Volunteer Campaign "To be-Eco" 2026
The campaign dedicated to the Tu Bi-Shvat holiday this year transformed into a true week of unity, creativity, and care
From January 26 to February 2, it was supported by 20 volunteer centers in 17 cities across Ukraine, engaging 224 volunteers and more than 609 participants. During this time, 57 events took place, each becoming a small story about how communities can change the world around them.
New bird feeders appeared near community centers, children and adults planted onion, dill, and flower seeds, prepared microgreens, and even sprouted lemon seeds. Elderly people, together with volunteers, planted greenery, received boxes of microgreens, while teenagers presented them with bulb flowers as a symbol of the approaching spring and hope during the frosty days.
The workshops conducted by volunteers were diverse - from creating 3D plasticine paintings and handprint appliqués to culinary experiments with gingerbread, fermented vegetables, dried fruits, and Amosov paste. Especially touching were the moments of intergenerational connection during the joint activities!
The holiday campaign served as a reminder not only about ecology, but also about mutual support and our responsibility in using the earth’s resources. Volunteers collected plastic caps and batteries, painted eco-bags, delivered lectures on eco-volunteering, and also shared warmth and care, visiting elderly people with limited mobility.
Communities also hosted festive gatherings with the support of volunteers: “Tu Bi-Shvat Fruit Drive,” seders featuring the fruits of Israel, musical performances, art therapy sessions, “Family Tree,” jazz evenings, and even a film club screening a movie about trees as living beings that communicate and support one another. Each event became a bridge between people, between nature and culture, between the past and the future.
The “To be Eco” campaign once again demonstrated that volunteering is a powerful force capable of quickly mobilizing resources, uniting communities, and fostering a sense of solidarity. Every planted bulb, every bird feeder, every decorated gingerbread cookie became a symbol of care for the community and the people within it. And this is the true meaning of Tu Bi-Shvat - the feeling that we are all part of a great living tree that grows stronger thanks to our good deeds.