About Oxford-Kharkiv Association (OKA)

The Oxford-Kharkiv Association (OKA) is a voluntary society dedicated to strengthening the links between Oxfordshire and Kharkiv region by fostering personal and professional contacts and by supporting charities and other initiatives helping the people of Kharkiv in wartime, in reconstruction and in recovery.
The initial fields of work will be in Education and Healthcare and in publicising the projects of other charities for Kharkiv and Ukraine.
We are actively looking for people who would like to get involved at any level, from attending events in Oxfordshire about Kharkiv to taking part in remote-based exchanges and professional programmes.
At the same time, the Association will work to extend knowledge of Kharkiv in Oxfordshire through a newsletter and cultural events.
About our place and mission
Medicine, education and science
  1. Co-operate with, initiate, and maintain communications between non-governmental organisations such as charities, community groups and professional associations and also with local government agencies in Kharkiv city and region and Oxford and Oxfordshire.
  2. Identify and support shared projects in the fields of activity defined by OKA and its partners in the Kharkiv region and in particular the exchange of professional expertise.
  3. Co-ordinate general fundraising events in support of third parties’ and OKA’s projects for Ukraine and Kharkiv region and to secure funding for specific projects.
  4. Compile and maintain an events calendar and to assist other Oxfordshire associations, individuals and NGOs supporting Ukraine and Kharkiv region with the promotion of events through appropriate media.
  5. Promote and communicate the benefits of shared projects and information and to increase participation and membership of OKA from all sections of the Oxfordshire and Kharkiv region communities.
  6. Promote understanding and increase the depth of relationships between Oxfordshire and Kharkiv region.
Who We Are
People from the United Kingdom and Ukraine are working to strengthen the links between Oxfordshire and Kharkiv region.

A Steering Committee:
  • Tim Sadler
    Tim is a long standing resident of Oxford. Until his recent retirement Tim was a Director at
    the City Council.

    After ten years’ service, Tim recently stood down as the Chair of the
    board of the Low Carbon Hub, and now continues to be a Non-Executive Director on the board of two Local Authority Trading Companies.

    Up until the start of the conflict Tim was working with charities and social enterprises in Russia on a programme funded by the British Embassy in Moscow. Tim has been active in the Oxford Perm association, has worked with Oxford’s twin city Grenoble, and has experience of how twinning works in Oxford.
  • Dr. Viktor Savchenko
    PhD in Law, Associate Professor, Certified International Mediator. Research Fellow of the University of Oxford (Balliol College) and Associate Professor of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

    Viktor has 15 years of experience practising law in Ukraine, focusing on contracts, human rights, and medical and international private law.

    He has 11 years of entrepreneurial experience and has participated in extensive international grant activities (Erasmus+, Tempus, GIZ, etc.). He is the author and co-author of more than 130 publications.

    Viktor has experience as a commercial director and director of development and marketing.
  • George Pervushyn
    MSt Candidate in Study of Religions | Jesus College, Oxford University
  • Dr. Ievgeniia Kopytsia
    PhD in Law, Research Fellow of the University of Oxford (Law Faculty), and an Associate Professor at Yaroslav Mudriy National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

    Ievgeniia is the Head of the Research Centre for Sustainable Development Law and has more than 10 years of experience in environmental, climate, and energy law from international, European, and Ukrainian perspectives.

    She has co-lead a number of international educational initiatives and research projects. Since 2023 - institutional coordinator of Europe-Ukraine Energy Transition Hub (EUETH) - an international consortium aiming to leverage the green reconstruction of Ukraine and provide support to strengthen Ukraine’s governance, regulatory frameworks, and market mechanisms in the field of energy, sustainability, and climate action.
Our Partners
If you are interested in becoming a partner or sponsor, please feel free to contact us.
Actual Ukrainian news
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Gwara Media
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Join us
The society welcomes new members – please contact us by filling in the membership application form or contact by the email below.
oxfordkharkiva@gmail.com
Join now