FROM THE VERY IDEA...


ZBEREZHEMO (SAVE) – a joint initiative of the humanitarian organization IAC ISHR and the digitization and preservation service Memory Box.

The idea emerged during the launch of the IAC ISHR social aid portal, which now has over 60,000 registered families from border areas, internally displaced persons who evacuated due to the constant threat of shelling and destruction, and are in need of assistance. Quite quickly, among the usual requests for humanitarian aid in the form of hygiene or food packages, requests for the preservation of important memories: photographs, video tapes, albums, children's drawings, and film reels began apearing on the portal . These memories are a source of strength and motivation for people and a part of their identity. However, evacuating such materials safely and on time is a challenging task.


When the number of such requests became significant, IAC ISHR Director Anton Alekseev reached out to his friends – Memory Box project founders, Vladimir Lyakhov and Anton Shvets. A solution for how to help people preserve their most valuable items was quickly found.


Memory Box has been working for over a year to ensure that everyone’s memories are preserved, focusing on the comfortable digitization of family archives, and the main process had already been perfected. Thus, the social project ZBEREZHEMO (SAVE) was born.


What happened next came together like a puzzle. Within just a few days of launching the charitable campaign as part of the ZBEREZHEMO (SAVE) project on the IAC ISHR portal, we received over 300 applications (the number continues to grow). Immediately following this, we engaged caring donors – partners of IAC ISHR both in Ukraine and abroad.


We then sent boxes to people with a request to place the memories they wished to preserve inside. There were cases where people were unable to send the box back because the war had already destroyed their homes. Sometimes, memories were sent to us by neighbors in the cities.


We saw hundreds of photographs and dozens of videos featuring important PEOPLE, CITIES, and EVENTS. We realized that we wanted to share them with everyone who wishes to view them with respect and care. Our wonderful recipients eagerly agreed to share their family photos and stories. Some said just a few important words, others shared more… and every word was ALREADY in its place.


Thus, the MEMORY LIBRARY was created, as although there are no shelves, books, or catalogs here, there are living emotional photographic memories. It is a place where the masterpieces of someone’s life are preserved. A place where you can touch the past.


We invite everyone to our library to continue the life of the project together and preserve the most important thing – family memories for as many Ukrainians as possible. We believe that memories should live on!




…TO REAL HELP