Serhii Yakovchuk: How It All Began and What He Gains from Volunteering
A tall man in an unusual costume was spotted last weekend at Dubno Castle. He is neither a castle employee nor a character from a film or theatrical performance. He is Serhii Yakovchuk, a resident of Dubno, who uses this approach to draw people’s attention and raise funds to support the military. He carries a donation box, where those who take photos with him contribute whatever amount they see fit. He then hands these funds over to volunteers on Kontorska Street, who distribute them based on the needs and requests of the defenders. This is just a brief description of one of Serhii’s initiatives. Read on to learn how it all began and what else he does besides his main job.
I dress in a Cossack costume, of which I have several, take a donation box from the ‘Fundraising for the Armed Forces of Ukraine’ initiative, and set up a photo session at Dubno Castle.”
– Every Sunday, on my day off, I worked with children, the Plast scouts, on Ostrivok. But since it was vacation time and the children were away, I came up with this idea to make Sundays meaningful. I dress in a Cossack costume, of which I have several, take a donation box from the ‘Fundraising for the Armed Forces of Ukraine’ initiative, and set up a photo session at Dubno Castle. Tourists come, take photos either with me or using me as a backdrop, or they simply drop money into the donation box,” shares Serhii Yakovchuk.
– It may be modest (sometimes the amount collected is small), but the day is never wasted. And I find it interesting because I get to interact with people. It can be a bit tough because it can be too hot in a suit. But at that moment, I didn’t think about those details.
– Are you satisfied with the results?
– Well, I would like more, but we have what we have.
– Do all the funds go to the Armed Forces of Ukraine?
– Yes. I immediately called Inna (the head of the charity organization – ed.). I count the amount and transfer it to her right away. I find it interesting, and for the volunteers, it’s additional funds. Every penny counts, and it all adds up.
– Let’s talk about your volunteer work before the February invasion. How did you start?
– It was a long time ago. We had, and still have, the fishing club “Robinson.” Around 2009 or 2010, the idea emerged to create a children’s fishing club on a volunteer basis.
I was the leader of “Robinsonchyk.” Children would come, and we held various competitions, all for free—it would take too long to list all the different events we organized. Every Sunday, in any weather, we would gather and either hold lessons or just spend time outdoors with the kids. Due to certain technical reasons, the children’s fishing club ceased to exist. In its place, we started a Cossack club on Ostrivok. Well, the name “Cossack” was just a title, but in general, we taught the kids everything. Simply how to be a good person, a person in their own country./Just be a human, be a human in your country. Sometimes, we would spend the whole day just talking and socializing. Everything was still run on a volunteer basis, funded by the Cossack organization itself.
“We simply weren’t given any permits, and working with children without official approval was risky.”
– How many years did you do this?
– We ran the children’s club for about two years. The organization itself on Ostrivok existed for six years. We simply weren’t given any official permits, and doing this on trust alone was risky… I don’t even know how to explain it… legally, it was unsafe. There were no official documents from the government or authorities.
We weren’t violating anything, but we also didn’t have official permission. To run activities, we would have needed proper permits. We were verbally allowed to proceed, but at the same time, we weren’t.
– Let’s fast-forward to today, 2023. How do you volunteer now? What else do you do besides your job?
– I do wood carving and create souvenirs. I have a good relationship with the volunteers on Kontorska Street and with the 4.5.0. volunteer group.
– Tell us more about your relationship with volunteer organizations.
– Inna Yatsyna, the head of the organization “Volunteers on Kontorska,” suggested that I take my crafts to the charity fairs where they were invited. They organized lotteries, and I would sell my handmade items. I donated a portion of the proceeds immediately to support the volunteer organization. I also donated some of my works for their lotteries and as awards for soldiers. A significant portion of the money I earn through woodwork goes to the “Volunteers on Kontorska” organization.
– Could you estimate how many of your works were donated rather than sold?
– I’m not sure. It’s not just dozens—it’s more than that.
– How much time did you spend creating them?
– I never keep track of time when I’m working. I don’t know how much time I spend on each piece—one jewelry box could take a week, or it could take a month. I enjoy the process itself. People ask me this question quite often. Sometimes, I recall a small project and try to estimate the time spent. So for all the pieces I’ve donated, I’d say months of work have gone into them.
“No one here seeks any reward. I get immense satisfaction from it.”
– If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
– Oh wow! I wouldn’t want one—I’d rather just stay myself. What I have is enough for me. Everything I already have could be considered my own kind of superpower. Of course, I have dreams—many of them. Lots of thoughts, lots of plans. But little by little, each dream comes true and finds its place in Dubno.
– What is your reward? What do volunteers get in return?
– Well, no one here is looking for any kind of reward. I get tremendous pleasure from it. That day was definitely not wasted—it was meaningful. And I know that what I do—there’s no substitute for it. If someone does it better, that’s great. So for me, it’s about the process and the final result—I just enjoy it, simply enjoy it.
