Russia’s constant bombing of Ukraine has taken its toll on life and structures. Hundreds of thousands of homes and critical infrastructure have lost windows. Homeowners are forced to use anything at hand to cover them; wood, tin, mattresses…anything. This has made homes vulnerable to the weather, darkness and splintering. We are Ukrainian Children Inc., a 501(3)(c). In January 2023, we partnered with Harry Blakiston Houston and his team from Cambridge University, who have developed an innovative method to temporarily repair bombed-out windows. Their solution not only restores the functionality of the windows but also provides excellent insulation. Harry has developed an efficient system to track requests, materials used, and installation hours, which has enabled him to scale a network of organizations to adopt and implement this method. Their collective efforts, known as Insulate Ukraine, have been remarkably successful, with each window repair costing only $20 using local materials and labor. Ukrainian Children had an existing program in the city of Nikopol, Ukraine. Our satellite alliance with Insulate Ukraine has allowed us to replace 3000 windows in Nikopol and other frontline cities. With Insulate Ukraine, we are making a difference. I have attached 2 letters of recommendation from Rotary clubs who support Insulate Ukraine. Our on-the-ground partner, Elena Aleksandrova lives with her husband and son in Nikopol, a frontline city. Connection dependent, she will speak via zoom from Nikopol along with me in the United States. We are eager to connect with your club and would be grateful for the chance to book a date to share our experiences, insights, and the impact we have made so far.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Andrea Esty, Vice President of Ukrainian Children Inc., has been a dedicated advocate and supporter of the Ukrainian people. Initially, she volunteered with World Central Kitchen, coordinated medical supply transports, and provided Ukrainian-made and installed wood stoves to those in need. In December 2022, Andrea’s efforts expanded when Elena, Ilya and ArtumElena Aleksandrova, a resident of the frontline city of Nikopol, reached out for assistance. Responding to this call, Andrea and the Nikopol team have successfully installed over 350 wood stoves in the region.
In January 2023, Andrea and Ukrainian Children Inc partnered with Harry Blakiston Houston and his team from Cambridge University to address another critical need: repairing bombed-out windows. Harry’s team launched Insulate Ukraine, a group that employs an innovative, cost-effective method for window repairs. Using local materials and labor, they have repaired over 6,000 windows in Nikopol and surrounding areas, contributing to nearly 60,000 window installations in frontline cities.