Volunteers Maria Taraban and Alina Datsievich: a blitz with the founders of the charity fund VYDNOKOLO
In the world of RBTNK, there are 6 characters who together fight for victory: Defender, Medic, Rescuer (front), and Volunteer, Journalist, Worker (rear). These superheroes are among us: with their backgrounds, skills, and superpowers — different, but united by a common goal. We want the RBTNK community to know more about them. So in the Superheroes section, we talk to our heroes about important things: why they chose this role, what their mission is, their dreams, and the artifacts that help them hold on.
In Sloviansk, we met with Maria Taraban and Alina Datsievich — volunteers who have been developing a charitable fund since 2023. “Vydnokolo”.
Marichka, Alina, hello! Tell us about your work.
M: I am the founder of the “Vydnokolo” fund.
A: I am the operations director.
M: The two of us manage all operational processes: from organizing fundraisers and communicating with units and brigades to logistics and reporting.
A: And we also have a team that handles design, texts, and external communications.
What is your mission?
M: To be close to the soldiers. To do everything in my power to meet their needs.
A: I think our mission is to simplify the lives of soldiers by at least 1%. So they don’t have to worry about where to get a vehicle or drones. To respond quickly and be a support as much as possible.
Why did you choose this role in the war?
M: In the first days of the full-scale war, I started a fundraiser for a thermal imager for my dad's friends. When it was closed, I felt that it gave my existence meaning in turbulent times. Everything around is falling apart, and you feel needed. It gives you the strength to move forward. I cannot live life on the sidelines. Being involved in the struggle is not a choice, but a duty.
A: On February 26, 2022, I was driving my dad to the military enlistment office, even though he is of non-conscription age. He then said, “I’m going so that you and your brother don’t have to go. So that you don’t see this.” And I felt that I couldn’t do nothing if my dad went to fight for me, even though he could have stayed home. I was in the Kyiv region at that time, and then I returned to Kyiv and joined the fund.
“Everything around is falling apart, and you feel needed. It gives you the strength to move forward.”
And who are you in civilian life?
M: I was recently a project manager, managing establishments. Now I have resigned and am developing my jam brand. HEARTMELT.
A: I am the managing director of a café.
How do you think we should build a bridge between the rear and the front?
M: The Rear must realize how quickly the front is moving and thanks to whom we live our lives. Everyone should be involved — even a little. And from the military side, events organized by the brigades work great: lectures, tactical medicine, film screenings for civilians. This is done by Troika, Charter, Da Vinci Wolves (in particular, their medical service ULF) and others. Probably, it is at such events that many civilians think about service.
A: I think it is the work of both sides. Although I am a quite aggressive person, I still believe that aggression should not be directed at each other. The Rear must engage as much as possible: if you can't donate — open a jar, if you can't open a jar — make a repost. This is the basis. If everyone is involved — it will become a little easier.
“If everyone is involved — it will become a little easier”
Share your favorite story about volunteering
M: Every time we head towards the front, we receive a bunch of invitations to visit. For example, there was Engineer's Day — we were invited to dinner with a gorgeous "picnic." There was a cauldron of pilaf :)
A: There was even a vegetarian "menu"! They set such a table for me without meat — I was delighted.
M: Next time we go — they invite us for a barbecue. Every time there are these warm receptions with delicious food. We joke that this is the "cashback of volunteering" — and this is the most valuable. In general, all favorite moments are memories from the east. Because most of our surroundings and friends are here — you transform from a gloomy gray person into a lively one.
A: Yes, you sit in a room surrounded by people you knew in Kyiv from absolutely different spheres of life, and you are amazed by these feelings.
M: We try to hand everything over personally. And this joy of the adult men… These smiles, these eyes. No matter what you bring — they are happy. It's wow. We say "men" because these are adult uncles of my father's age who greet us like their children.
A: I want to add that it is important to support gatherings not only of media teams. We see this difference in dynamics when we launch a collection for the famous and the unknown. But it is the non-media military — often the infantry — that allows us to drink coffee here now. These are the same simple "men." Please do not ignore the fund collections for them.
“All favorite moments are memories from the East. You transform here from a gloomy gray person into a living one”
What are you dreaming about right now?
M: To plan a free future with a loved one. To be together and build plans. To have two children. To buy a house. And a goat. A Cameroonian goat :)
A: You have me. I will live with you *laughs* I don't even know. I dream that everyone returns from captivity.
What gives you faith and stubbornness to continue the fight?
M: The dream of a happy future with family, with children in Ukraine adds stubbornness. I won't say faith — but definitely stubbornness, even when your hands are completely down.
A: Stubbornness comes from the environment — friends, military, volunteers. They hold you up very strongly. Sometimes you think you can't handle it, but you look at your surroundings — how can I let them down? Everyone is struggling. You can take a break. But they don't let me down — and I can't let them down.
M: And we add faith and stubbornness to each other :)
“Sometimes you think you can't handle it, but you look at your surroundings — how can I let them down?”
What artifacts are always with you and help you hold on?
M: These are our dogs — Vasylina (mine) and Lilu (Alina's). Our friends who are always by our side, in all trips. Even on the worst days, you get out of bed because you need to take them for a walk. They add life. Once we brought a cart here, and returned back on Intercity. Vasylina politely rode with us :)
A: Mine has only been with me for 3 months, but Lilu has already been everywhere. Wherever we go — she goes too.
What do your tokens say?
M: 061 — the code of my native Zaporizhzhia, the code of my identity.
A: “Every night ends with morning” — this belief sits somewhere deep inside. Everything bad will end with something good. Also, this is a phrase from the book "The Gethsemane Garden" by Ivan Bahriany, which everyone should read.
And lastly: if you could become any game character — who would you choose?
A: Sometimes I feel like we are already in some game. But I didn't play them as a child because my older brother always occupied the computer :)
M: I would choose Katniss Everdeen, the main character of "The Hunger Games." She is great at archery and takes down the bad guys :)
0 comments
There are no comments yet.