Latvian entrepreneurs target 5 million euro Ukraine donation drive

A large-scale fundraising campaign aims to raise EUR 5 million in a couple of days to back Ukraine. The help is needed now, and it is the private sector which can join its forces promptly to support values that Latvia holds dear — freedom, democracy, and the possibility to plan a safe future in the long term.

“Our aim is to provide the necessary help in an organised and centralised manner, including voluntary work carried out not only in Riga and Latvia but also on the border. We appeal to everyone to join forces to be able to react and provide help quickly and efficiently for only together we are a force and only together we may act fast. Our initiative is aimed at long-term targeted support,” reveals Ieva Driksna, spokesperson for “Entrepreneurs for Peace”, calling on entrepreneurs to form a united front.

“A few days ago, Latvia’s people began raising donations for the Ukrainian nation. Now, it is every Latvian company’s duty to join in to send help to those suffering from the warfare in Ukraine and to help its army fight for their country’s independence. The initial goal of the private sector is to raise at least 5 million euros. We call on entrepreneurs to talk to their employees and cut all non-essential expenses to support Ukrainians in their fight for peace. It is Ukrainians who now with their lives safeguard the peace of the whole Europe — conditions in which we — entrepreneurs — may exist. It is our duty to help,” say members of the “Entrepreneurs for Peace” movement.

You may make donations via the 'Riga Tech Girls' account: LV32UNLA0050024322055, ("Riga TechGirls", reg. No.: LV40008250980, stating the purpose of the donation: UznemejiMieram). Donations will be used to provide:

Food and medicine to civilians, including children, who now remain in Ukraine.

Help to take in refugee families in Latvia and bring them to safety.

Help to back the Ukrainian army and state authorities.

Help to equip volunteers of the Ukraine’s National Guard.

The support initiative has been developed by joining forces with the Ministry of Defense of Latvia, the Ukrainian Embassy, as well as Latvian NGOs and organizations providing international humanitarian aid, Ziedot.lv, a charity platform, and others, creating a comprehensive and coordinated support network able to provide the right help needed by the people of Ukraine affected by the warfare — a maximum targeted help meeting the current needs of Ukraine and its people.

The “Entrepreneurs for Peace” movement calling for donations, which unites not only tech firms, such as Mintos, Twino, Nutrameg, Atea Global Services, Beetroot Lab, but also other well-known entrepreneurs and alliances, for example, Draugiem Group, Prakse.lv, Arbor Medical Korporācija, McCANN Riga, Golin Riga, Sorainen, Eco Baltia, Elko, Cream Finance, Sun Finance Group, DelfinGroup, Eleving Group, Makit, Riga TechGirls and many others.

Easy to Help

A second initiative called “Viegli palīdzēt” (“Easy to Help”) is bringing together public administration and non-governmental organizations (the Latvian Scout and Guide Central Organization, the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation, “Charity Page”, “palidzesim.lv”, the Latvian Samaritan Association, “Paēdušai Latvijai”, and others) to organizes coordinated delivery of humanitarian aid to the population of Ukraine.

Coordinated humanitarian aid means that requests for specific goods are received from Ukraine and only the necessary goods are assembled in bulk. “Viegli palīdzēt” cooperates with municipalities and organizations in Ukraine to identify needs, and volunteers coordinate both the loading of humanitarian cargos in Latvia and the distribution of humanitarian aid in Ukraine or, if necessary, at the Poland-Ukraine border.  

Companies that want to support the organization of humanitarian aid are asked to apply, indicating the goods that the company can donate. You can apply here. After filling in the questionnaire, the representatives of the volunteer movement will contact you, indicating the address for delivery of the goods to the logistics centre in Riga and agreeing on the exact amount of the goods. In cooperation with the public administration, the goods will be delivered to Ukraine.

"We highly appreciate the willingness and readiness of the Latvian civilian population to help, but we ask not to organize the aid themselves or take it to the Poland-Ukraine border, because, according to organizations and public authorities this is creating chaos and queues that are preventing Ukrainian refugees from safely reaching the European Union. The aid to Ukrainian war refugees is needed now and will be needed for a very long time to come. We ask any civilians who wants to help in any way (donating goods, offering transport, offering accommodation, etc.) to register here. Upon receipt of the application, volunteers will contact you to coordinate the aid immediately," says the organization.