Empowering Ukrainians Through Relief and Recovery
Summary
In 2023, Chef José Andrés committed to empower Ukrainians through relief and recovery. Building upon Chef José’s community-based approach to humanitarian relief, he is donating $5 million dollars of support to three local Ukrainian organizations, including: Superhumans Center, Save Ukraine, and The Olena Zelenska Foundation. By uplifting local solutions, local leaders, and local networks of partner organizations, Chef José will address the immediate needs, while helping to empower local communities for successful long-term recovery in Ukraine.
Approach
Action Plan
Background
From the moment Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen (WCK) arrived in Ukraine, they encountered people and communities motivated by the simple goal to feed and take care of each other. Empowering one local community at a time to create an army of “food fighters,” José and WCK achieved what only a community-based approach to humanitarian relief can – food became a catalyst to deliver relief, build resilience, and strengthen recovery. Leveraging the networks created via thousands of partner organizations and volunteers across virtually all regions of Ukraine, José is committed to supporting local solutions to the country’s long-term recovery while also addressing “right now” needs of vulnerable populations. Now more than ever, there is a need to support local organizations doing work on the ground in Ukraine, whose direct service approach is measurably helping to heal lives and rebuild a sense of community.