distributed by the JSCs of the NUJU, taking into account the needs of journalists and their families in the relevant region. The transfer of the collected aid within the framework of the Helping Hand event is timed to the Day of the Journalist of Ukraine (June 6).

NUJU Information Service