Who we are

MAVKA – Deutsch-Ukrainischer Verein e.V. is a group of socially active and conscious citizens of Germany and Ukraine in Marburg who have joined forces to support Ukraine.
MAVKA was founded in June 2023 as a logical continuation of the private initiative of Ms. Ludmila Heck, who took over the management of the association. Ms Heck began her voluntary work in the first days of the Russian invasion in February 2022, organizing collections for humanitarian aid and sending them to Ukraine with the support of German partners. Over time, a team of German and Ukrainian citizens formed around Ms. Heck, with whom she continued to provide humanitarian aid. The initiative also organized events for Vyshyvanka Day, Ukraine’s Independence Day in 2022, and participated in the organization of the first anniversary of the full Russian invasion of Ukraine on 25 February 2023. But even then it became clear that they needed an official representation to carry out their volunteer work more effectively. So the MAVKA association was founded. In the first six months after its foundation, the association was able to send around 20 tons of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and organize numerous cultural and social events. Since then, we have constantly expanded our activities in order to be able to support Ukraine even more.

What we do

Humanitarian aid in Ukraine
We collect humanitarian aid here in Marburg and send it by truck to our partners in Ukraine, who then distribute it to the communities that need it most. From everyday items to specialized medical equipment (e.g. X-ray machines, ventilators, intensive care monitors, etc.), we make sure that our aid gets into the right hands. You can view the reports on the relief supplies sent here.

Support and integration of Ukrainian culture in Marburg
We organize cultural events (charity concerts, children’s parties, theater performances, Ukrainian festivals), which on the one hand give the Ukrainian refugees in Marburg a piece of their home culture and on the other hand integrate Ukrainian culture into German society.

Socio-political commitment
Our association actively participates in the social life of the city. We have repeatedly organized and helped shape demonstrations and socio-political events in Marburg, from Ukraine’s Independence Day to Anti-War Day and the Language Café. Ukraine is a European democratic country with a high level of social activism among its citizens, which is also reflected in the activities of our association.