As the effects of the worst nuclear disaster in history linger on, new efforts to raise money for those afflicted by Chernobyl-related illness are still needed.
Where better to reach the widest possible audience of potential charity givers than on the Internet?
Just 90 kilometers south of the Chernobyl plant, a small team of charity workers has set up an on-line non-commercial charity project. In cyberspace, you'll find it at http://www.chernobyl.com.ua.
'Chernobyl.com.ua introduces a concept absolutely new to Ukraine and the whole CIS – the concept of electronic charity, or 'click charity,' said Denis Oleinikov, Chernobyl Charity On-line founder.
Two Ukrainians launched the Web site on March 28 and by late April managed to attract 3,000 'unique hosts' (the number of individual computers accessing the site). Oleinikov attributes the accomplishment to word-of-mouth publicity. 'Our ad budget equals zero,' Oleinikov said.
For now, the site is all in English, as the typical English speaker tends to have more disposable income to donate to charity and possesses a credit card – the only method of on-line payment on the site at the moment. While 25 percent of all traffic to the site comes from Ukraine, visitors from Finland account for 15 percent.
Although not fully up and running, the site is already bringing in much-needed cash.
During its beta-testing period from March 21-26, the site attracted a total of 110 charity donations, together worth $200 – enough to buy a full ration of vitamins and minerals for five Chernobyl children for a month.
'We plan to attract 3,000 to 4,000 visitors every day in two to three months, which will enable us to buy medicine worth over $7,000 per month,' Oleinikov said. 'One hundred percent of commissions received from sponsors go directly to charity.'
Anybody can contribute to the good cause by just clicking on the links from the charity's Web site. (The sponsors give money based upon the number of visitors who clicked from the non-commercial site to the sponsors' home pages.)
The site is also linked to three on-line charity shops, where U.S. residents can buy electronics, books, and toys. A percentage of the cost of purchases goes toward buying medicine for Chernobyl victims. To handle the on-line purchases, Chernobyl Charity On-line chose Vstore.com, a privately held company based in Stamford, Connecticut.
'We chose Vstore.com because it spares us the trouble of handling all the logistics,' Oleinikov said. 'The charity can't afford to squander around $10,000 on setting up an on-line store in Ukraine.'
However, it's clicks that bring the bulk of the donations to the charity.
'Click charity accounts for 90 percent of the money raised,' Oleinikov said. * * *
Got a great idea for the Internet and just bursting to tell someone?
UNEX is a non-government organization set up to bring Internet entrepreneurs and investors together.
The NGO, which was formed in late March this year, is planning to hold monthly get-togethers for e-businessmen, bankers and investors. To take part in the meetings, you just have to register with UNEX.
'This is the place to share and refine ideas, watch and analyze market trends, and build relationships with Internet-minded investors,' said Andry Terentyev, one of UNEX's founders. 'The monthly event will create a fertile soil to grow Internet ideas and speed up the progress of development of the Ukrainian Internet content market.'
The managing director at ComSoft Systems Daniel Cruz, who organized Moscow Internet Exchange, is scheduled to attend the first UNEX meeting in Kyiv. For more info, send an e-mail to [email protected].
