Information on Organizations E4C Has Worked With That Are Providing Support to Ukrainians
We are watching with horror, and a sense of helplessness, the devastation that Russia’s attack is wreaking in Ukraine. We stand with the 141 countries that sided with Ukraine in the United Nations General Assembly, and with the global majority that condemns Russia’s invasion.
Members of our E4C community have asked about what each of us, as individuals, can do.
In response, we wanted to share information about organizations E4C has worked with that are providing vital services to Ukrainians right now.
The United Nations High Commission on Refugees
The UNHCR is working with refugees escaping violence and destruction in Ukraine. As the organization explains:
Millions of people — mostly women and children — have been forced to flee Ukraine. They are sheltering in underground train stations, walking hundreds of miles, and leaving behind everything they’ve ever known. UNHCR is on the ground scaling its response to provide assistance and ensure those displaced find safety in welcoming arms in this moment of crisis.
E4C is proud to have worked with UNHCR on research into refugee settlement planning. Use the following link to access the project summary: “Development of Templates to Support an Integrated Settlement Planning Framework in the Context of Refugees, Humanitarian, and Conflict Affected Areas.”
Toilets for People
The sustainable sanitation organization Toilets for People seeks volunteers to travel to Budapest and build composting toilets for refugees crossing the border between Ukraine and Hungary. TfP is collaborating with the Hungarian Charity Organization of the Order of Malta to support the NGO’s work providing food and rest to refugees.
According to TfP:
TFP is seeking 2 to 3 volunteers to act as couriers and trainers to both bring these toilet products to Budapest and provide training to Maltai staff on how to maintain them. This would require the volunteers to come to our fabrication facility in Brooklyn, New York, spend 3 hours there to get trained on the fabrication and use of the toilet products.
The deadline for applications is noon March 19th. For details and application instructions, please visit TfP’s website. Donations to support this work can be made at the Hungarian Charity Organization of the Order of Malta’s website.
E4C’s connection to TfP goes back to the early days of our organization. Jason Kass, TfP’s founder, has contributed opinion and analysis to our website and one of his composting toilet designs was a finalist in the US arm of the prototype accelerator competition ASME ISHOW in 2016.
MSF: Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders
MSF is on the frontlines providing medical treatment to the people injured in the attacks in Ukraine. As stated on MSF’s website:
MSF teams are responding to war in Ukraine, with hundreds of thousands of people becoming displaced, including as refugees in neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, our logistics teams in Brussels have sent the first truck-loads of supplies, including surgical and trauma kits, supplies to respond to mass casualty events, and medications for chronic diseases, to Ukraine.
We are honored to have worked with MSF researching water tower design. Use the following link to access the research summary: “A Standard, Adaptable Catalogue of Water Tower Designs and Construction Typologies”
Philips Foundation
The Philips Foundation is providing hospital relief, support for acute and emergency care, financial support, and supplies for displaced Ukrainian citizens. Philips employees can donate to the foundation to fund humanitarian relief to people in Ukraine and at its borders. The foundation’s website describes their work in Ukraine in greater detail.
E4C has worked with Philips and the Philips Foundation over the years, featuring Philips products that meet basic needs in vulnerable communities in our Solutions Library, and we presented the Impact.Engineered 2021 Ecosystem Builder Award to Bahaa Eddine Sarroukh, Innovation Lead of the Philips Foundation.
Thank you.
At E4C we believe that engineers can choose where they apply their skills for the benefit humanity. The organizations listed above are just a few that are dedicating their time and talent to this effort. If you are aware of others, we are eager to learn about them. Please share in the comments below.
Our response may evolve as events unfold, but for now, we encourage members of our community to donate money and time as volunteers if you are so moved and able to do so.
Our hearts are with the people of Ukraine, and everyone around the world touched by war.
