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Charity is the selfless provision of assistance to people in need. Charitable activities can be carried out personally or through charitable organizations.
Charity in Ukraine has a long history, which we will discuss today.
- Kyivan Rus and the Hetmanate
The Origins of Charity
After the Christianization of Rus, the concept of assistance was based on love for one’s neighbor and Christian values. The primary groups in need of help were the sick, orphans, beggars, and widows.
Prince Volodymyr the Great introduced the tithe to support churches, monasteries, and hospitals.
- Charitable Activities of Ukrainian Brotherhoods (15th–17th Centuries)
These brotherhoods functioned as Ukrainian religious-nationalist organizations affiliated with the Orthodox Church. They fought against Polish Catholicization and defended Orthodox traditions, religious, political, national, cultural, and social rights of Ukrainians.
Brotherhoods played a significant role in philanthropy, establishing hospitals, orphanages, and schools. They supported the poor and disadvantaged, founded printing houses, and engaged in cultural and educational activities.
- Medieval Hospitals in Lviv
Ukrainians were often denied access to Polish hospitals. As a result, Ukrainian brotherhoods contributed to the establishment and maintenance of hospitals. The poor, the sick, and the disadvantaged citizens of Lviv and other cities could receive medical assistance and financial aid for food.
- Charity in the 19th–20th Centuries
With the emergence of Ukrainian civil society, charity became even more active. Patrons and philanthropists invested in the development of art, organized exhibitions, actively supported schools and hospitals, and cared for those in need.
During World War I, funds were actively raised to support wounded soldiers. This period also saw the formation of the first charitable organizations.
- Modern Charity
Modern philanthropy has taken on various forms, including grants, donations, the establishment of charitable foundations and organizations, and the legalization of charitable activities.
Since 2014, Ukraine has significantly improved its position in the World Giving Index, an annual global charity survey conducted by the Charities Aid Foundation. In 2014, Ukraine ranked 103rd, rising to 89th place in 2015. Charity gained even greater momentum after the Revolution of Dignity, the war in eastern Ukraine, and the full-scale Russian invasion.
In the face of modern challenges, Ukrainian volunteer and charitable organizations have gained even more trust. They attract significant financial and human resources and serve as crucial elements of unity in overcoming the difficulties facing our nation.
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