I am a New Orleans-based Ukrainian American acupuncturist.

I am also a New England Feldenkrais Teacher Training student.

Since the full-scale invasion of Russia’s war on Ukraine, I have put my rage into fundraising, community organizing, and direct relief. I traveled to Ukraine for three months this year while the war was happening to volunteer as an acupuncturist at the Ukraine Lisova Polyana VA Rehabilitation Center for psychological trauma and head injuries in Kyiv, Ukraine, July - September 2022.

My trip was partially funded through crowdfunding and partially self-funded. So far, I am the only American acupuncturist able to gain access to work with Ukrainian military members. Over the past three months, I provided treatment to over 300 wounded soldiers, seeing 15 to 25 patients daily. Acupuncture helped them sleep better, improved their cognitive function, and reduced many PTSD symptoms.

Before I left Kyiv, I met another Ukrainian acupuncturist, Oksana Dovbnya, who agreed to continue volunteering at Lesova Polyana five days a week. Since then, she has also seen 15-20 people daily. Her work helps veterans sleep, reduces their pain, and relieves concussion symptoms.

In February we have been joined by another acupuncturist Valentina and her daughter Antonina, her assistant.

Current Budget Goals

One of my budget goals is to raise a small stipend for Oksana, and other potential volunteers to ensure that their presence at Lesova Polyana Clinic is sustainable. We aim to provide continuity of care for Ukrainian veterans with PTSD and concussion symptoms.

I also invited two local Feldenkrais practitioners, Larissa Babij and Andrei Vingluk, to offer ATMs, and volunteer at the Lesova Polyana.

These two ATM teachers will be making ATMs available twice a week. Lately there has been 1 more teacher, Katya Taranova, so there are 4 FI classes that are taught there

Awareness Through Movement classes will be beneficial to calm the hypervigilant nervous system, help find the ease of movement for many orthopedic injuries, and help with sleep.

All volunteers have told me their number one barrier is the commute travel time and the reality that it's cold and gets dark early in Kyiv. So the stipends are meant to help Feldenkrais teachers take Ubers to the site to support them.

My total current asks would be $800 per month.

Please support this project with reoccurring donations if it's available for you.

if you would like to contribute towards current stipend for other wellness practitioners tag Acupuncture or Feldenkeis in your donation.

Thank you very much for supporting Ukrainian veterans and volunteers.