MISSION:

Before the war broke out in Ukraine two years ago, Nathalia Chizova worked in events at the agency Plombir, which she herself had helped to found. When Russia mercilessly attacked in February 2022, the agency quickly adapted and founded the volunteer organization Volunteer 100 to assist civilians, military personnel, and the injured. There, they could utilize their experience from the events industry, focusing on logistics, flows, and communication to help people flee amidst the ongoing war and also aid soldiers on the front lines and civilians with food, hygiene materials, and other equipment. Additionally, they reached out to event agencies in Europe for assistance.

That's how we at LIWLIG and Eventyr Nine Yards got in touch with Nathalia Chizova, and it was her tireless efforts that inspired us to do what we can to raise funds for the organization.

SOLUTION:

We created the event and fundraising project "The Long Game for Peace." We chose this name to emphasize our belief in long-term involvement in this cause. Through "The Long Game," we designed sports activities such as paddle, soccer, and tennis tournaments that customers and suppliers could participate in by paying a fee and then playing and having fun together. It was a collective activation involving the entire LIWLIG Group conducted across the Nordics. The primary goal was not only to raise as much money as possible but rather to convey an important message to raise awareness about the situation in Ukraine. We wanted to contribute our expertise in what we do to help people in wartime situations. With Ukraine's airspace closed and communication channels strained, monetary transactions were difficult to execute. Therefore, the funds we collected were used to deliver food, medicine, and other essentials to Ukraine. Additionally, the funds financed a rehabilitation program for evacuated families, where both children and adults could interact with psychologists and therapists to cope with trauma. Our colleague Emelina Lindberg personally traveled to Ukraine to meet Nathalia and her team, gaining an understanding of how the funds were being used and what needs to be done to continue helping in the best and most effective ways.

"It has been an incredibly powerful experience in many ways. Ukrainians outside the direct war zones continue with their daily lives, going to work and socializing with friends. Then suddenly, air raid alarms sound, and they have to spend the night in shelters. It's like living in two worlds simultaneously – the world of war and everyday life – it's difficult to comprehend. But what's striking is that whoever you talk to, all Ukrainians have the same goal: to win the war and become independent," Emelina shares about her experience.

RESULTS:

Through the activation of "The Long Game for Peace," we've been able to assist vulnerable people by providing them with food and essentials. By supporting the organization Volunteer 100, we've shown that they are not alone in their work and that they have our full support. We've engaged our customers and suppliers, creating something that we can all take great pride in. The collective involvement of all our offices in the Nordics has increased the sense of collaboration and purpose. We've fostered pride within the group and strengthened our internal bonds. We've established cooperation with industry colleagues in a war-torn country. We engaged both on social media and in industry media, delivering an important message that resonates with us all.

Moreover, together we managed to raise over one million SEK that could be used for tangible assistance on the ground.