Andrii Smytsniuk — Chair, Co-Founder & Partnerships Lead 

Andrii is Chair and Co-Founder of Cambridge4Ukraine. As Partnerships Lead, he is responsible for general communication with various teams within our organisation, building relationships with other organisations, universities, communities, and donors, and for overseeing the organisation’s finances. He also serves as the Safeguarding Lead for Cambridge4Ukraine, overseeing safeguarding practices and ensuring that appropriate procedures are followed in activities involving children and vulnerable adults. In the past, he oversaw the Accommodation team, which helped bring over 160 Ukrainian families to the UK, and worked on initiatives to bring Ukrainian academics to Cambridge. In his professional life, Andrii is an Associate Teaching Professor in Ukrainian, Bye-Fellow at Homerton College, and Year Abroad Director at the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, University of Cambridge. His hobbies include reading, boxing, and running.

Valentyna Shkuro — Trustee, Operational & Finance Support

Valentyna ensures the smooth running of organisational processes. She is responsible for maintaining regular documentation, supporting financial matters, and coordinating the practical aspects of trustee meetings, such as preparing minutes and operational guidelines. She also manages partnerships with organisations that arrange activities for children. In her professional life, she is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Engineering Design Centre, University of Cambridge, where she continues to develop her academic career.

Yaryna Yemets — Programme Development & Community Engagement Lead

Yaryna contributes to the organisation’s strategic direction, initiates and designs new projects and programmes, coordinates community events, develops visual and communication materials, builds relationships with volunteers and partners, and supports the development of the organisation’s communication platforms, including the website, Viber community, Facebook, Instagram, Eventbrite and JustGiving. She also supports the YOUkraine Teens in Cambridge programme with concept, strategy, methodological and creative development. Professionally, she works as a learning experience designer, creating educational content for corporate training.

Maryna Povkh — Youth Programme Lead 

Maryna leads the YOUkraine Teens in Cambridge programme, coordinating educational, social, and recreational activities that support the integration and personal growth of Ukrainian teenagers in Cambridgeshire. She manages logistics, works directly with participants and lecturers, and creates a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment for young people to learn, connect, and thrive. With over 15 years of experience in business management and as a mother of two, Maryna combines strong organisational skills with a deep understanding of young people’s needs. Professionally, she is developing her own business project in the UK, blending entrepreneurial expertise with active community involvement.

👉Former Co-Founders and Core Team Members

👉Our volunteers