Among the numerous volunteer organizations supporting Ukraine abroad, Sunflowers Wales holds a special place – a community that unites Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine in Wales. Here’s a story of the organization and its chair, Dr. Dmitri Finkelshtein.
Dr. Dmitri Finkelshtein
The Beginning
Dr. Finkelshtein is a mathematician, born in Kyiv, where he lived for most of his life. “I worked as a researcher at the Institute of Mathematics of the National Academy of Sciences, where I obtained my PhD and DSc degrees in mathematics. Since 2013, I have been living in Wales with my family. I work as an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Swansea University,” he says.
His volunteer work, along with his friends, began in 2014 when Ukrainians who had been living in Wales started organizing various fundraising initiatives to support Ukrainian defenders and their families. However, Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 became the catalyst for expanding their activities. “It became clear that we needed to intensify our activities,” explains Dmitri. “We had to diversify both the types of supplies we sent and the destinations they reached. In simple terms, we needed to fundraise more, spend effectively, and deliver aid quickly to multiple locations.”
At the same time, the number of Ukrainians arriving in Wales increased. Their first meetings with them—on Easter in April 2022 and on Vyshyvanka Day in May, both in Swansea’s Singleton Park—showed how essential it was to maintain the cohesion of the Ukrainian community in Wales. On May 27, 2022, Sunflowers Wales was formally established as a constituted community group.
Vyshyvanka Day
Making a Real Impact
Since its establishment, the organization has achieved impressive results: raised over £85,000 in donations, received more than £15,000 in grant funding, sent nearly 90 cubic meters of medical supplies, and organized over 60 various events. The organization operates under clear principles: all fundraised money goes solely and exclusively toward supporting Ukraine, while activities in Wales are funded through external grants from governmental and third-sector organizations.
Regular aid shipments to Ukraine are made approximately every two weeks. The organization has spent over £75,000 on medical supplies, including haemostatic dressings, burn gel dressings, chest seals, emergency bandages, tourniquets, and others. Additionally, people have purchased over £8,000 worth of items from their Amazon list.
Concert at the military base
Building Community Through Culture
The organization also conducts various cultural, social, and fundraising events, including Ukraine’s Independence Day celebrations, cultural evenings dedicated to Taras Shevchenko, Christmas, Easter, and Halloween events for children, art, craft, music, and cooking classes, Ukrainian cuisine and culture festivals, and a dance group performing at various events across the UK. Organization supporters participate in charity golf tournaments, marathons, triathlons, and even skydiving to raise funds. “Each event we were involved in was the result of the collective effort of many brilliant individuals: people baked, danced, drew, cooked, crafted, coached, sang, and drove—helping to support Ukraine and unite Ukrainians in Wales,” says Dmitri.
Festival of Senses
Sunflowers Wales collaborates with a wide range of partners both in Wales and Ukraine. In Wales, these include government structures, local authorities, Welsh Refugee Council, Race Council Cymru, EYST, Rotary Clubs, and other organizations. In Ukraine, they have built a trusted network of volunteers from Sumy to the Odesa region and from Uzhhorod to the Kharkiv region, who ensure that the shipments promptly reach medical units and hospitals.
Polish Ukrainian Day
Looking to the Future
“We are grateful to the Welsh community and authorities for their support!” emphasizes Dmitri. “Our work would not be possible without the people of Wales, their help, and their generosity.”
Independence Day of Ukraine
Despite all challenges, the Sunflowers Wales team continues their work. “Helping Ukraine now is not only the morally right thing to do; it is a vital investment in your own safe future,” Dmitri emphasizes. The organization sees a continuous demand for various activities within the Ukrainian community in Wales and is looking for new volunteers who are willing to dedicate their time and effort to this cause.
Learn more about the organization’s activities and join their initiatives on sunflowerswales.org.uk and social media:
• Facebook: Sunflowers Wales
• Instagram: @sunflowerswales
• YouTube: @sunflowerswales
• TikTok: @sunflowerswales
By Viktor Moroz for Ukrainians.Wales
Published: Feb, 2025
