Day4Defenders: How IT Companies Turn Defenders' Day into a Day to Support the Army
In 2024, three-quarters of Ukrainian IT professionals donated part of their income to the army. These contributions are significant, as an IT professional can donate several to tens of thousands of hryvnias per month to the military.
However, personal donations are often insufficient. In the IT sphere, there is a gradual decrease in salaries at almost all levels. This led to the creation of the Day4Defenders project.
What is Day4Defenders?
For the third year in a row, Ukraine is hosting the Day4Defenders initiative. The idea of the project is to make October 1, the Day of Defenders, a working day for companies. Currently, all state holidays are canceled due to martial law. However, most IT companies are flexible private companies and keep the day off for their employees. The essence of the initiative is to dedicate an extra 8 hours of work for those who work without weekends or breaks.
The company transfers all profits from this day to support units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This can be done centrally through partner funds or used to meet the needs of their own smaller collections. Company employees volunteer their time and do not pay out of their pockets. This project is different from ordinary donations to the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The entire company or individual employees, teams, or departments can join the initiative.
If October 1 is a working day in an IT company, the organizers of the initiative encourage companies to voluntarily donate the profits from this day to the needs of the defenders.
History and main goals of the project
This project was first launched in the fall of 2022. The initiator and co-founder was the company TechMagic. About 2.4 million hryvnias (approx. $58,000) were collected in the first year of the initiative. In 2023, this figure increased to over 3.9 million hryvnias (approx. $95,000).
The project partners are "1991" and "Where Hope Lives" charitable foundations. These organizations will purchase and repair the vehicles. Participating companies will be able to brand a pickup truck with their logo, attend vehicle handovers, and receive photo and video coverage. In addition, the company will be mentioned in the materials for major IT media: DOU, IT Cluster, and others.
The project aims to raise about 6 million hryvnias (approx. $146,000) and use it to purchase over 20 vehicles for frontline units.
"Vehicles and drones are the biggest consumers on the front line. Both of our foundations specialize in these items. We chose vehicles because they are in high demand. The transition to a new season is underway, and existing vehicles need to be renewed and replaced due to wear and tear,"
explains Anastasiia Sokhatska, founder of the "1991" Foundation.
Ukraine's resources are vast but not unlimited. The IT sector in Ukraine works mainly through outsourcing and receives funds from foreign clients. However, Western companies or funds practically do not help Ukraine buy drones, pickups, and other equipment needed on the front lines, says Anastasiia Sokhatska. They focus primarily on humanitarian aid.
"Such an approach to the initiative allows us to attract funds from foreign clients without spending our own. This initiative generates additional funds and directs them to critical military needs. Our clients are willing to pay for additional hours because work continues during this time, just like a regular work day," says Lidiia Dats, one of the co-organizers of Day4Defenders.
This year, more than ten IT companies have already joined the initiative: Sombra, TechMagic, The Gradient, InVerita, OpenVPN, Ralabs, Codelions, Askep.net, Inoxoft, Codegeeks, Impressit, Zade, Radency and Develux. To become a project partner, you can fill out a registration form. Representatives from the foundations will contact each individual, team, or company directly.
