When Ukraine was invaded again in 2022, DrumsForCures started focusing its rhythmic efforts on humanitarian aid in support of Ukrainians’ needs. Many of us have watched this situation with compassion and interest in helping reduce the suffering of the people.
The Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv was founded as the premier pediatric oncology center in Eastern Europe and is the largest operating public health facility in the country. They are now one of the only major hospitals accommodating pediatric cancer cases, transplants, and availing their services to war victims; particularly orphaned and injured children.
DRUMSTRONG was founded in 2006 to avail healthy traditional and integrative resources in support of cancer survivorship, education and research through facilitated interactive rhythm activities. These creative, uplifting collaborations provide a moment of positive distraction from the many issues around compromised health and allow healing to take Root.
With the welcoming embrace of the hospital CEO and Director, Dr. Volodymyr Zhovnir, we coordinated regular facilitated interactive rhythm events at Okhmatdyt, and at zero expense to the center, our team launched the ‘Rhythm Aid Projects’ Ukraine program in May 2023. We are currently facilitating multiple sessions weekly with children, young adults, families and staff.
The DRUMSTRONG rhythm therapy sessions put long absent smiles back on their faces.
Our facilitators are very sensitive to louder, disruptive sounds given patients’ exposure and experiences with war factors, and help them to ease issues. We are also programming sessions with the guidance of the Director of Psychology specifically for staff ‘burnout’, loss/grief, and the PTSD impacted.
The hospital (and families) recognize the immediate benefits. We will add additional programs here and in other centers.
Our facilitators are making time to avail themselves for the hospital/patient schedules; for their community and country.
We seek participation in the ongoing expenses as to enable keeping the rhythm in motion there.
DrumsForCures is helping to sponsor and subsidize the projects. The Remo Drum Company donated beautiful, sanitizable equipment for Ohkmatdtyt. Good people all around like Caryl & Mickey Hart and the Hart Center for Deep Rhythm, Jon Fishman and Phish’s WaterWheel Foundation, Don Lombardi with DW Drums, The Gretsch Family, Ambassador W. Tichenor know the value and are pitching in. Obviously, when you embrace the efforts with funding it will be the beautiful catalyst that perpetuates continuity.
DrumsForCures has facilitated rhythm aid in 80+ cities in 29 countries through DRUMSTRONG charity events benefiting local needs. This is a “First” in that the immediate needs are so profound and at emergency levels. Many hospital staff have simply “moved in” to be available. They relocate children to the basement when air-strikes threaten. * (on July 8, 2024, Okhmatdyt was the intentional direct hit target of russia’s hypersonic missile attack and suffered severe damage. Some of our young drummers had to be rescued from the rubble and three of the wonderful doctors involved were killed). Stress and PTSD is off the charts…
We recognize the value of this service and the great potential for healing in this environment. The DRUMSTRONG ‘Rhythm Aid Projects’ are helping to reduce pain, fear, depression, trauma, and build community in the way only rhythmic bonding can.
Donations of support can be made through our 501(c)(3) #20-8297035 and all funds will directly and securely benefit the Rhythm Aid Projects at Ohmatdyt.
Please DONATE HERE
These are the munificent Facilitators in Kyiv who are helping to bridge the gap to health :: Maxim Yunga, Igor Fund, Vitaliy Petrenko, therapist Dasha Stefanovskaja and photographers Anastasia Demidova and Krystyna Sahirova.
Це милосердні Фасилітатори в Києві, які допомагають подолати прірву до здоров’я: Максим Юнга, Ігор Фонд, Віталій Петренко, терапевт Даша Стефановська та фотографи Анастасія Демідова і Кристина Сагирова.
Along with the Director of Psychology, Press Director, administrators, several doctors, nurses and staff joining in and assisting.
Especially grateful for the support of the truly wonderful Director and CEO of Okhmatdyt,
Dr. Volodymyr Zhovnir.
All are sensitive to the needs, fears and experiences of their populations in the sessions.
These are some of the kind souls who have embraced DrumsForCures’ ‘Rhythm Aid Projects’ and are helping to facilitate funds for our facilitators to keep the rhythm in motion!
Caryl and Mickey Hart :: Hart Center For Deep Rhythm
Photos by Jay Blakesburg
Grammy award-winning percussionist, Grateful Dead, Global Drum Project, Planet Drum, MHB
Author, “Drumming at the Edge of Magic”, “Planet Drum”, “Spirit Into Sound”
Jon Fishman :: The WaterWheel Foundation :: Phish
Christine Stevens, MSW, MA, MT-BC, Chief Advisor :: Rhythm Aid Projects
UpBeat Drum Circles, Author of Music Medicine, The Healing Drum Kit and The Art and Heart of Drum Circles. Founder of UpBeat Drum Circles.
Phish’s WaterWheel Foundation
Mike DeMenno :: REMO Drum Co.
Robert Shen :: REMO Drum Co.
Bob Yerby :: REMO Drum Co.
Brian LeVan :: REMO Drum Co.
Dom Famularo (May he rest in eternal rhythmic Peace)
Maksym Deomin :: acclaimed Ukrainian drummer, educator & author
Arthur Hull :: Village Music Circles
Mark Schulman :: Rockstar Attitude
Will Lee :: https://www.willlee.com/
Elliott Randall :: https://elliott-randall.com/
Rick Fitts :: Fitts Production Associates
And our benevolent Sponsors ::
Hart Center For Deep Rhythm :: Community Foundation for Sonoma County
Christine Stevens :: UpBeat Drum Circles + Global Rhythm Sangha
“Christine guides groups to the secret world of the rhythmic arts.” – Mickey Hart
Musical Ambassadors of Peace promoteing peace world-wide through the power of music. We work to heal the emotional wounds of war and displacement by helping people build trust, cultivate resilience and return to joy.
PlayMore Design + EnSoul Music
Lori and Eric Sklut Family
S. Swimmer Family
Ambassador Warren Tichenor
Eric and Susan Lerner :: Action Plus Ideas
Don Lombardi :: DW Drums
Photo Credits ::
Anastasia Demidova
Krystyna Sahirova
Anastasia Magerramova
Please DONATE HERE
In Honor and Memory of our first and bravest, most joyful drummer, young Andriy Klevan.
May he Rest In Eternal Rhythmic Peace
