...

Goodacity – Dare to be Good

Olha Sahal
Written by
Olha Sahal
Written by Olha Sahal
Technical Writer at United Thinkers

I am the author of the Goodacity blog, a journalist, and a translator. For 16 years, I have worked in professional journalism, contributing to regional and national publications, both in print and online media. I have written reports, conducted interviews, reviews, articles on cultural, social, and charitable topics, as well as materials in the style of "solution journalism" and communication materials.
Read more

Yulia Didyk
Reviewed by
Yulia Didyk
Reviewed by Yulia Didyk
Culture Manager at United Thinkers

I am a manager of cultural affairs and a project manager with over 14 years of experience at United Thinkers. I have participated in the organization of numerous successful social and charitable projects and have implemented informational campaigns and communication cases.
Read more

Boomerang of goodness

Since childhood, we have all been told that being kind always pays back; we learn it from stories, fairy tales, and what our parents and teachers tell us. But how does this happen in practice? The actual cycle of good deeds in our life begins when the goodness radiating from one heart finds a response in other hearts!

For example, by rescuing homeless animals, you not only help those who cannot take care of themselves but also throw a boomerang of good and make this world a little better! And if you are kind, other people will undoubtedly respond to your kindness and help you when you need it. Kindness saves, and it can always be shared with others!

Start

Start

Vision and mood

“Lyalya weighed one and a half kilograms when we took her in. Today, she is seven and a half kilograms of pure happiness! When my daughter brought this dog from Kyiv, Ukraine, five years ago, Lyalya was very thin and neglected. We were nursing her diligently for quite a long time.”

“This is not the first special needs animal in our house; we had a blind dog missing most of its teeth and a cat that was abandoned by the owners after they left the house. All of them were foundlings, without kith and kin; some were deliberately thrown out to die, some were left behind because of a hopeless situation, and we really wanted to give them a chance to believe in human kindness once again.”

Each of these animals is waiting for a second chance, but it is not the chance given to them, but the one they give us that truly matters.
— Iryna,
animal volunteer

Four cats, three dogs, and the caring heart of a person who cannot pass by a stray animal. Ms. Iryna from Snovsk, Chernihiv region, Ukraine, takes care of animals that require some attention and care.

“Animals are always something like a litmus test for us as humans, and our attitude towards those who cannot care for themselves or ask for help says everything about us!” Ms. Iryna says. “We want our world to become a little kinder. As Charlie Chaplin said, “He who feeds a hungry animal feeds his own soul.”

Step

Step 1. Lyalya

Volunteering is a challenging and exhausting business, but this woman cannot imagine her life without it. Moreover, it becomes easier to do good when relatives and close people support you and when caring people come to you.

“My daughter, Maryna, is just as kind-hearted as I am,” Ms. Iryna laughs. “She feeds and neuters street animals; we inspire and support each other in this endeavor. I am glad that I have many like-minded people in this field, many active animal volunteers who care about homeless animals.

This spring was the most difficult for us, when the city was shelled hard by Russian troops and was even occupied for some time. It was extremely difficult for us humans as we basically had no food. We all shared what we could to survive but did not forget about our furry friends. And when the war moved away from Snovsk, Ukraine, our Lyalya fell seriously ill.”

Step

Step 2. The kindness is back!

“At first, Lyalya was given the wrong diagnosis, which complicated the treatment and almost led to a tragic end. We spent so much money and energy to save her! We were in very tough circumstances as fuel was hard to find, and we didn’t have much money either. However, we still took Lyalya to Chernihiv every day to have infusions. However, it was becoming more and more difficult to do so.”

“Natalya Vlasenko, a Chernihiv animal volunteer, whom we met while rescuing the cat Dona, told me about the Goodacity space. So, I decided to ask for help treating Lyalya.”

“Iryna is an incredible person. It is hard not to be impressed by how much she loves and cares about animals,” Ms. Natalya says. “I, myself, take care of furry homeless ones and find new owners for them. I had six cats at home, so I did not leave the city even during the most brutal shelling, not wanting to leave them alone. I hold every story of a rescued animal close to my heart, that is why I was so happy to learn that Lyalya got the chance to be saved.”

I would say that an animal volunteer is a person who is eager to help both animals and people. After all, we feel the pain and troubles of others, even those who cannot tell us about it themselves..
— Natalya,
animal volunteer

“We were lucky to find an excellent veterinary clinic and to have the help of the good people from Goodacity,” Ms. Iryna says. “We are hugely grateful to the volunteers of the space of goodness for their help in paying for Lyalya’s treatment! She had surgery, and thanks to the competence of the doctors and the good heart of the Goodacity volunteers, she got the chance to live without pain.”

Finish

Finish

Time to sum it up

So much good energy among complete strangers! Actually, that is precisely how kindness works. It has a habit of coming back to you. So remember this law and be kind to yourself, other people, and animals!

Doing good is very simple!

You can afford yourself the luxury of goodness!

Doing good is very simple!

Do you know a school that needs help?
Do you want to take part in our next charity event?
Do you want to know how you can help?