ForPEACE

When the Novovorontsovka volleyball team came home from the “Easter Cup of Unity” tournament in Lviv Oblast last week, our girls had taken first place and our boys third — playing in brand new uniforms made possible through forPEACE’s partnership with the Novovorontsovka Military Administration (Нововоронцовська селищна військова адміністрація).

But those uniforms tell a much bigger story than a tournament win.

forPEACE works with Novovorontsovka across nearly every dimension of daily life in a liberated frontline community. We’ve supplied anti-drone netting for their power stations and drone detectors so people can move through their town safely. We’ve provided electric scooters to public utility workers — because electric scooters are quiet, and quiet means hearing an incoming drone in time to react. And through our partnership with Pocatello, Idaho, under the leadership of Lena Contor, Hope Across Borders, and Reach Humanity, we’ve supported the restoration of water infrastructure that keeps homes, schools, and clinics running.

All of it is in service of a single vision: a community under fire still strives for more than survival. They strive to be a healthy active society. Our ability to stand with and amongst local communities aiming to be self sufficient and through such incomprehensibly difficult times craft and choose who they are and what they do is critical in the story of Ukraine’s grassroots resistance to Russia.

The kids on that volleyball court aren’t only Ukrainians. They are residents of Novovorontsovka — a place with a rich local history, resilience, and a future they are boldly forging. A locally designed sports uniform isn’t just kit. It’s a sign that this community is alive, thriving, and proud of who it is.

Thanks for being part of this!

And also: CONGRATS NOVOVORONTSOVKA TEAMS!!! 🙂 👏🏽

It was inspiring to be part of the Fall 2025 Ukraine Action Summit organized by American Coalition for Ukraine.

We had the privilege to travel together with one of our partners, Добрі Дії громадська організація, from Ukraine.

Below they share one of their reflections on the summit.