FAQ

• Who created Mriya Aid and why?

  On February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale attack on peaceful Ukraine, many people around the world began to help Ukrainians in any way they could. Mriya Aid was established on March 9, 2022 as a volunteer initiative by Canadian security and management professionals. We named our organization in honor of the world's largest Ukrainian-made aircraft, the An-225 Mriya, which was used to deliver humanitarian aid to various countries worldwide. In February 2022, the Russians bombed this plane, which is why we decided to name our mission to help Ukraine in its honor.
• Does my donation make a difference?

  We, as volunteers, cannot stop this genocidal war that Russia has waged against Ukraine to destroy the country and its people. But what we can definitely do is strengthen the ability of Ukrainians to fight off the invasion, to help the military with equipment, to deliver medical equipment and humanitarian supplies, to train sappers and deminers according to international mine action standards, and to provide equipment that saves lives of both military and civilians. Every dollar donated can make a difference. The efforts of each of us matter to help Ukrainians and to speed up the end of the war.
• Can I get a tax receipt for my donation?

  We cannot provide you with a tax receipt because, while Mriya Aid is registered as a not-for-profit organization, it is not a charity. Canadian taxation law does not allow charities to provide any aid to foreign military personnel (not even tourniquets or medicines for saving the lives of soldiers). Mriya Aid chose not to register as a charity because our mission is to provide assistance to fighting forces, amongst other things. We can act immediately and without typical overhead costs to convert donations into practical support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and state agencies working in defence of Ukraine.
• How does my donation directly support Ukraine and Ukrainians?

  All donations and transactions flow only through official accounts and platforms on the website. Monetary donations are aggregated to assist in bulk procurement of goods for demining training, demining PPE, and costs of shipping medical equipment and humanitarian supplies. We work directly with volunteers and vetted partners in Ukraine, and all Mriya Aid activities respect Canadian laws and regulations as well as the laws of the countries we work in. Audits are conducted in accordance with Canadian law, Ontario regulations, and with professional standards that exceed the requirements placed on not-for-profit organizations. All donations are directed exclusively to Ukraine.
• Does Mriya Aid provide the kind of help that Ukrainians really need?

  First, Ukraine needs so much help that no government can handle it. We, Mryia Aid, have long-standing relationships with trusted NGOs as well as the military, representing various institutions. We are in daily contact and can monitor the needs of those working on the ground close to the frontlines. Therefore, we have focused on two main areas: 1) delivering medical equipment and humanitarian supplies to frontline hospitals, and 2) funding training in humanitarian demining and explosive ordnance disposal, as well as personal protective equipment for Ukrainian sappers and deminers.
• How many people does Mriya Aid have?

  For the first year after the establishment of Mriya Aid in 2022, over 50 active volunteers worked around the clock to provide unprecedented levels of support and aid to Ukrainians on the frontlines. In 2.5 years, we sent 30 shipments of aid worth millions of dollars to Ukraine, and we’ve directly supported thousands of men and women defending Ukraine in over 100 Ukrainian emergency and military units. Today, the core of the organization consists of ten people who methodically build up Mriya Aid and its innovative projects. We are very proud to have grown into a highly effective organization led by a team of professionals who provide their knowledge, experience, and wide networks to ensure organizational growth and sustainable development.