ГО "Добрі Дії"
Non-Governmental Organization “GOOD ACTIONS”
Mission
We are a cohesive team of like-minded individuals implementing social initiatives and responding to crises when necessary to ensure the well-being of the residents of the Starosaltivska Territorial Community in the Kharkiv region, including members of our organization. We act transparently and openly by engaging material and human resources.
Vision
The Starosaltivska Territorial Community is a well-developed, thriving, and safe community with a high standard of living.
Areas of Activity
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We unite people to do good deeds and contribute to positive changes in the city. Projects: "Saltiv Fest" and "Siva Davnyna"
Humanitarian aid and crisis response
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We unite people to do good deeds and contribute to positive changes in the city. Projects: "Saltiv Fest" and "Siva Davnyna"
Community information, education, and consultation
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We unite people to do good deeds and contribute to positive changes in the city. Projects: "Saltiv Fest" and "Siva Davnyna"
Restoration and development of community infrastructure
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We unite people to do good deeds and contribute to positive changes in the city. Projects: "Saltiv Fest" and "Siva Davnyna"
Development of community potential and its residents
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We unite people to do good deeds and contribute to positive changes in the city. Projects: "Saltiv Fest" and "Siva Davnyna"
Strengthening the capacity of the "Good Deeds" organization
Values
Civic Engagement
Act, change, influence: we do not wait for positive changes—we create them. Compassion is our inner strength. We boldly assess needs, take initiative, face challenges head-on, and make the world a better place.
Teamwork and Equal Opportunities
Unity, trust, and support: we create a team where everyone can be heard and supported, with opportunities to develop their skills and be part of a well-coordinated long-term effort aimed at achieving a common goal.
Honesty, Openness, and Mutual Respect
Opportunities for growth and organizational development: our organization provides each team member with opportunities to grow, apply their knowledge, and acquire new skills. This fosters both personal development and the advancement of the organization. The growth of our members is the key to the continuous improvement and success of our public organization.
Pro-Ukrainian Position
Independence and a pro-Ukrainian stance: all our decisions are made independently and are fundamentally based on a pro-Ukrainian position. We operate free from political or ideological influences and the opinions of external individuals or organizations.
Open Cooperation and Transparency of Processes
We are always open to cooperation with all interested parties. We act transparently and honestly, ensuring clarity in our processes and decision-making.
Selflessness and Commitment to the Common Good
Expertise, responsibility, and adaptability: our team members possess deep knowledge in their fields, enabling the organization to operate professionally, make flexible decisions, and quickly adapt to new conditions. We take responsibility for our tasks and strive for the highest standards of quality.
Civic Engagement
Act, change, influence: we do not wait for positive changes—we create them. Compassion is our inner strength. We boldly assess needs, take initiative, face challenges head-on, and make the world a better place.
Teamwork and Equal Opportunities
Unity, trust, and support: we create a team where everyone can be heard and supported, with opportunities to develop their skills and be part of a well-coordinated long-term effort aimed at achieving a common goal.
Honesty, Openness, and Mutual Respect
Opportunities for growth and organizational development: our organization provides each team member with opportunities to grow, apply their knowledge, and acquire new skills. This fosters both personal development and the advancement of the organization. The growth of our members is the key to the continuous improvement and success of our public organization.
Pro-Ukrainian Position
Independence and a pro-Ukrainian stance: all our decisions are made independently and are fundamentally based on a pro-Ukrainian position. We operate free from political or ideological influences and the opinions of external individuals or organizations.
Open Cooperation and Transparency of Processes
We are always open to cooperation with all interested parties. We act transparently and honestly, ensuring clarity in our processes and decision-making.
Selflessness and Commitment to the Common Good
Expertise, responsibility, and adaptability: our team members possess deep knowledge in their fields, enabling the organization to operate professionally, make flexible decisions, and quickly adapt to new conditions. We take responsibility for our tasks and strive for the highest standards of quality.
Our Documented Results
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6
Years of continuous activity by the NGO "Good Actions"
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25 +
Projects implemented (2018-2023)
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50 +
Reliable and time-tested partners
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106,000 USD
Funds raised (2018-2023)
Our projects
All Projects
Collaboration with arche noVa. Reconstruction. Roof Renovations
Eight months of partnership work between the NGO "Good Deeds" and arche noVa were needed to rebuild over 40 homes in Saltivka. This included repairing roofs and replacing windows and doors damaged by shelling.
Additionally, 10 more households received building materials for self-repair of damages. Dozens of households received firewood for winter heating. Over 30 homes now have new front doors, replacing those damaged during the conflict. And that’s not all.
Besides housing restoration, our partners also provided assistance to the Starosaltivka Public Utility Vodokanal, speeding up the restoration of the water supply system.
A second phase of restoration is planned, with an agreement already in place. The knowledge our partners at arche noVa have shared with us over the past year will support this work. You can read about these training sessions on the "Training" page.
Project by the ast Europe Foundation “Changing Ourselves and Changing the World Around Us”
The project was implemented by the NGO "Good Deeds" as part of the "Phoenix" project, executed by the East Europe Foundation with the support of the European Union. It aimed to support and develop our organisation. We have come a long way, but to continue productive work, we need new knowledge, skills, several important policies, and a warm, equipped space.
As part of the project, our volunteer centre in Staryi Saltiv received new furniture and heating briquettes. This allowed us to conduct our activities, work, and welcome Saltivka residents even during winter.
We developed and launched our website, which we had dreamed of even before the war. The page you are currently browsing is the result of three months of work by five members of our NGO and a team of developers.
We collected and organised photo and video materials, compiled a complete list of organisations we have collaborated with, and calculated the amount of aid received and distributed to the residents of the Starosaltivka Territorial Community over the six years of the NGO "Good Deeds."
During five incredibly active days spent at a teambuilding event in Lviv, we gained skills in teamwork and communication both within and outside the team. We developed plans and strategies, striving to understand and articulate our purpose and aspirations.
One of the most important parts of the project was the development of policies that would enable us to move forward with the understanding that the organisation's processes are well-ordered, and that all members comprehend the structure, essence, principles, and logic of the workflows.
This extraordinarily important project provided the "Good Deeds" team with powerful growth opportunities, psychological support, and the strength to continue our work.
Clean Saltiv
We consider the implementation of the "Clean Saltiv" project (2019) under the "Local Initiatives for Community Development" (DOBRE) program as one of our most successful pre-war projects.
The activities were aimed not only at installing waste sorting bins in the villages of the Starosaltivka Territorial Community but also at raising environmental awareness among community residents through an educational campaign. This included workshops on reuse and waste sorting, and training adults and children in our community on sorting rules.
Events
All Events
Life of Saltivians in Occupation
"In dark times, you can see bright people the best" © Erich Maria Remarque.
This saying has become especially relevant during the war. Before the war, our community was disjointed and inactive. Everyone lived their own lives, and the authorities seemed completely indifferent. Rare initiatives were met with indifference. Life flowed slowly in the picturesque village with its forests, fields, and river.
But on February 24, 2022, everything changed. The village froze in shock from explosions, terrified children, and despair. The war we thought was impossible became our reality.
Imagine your home. A quiet morning, a cozy family atmosphere, and then – explosions, windows shattering, the house shaking. The only thought – what about the children? And then military equipment drives past your windows, and your homes are taken over by new authorities. Neighbors are being shot. The feeling of helplessness and fear because no help can be found. We didn’t believe it either, but that’s how it was.
Our Old Saltiv was surrounded and then occupied. The first week we only flinched from explosions and gunfire. We watched as Russian planes destroyed Kharkiv, our city. People reacted differently: some tried to evacuate their families, some stocked up on food, and some simply couldn’t believe what was happening.
From the first days of the war, we were deprived of electricity, water, food and medicine supplies. There was no communication. This was part of the Russian occupiers' tactic to intimidate the population. On February 24, 2022, people gathered near the village council, but it was empty. No one tried to take action.
Ordinary people – electricians, entrepreneurs, farmers, housewives, teachers – began to act. They organized patrols, brought bread and medicine across the front line under fire. Later, Russian rockets destroyed the bakery.
When Russian troops entered the village, it felt like a dream. Locals were forced to wear white armbands, trenches were dug, and checkpoints were set up. Attempts to leave were searched, men were checked for tattoos, phones were thoroughly inspected. This limited the number of photos from the occupied areas. People erased memories on their smartphones because even a suspicious photo could lead to detention. Children were asked if they loved Ukraine. Many people didn’t dare to leave due to the danger on the road or during checks.
On the day the occupiers entered Old Saltiv, we ceased our activities, anticipating that the Russians might try to force us to cooperate.
Watch the video on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/EmM-5SRopUI?si=RdYfGWDnhwLd31g5
Liberation of the Saltiv Community
On April 30, 2022, the right-bank part of the Saltiv community was liberated, including the towns of Old Saltiv, Molodova, and Shestakovo.
Soon after, the occupiers were pushed back to Rubizhne and Upper Saltiv, as they were retreating and offered little resistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, from May 1 to May 3, fierce battles resumed. The Russian-fascist invaders, stationed on the left bank, relentlessly shelled Old Saltiv. About 80% of the village’s buildings were destroyed, and the gas, electricity, and water supply systems were ruined. (See the page "Destructive Consequences of the Russian Aggression")
On September 11, 2022, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reached the state border line. The Saltiv community was completely liberated from the occupiers, and people began to return from evacuation sites.
Part of our team also returned to the village. In the House of Culture, and later in one of the surviving stores, we set up a humanitarian hub – the Saltiv Volunteer Center (see the page Projects - Volunteer Center).
At that time, our efforts were focused on identifying the needs of residents and finding resources to provide the necessary means of existence.
And, of course, we awaited, believed in, and strived for VICTORY!
Destructive Consequences of Russian Aggression
On May 1, Old Saltiv was completely liberated by the Ukrainian army, but half of our community still remained on the left side of the reservoir under the control of the occupiers.
Russian artillery had entrenched itself on the reservoir’s bank, directly opposite Old Saltiv, and for 4 months relentlessly and brutally destroyed the village. Everything we had built and lived for – housing, infrastructure, gardens and fields, cemeteries, the church – there was no place that the Russians did not target. The frontline now ran right through us. But there were more chances to get to the city alive, and people were fleeing in large numbers.
Of the more than 4,000 residents at the time, only about 40 people remained in the village. Most refugees did not travel far – they sought shelter in Kharkiv, hoping to return home as soon as possible. During this time, we focused on helping people who fled under fire, who had left – or in some cases completely lost – all their property. We wrote, asked, searched, found, delivered to Kharkiv, and sent food, hygiene products and diapers, clothing, and blankets to Saltiv residents.
We were not the only ones working. A team of brave Saltiv residents evacuated people from Saltiv and delivered drinking water, food, chargers, and fuel under fire. Other Saltiv residents did not form teams but worked individually for neighbors, relatives, and some joined Kharkiv volunteer teams.
Four months of systematic destruction of the village by the Russians… We withstood. And this is the merit EXCLUSIVELY of ordinary residents. We received no assistance from the authorities at that time. Because there were no authorities.
In September, the Ukrainian army pushed the invaders back to their borders. As soon as the explosions ceased in the village, people began to return en masse to their destroyed homes and try to preserve from rain, wind, and snow what the Russian army had not destroyed.
Now, the focus for volunteers, activists, and our public organization is on restoring the village and helping people here, in Saltiv and other villages of the community. Unfortunately, so far, the talk has been only about repairing buildings that can be fixed. People whose homes and property have been completely destroyed currently have no assistance.
We are seeking help everywhere! New caring individuals and organizations are joining the restoration. But Russia does not calm down, and new cities and villages are being destroyed, people are dying, infrastructure is being destroyed. And they too need help!
We understand this because we are in the same state. So we call on everyone who reads this. Do not be indifferent! Help as you can. None of us expected, invited, or wanted war. So help stop it while it hasn’t gone further and restore our Ukraine, our picturesque Old Saltiv.
And no matter what anyone says,
evil will perish, and truth will triumph!
— Lina Kostenko,
Ukrainian poetess.
Our partners
All Partners
