Volunteer tourism: how foreigners can help Ukraine while traveling

Volunteer tourism is a unique travel format that combines exploring the country with active assistance to local communities. In times of war, Ukraine especially needs support, and every foreigner who comes as a tourist can significantly contribute to the country's recovery. Find out more about volunteer tourism and popular donation tours from Visit Ukraine

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Now more than ever, Ukraine needs support, not only material but also moral. The war affects every Ukrainian, exhausting them both physically and psychologically. If you want to make a personal contribution to helping the country, join our charity project and come to Ukraine by taking part in a donation tour.

In September 2023, Visit Ukraine and its partners launched a unique initiative - donation tours, which allow foreigners not only to visit Ukraine but also to volunteer in the de-occupied regions.

We are grateful to everyone who supports Ukrainians in this difficult time. Your contribution brings our common victory closer!

Volunteering destinations for foreign tourists

When booking a donation tour, you can choose the direction to which your assistance will be directed.

The available support options are:

1. Humanitarian aid - purchase of food for low-income and affected families;

2. Hygiene products - basic goods for daily use;

3. Help for animals - food, medicine, sterilization, temporary shelter;

4. Medicines - for children, adults and the elderly;

5. Home heating - stoves, stoves, rocket heaters;

6. Operation of the volunteer center - fuel, vehicle repair;

7. Helping children - diapers, food, school supplies;

8. Restoration of housing - purchase of construction materials;

9. Generators and solar panels - energy independence;

10. Ecology - support for environmental initiatives.

Your choice is a real help to those who need it most!

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How can foreign tourists join volunteering?

Join the charity movement and become part of our unique donation tours aimed at supporting the affected regions of Ukraine. We offer sightseeing trips to Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, where you can visit iconic places associated with the history and heroic deeds of Ukrainian defenders.

Our tours are not just a trip, but an opportunity to make a real contribution to the reconstruction of the country. We take care of your safety and comfort and organize the trip with all the necessary measures in mind. Join us and help those who need it most!

Donation tour to the Hero City of Mykolaiv

Mykolaiv has become a key bastion in the south of Ukraine, and it was here that the Russian offensive was stopped and the enemy was repelled. This city has become a symbol of resilience, struggle and the unwavering spirit of Ukrainians.

By joining the donation tour, you will be able to see with your own eyes the places where the fate of the country was decided, as well as become part of the volunteer movement. You will have the opportunity to help local residents, support animals, learn more about the culture and communicate with those who have survived the horrors of war.

On the first day of the tour, your guide will meet you at the train station and transfer you to your hotel. After breakfast and time to rest, tourists will have a sightseeing tour of the city (walking route and traveling to locations by car). We have also organized an express first aid course.

After breakfast at the hotel on the second day, the tourists will go to the warehouse of the volunteer center. There they will be given a special certificate and the humanitarian aid will be handed over. After that, a short interview at the warehouse is planned, as well as the presentation of gratitude from the foundation and souvenirs. You can find out the details of the tour by clicking here.

The tour price includes a minimum donation to support the war-torn south of Ukraine in the amount of 500 USD.

Donation tour to Mykolaiv and Kherson regions

On the first day of the tour, a guide will meet you at the railway station in Mykolaiv. After breakfast at the hotel, tourists will have a city tour, lunch and dinner in local restaurants. A crash course in first aid will be extremely useful. On the second day, as part of the humanitarian mission, the tourists will go to the villages of Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. You can find out the details of the tour by clicking here.

Your support will not only have a significant impact, but will also be officially recognized. Each participant of the donation tour will receive a volunteer certificate that will certify his or her contribution to helping Ukraine. This is not only a memorable document, but also a symbol of your involvement in a noble cause.

We have taken care of the maximum safety and comfort of the participants by creating a carefully thought-out program that combines volunteering, educational excursions and interaction with local communities. This is an opportunity to personally help those affected by the war and become part of a large international community of support for Ukraine.

Volunteer experience: real stories

John Thomas is a Vietnam veteran, former military pilot and experienced journalist who worked under the pseudonym Randolph Bronte for The Economist and The Financial Times. He came to Ukraine to see the consequences of the war for himself and to support Ukrainians in their struggle. Being a strong opponent of Russian aggression, Thomas decided not only to visit the frontline regions, but also to join the humanitarian aid.

He was accompanied by Dr. David Fillmore, who was eager to help Ukrainian doctors and medical institutions. They spent several months preparing for the mission, but the most difficult stage was the road itself. Despite all the difficulties, the humanitarian trip exceeded their expectations.

During the visit, they visited Kyiv, the de-occupied cities of Kyiv region, as well as Mykolaiv and the surrounding villages. They distributed humanitarian aid to local residents, talked to eyewitnesses of the war and the military defending the country on the eastern front.

Dr. Fillmore not only shared his medical experience with Ukrainian doctors, but also started raising funds for contrast injectors for MRI. John Thomas has donated $2,500 to support Ukrainian hospitals, and together with David will continue to raise funds in the United States.

You can learn more about the humanitarian mission of Mr. John Thomas and Dr. David Fillmore in a video interview on our YouTube channel.

Join the donation tours and become a part of a great cause! Contact our managers and choose the area in which you can help.

Together we can do more!

Contact Visit Ukraine managers (Telegram | WhatsApp). Our specialists will provide all the necessary information about the tour, organize transfers, guide services, ticket and hotel reservations. Travel around Ukraine with us!

We remind you! Due to the fact that military tourism is gaining popularity around the world, some may confuse the concepts of war tours and unique donation tours to Ukraine from Visit Ukraine. Find out what is the fundamental difference between these two concepts and why donation tours have a much deeper meaning and benefit.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

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