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In Ukraine, Whole Planet Foundation Is Supporting Entrepreneurs and Internally Displaced People

by Zoe So, Whole Planet Foundation Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa

In Ukraine, Whole Planet Foundation Is Supporting Entrepreneurs and Internally Displaced People

by Zoe So, Whole Planet Foundation Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa

Published 07-25-22

Submitted by Whole Foods Market Foundation

ukraine aid kitchen
Concern is providing food, hygiene supplies, and bedding through eight local humanitarian hubs across two oblasts (regions) of Western Ukraine. Photo: Kieran McConville/Concern Worldwide

Almost 12 million Ukrainians have fled their homes because of the ongoing conflict. An estimated 6.27 million of displaced Ukrainians have stayed in the country, and 5.5 million are refugees outside Ukraine.

Since 2018, Whole Planet Foundation has funded $300,000 to our microfinance partner Anisia Credit Union in Ukraine to support women entrepreneurs like Olexandra.

on a front porch, piles of cleaning supplies, boxes

Now, Whole Planet Foundation is supporting Concern Worldwide with a $50,000 grant to provide food kits to internally displaced peoples (IDPs) in Ukraine who are living in shelters or hosted in private homes in Western Ukraine. The foods kits include items like pasta, buckwheat grain, water, canned fish, canned meat, tea, and high energy biscuits. WPF funds will cover food kits for an estimated 100 people per day at each of 12 distribution points, for a period of three months.

Concern Worldwide in Ukraine coordinates emergency relief services in Ternopil and Khmelnitsky in Western Ukraine. Through six shelters and twelve humanitarian hubs for people who are placed with host families, the Concern program provides core relief kits to IDPs. In addition to the food kits, the relief package includes non-food items like bedding, pillows and towels, and hygiene items. As of June 2022, the distribution points have helped an estimated 9,500 people.

under a tent, many rows of stacked boxes
Hygiene Kits Hub

Between May 10th and June 30th, Concern in collaboration their partners have distributed food parcels with 30 days’ worth of food to 1,046 internally displaced persons as a direct result of Whole Planet Foundation funding. This distribution is just one part of Concern Worldwide Ukraine’s relief effort. The initiative has facilitated distribution of 9,000 food parcels with 30 days’ worth of food and 9,000 hygiene kits lasting 3 months to the most vulnerable IDPs. Concern has also supported 15 collective centres with cleaning supplies; bedding such as mattresses, towels and sheets; and washing machines.

Whole Planet Foundation also partners with Concern Worldwide in Burundi, where we support business capital for microentrepreneurs in their graduation program. The Ukraine partnership is funded through Whole Planet Foundation’s High Impact Fund for special initiatives, including relief and recovery efforts; client health and education; internal technology development; and innovative services or products.

Learn more at wholeplanetfoundation.org.

two people moving stacks of boxes inside open doors of a building
Hygiene Kits Hub

 

inside a trailer, pallets of wrapped supplies, food, etc.
Food on truck

 

inside a small warehouse, wrapped and rolled mattresses stacked.
Mattresses in warehouse

 

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Olexandra improved her childcare business with microloans from Whole Planet Foundation partner Anisia Credit Union.

 

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Whole Foods Market Foundation

Whole Foods Market Foundation

Whole Foods Market Foundation works to nourish people and the planet by helping to advance economic opportunities, nutrition, and healthy food access in local and global communities. Founded by Whole Foods Market, the registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Austin, Texas, encompasses the projects of Whole Planet, Whole Kids and Whole Cities.  

WHOLE PLANET 
Alleviates poverty through microcredit in communities around the globe.
Wholeplanetfoundation.org

WHOLE KIDS 
Dedicated to improving children’s health and wellness through their nutrition. 
Wholekidsfoundation.org

WHOLE CITIES 
Improves individual and community health through collaborative partnerships, education, and broader access to nutritious food. 
Wholecitiesfoundation.org

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