Meet WCK’s Ukraine Country Lead: Olha
Over the past 20 months, WCK has been working tirelessly in Ukraine to support families deeply impacted by Russia’s full scale invasion. Staff, partners, and volunteers have constantly adapted our efforts to ensure we meet the changing needs of the communities we serve.
We recently sat down with Olha—WCK’s Ukraine Country Lead—who oversees our work in the country. Olha shared her background and experiences, as well as her insights and thoughts on this ongoing response.
How Olha found WCK
Before starting her work at WCK, Olha spent over 15 years in the film industry. She started as a production assistant and worked her way up to producing films, TV series, and documentaries. Throughout her career, she built a strong network of industry professionals, collaborating with talented directors, writers, and actors. It was through one of these connections that she was introduced to WCK.
During the first days of the invasion, one of Olha’s friends from the industry reached out for help. “His friend asked him to help find warehouses in Lviv because some unknown organization was coming to open kitchens and feed displaced people from all over the country,” she recalled. The gravity of the situation wasn’t fully apparent at the time, but Olha still recognized the significance of the mission and wanted to do something to help her fellow Ukrainians.
March 6, 2022 was her first day at the Lviv warehouse and, from that point forward, Olha took charge of the warehouse operations. “Since that day, I’ve been producing for the warehouse instead of for movies,” she said. “It is about organizing processes…it just fits my filmmaking skills and experience.”
Olha dedicated her efforts to WCK’s warehouse operations for the next nine months. What started as a few deliveries in small vehicles soon turned into a constant stream of trucks. In one month alone, the warehouse received 170 truckloads of supplies. From there, Olha and her team sorted and sent the aid where it was needed. “There were several hubs in Lviv and two railway stations were involved, which helped us send this huge volume throughout Ukraine,” she said. “I don’t remember that summer at all. I’m not even sure if it happened or if it was real,” she admitted wryly.
The impact of working with WCK
At the beginning of 2023, Olha transitioned to leading the Operations Team in Ukraine, and a few months later she was promoted to Country Lead. Her role involves intricate decision making, implementing WCK’s strategy in the region, and making sure the team stays safe.
When asked about the impact of working with WCK, Olha immediately thought of Yuri—a volunteer in the Kharkiv region. When WCK began working in a village near his own, Yuri walked more than 9 miles to reach the site and volunteer to help. At the end of each day, he would say his goodbyes and walk the 9 miles home. It took three hours for him to go each way.
Olha explained: “Our assistance goes beyond providing food; it’s a meaningful process of social connection and mutual support. This also gives people the strength to endure the challenges—the shelling and the scarcity of supplies.” This is even true for Olha herself, who credits working in the Lviv warehouse during the early days of the invasion with helping to quell her fear and give her a sense of purpose in the midst of chaos. “We are providing them with the inspiration and inner fortitude to persevere. In my view, it’s a two-way street: people receive both nourishment and a deep sense of warmth, importance, love, and support,” shared Olha.
As for Yuri, the local WCK team gifted him with a bike, making his journey to help his fellow Ukrainians easier and faster.
Left: Yuri (middle) with members of the WCK team. Right: Yuri trying out his new bike.
Staying safe and looking towards the future
WCK teams all across the country are ready for the de-occupation of Ukrainian territories, with the resources to help people living there and the security training to keep them and their teams safe while doing so. “We want to enter these territories in the first days, promptly after the military, in order to provide for people who have been under occupation,” explained Olha. “We have been waiting for this opportunity every day…Every day we hope that we will get this call.”
Olha mentioned that one of the strengths of the mission she’s leading is the ability to adapt and respond quickly to the changing realities of the war zone. “We’re driven by an unyielding determination to be where we’re most needed, often venturing into areas others can’t reach. Recognizing the risks involved, we’re working with a security team to keep our local teams safe. This level of comprehensive support for our employees, field teams, and local volunteers truly distinguishes our organization,” she said.
We’re driven by an unyielding determination to be where we’re most needed, often venturing into areas others can’t reach.
Olha
WCK’s Ukraine Country Lead
By prioritizing the well-being of our teams and local partners along with serving Ukrainian civilians, WCK is able to effectively carry out our mission and make a lasting impact on the communities we serve. When asked to share a message to all the people who follow WCK’s work in Ukraine, Olha said: “Dear friends! We’ve come a long way…You have stood by our side through it all, and I hold onto hope that we’ll find the means, both financially and morally, to wait for that wonderful day when news outlets worldwide will proclaim, ‘Ukraine has won.’ I trust that, for all of us, it will signify a global victory over evil.”
Learn more about our #ChefsForUkraine response here. For real-time updates, follow WCK on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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