Sometimes, the journey from a simple desire to help to a genuine smile in Ukraine spans hundreds of miles and unites dozens of caring hearts. This is a story of how technology from Scotland opened a new world of opportunities for some young people in the city of Kolomyia.
The Connecting Link: Viktoria Obraztsova’s Determination
It all began with Viktoria Obraztsova, a Ukrainian woman now living in the Highlands. She knew how difficult things were for a local centre in her hometown of Kolomyia. We deeply empathise with Viktoria and her desire to support those who stayed behind in such difficult conditions.
Viktoria’s resolve to seek help and her coordination of the process became the very first “handshake” that started this chain of kindness.
The Highland Team in Action
This initiative was made possible by the coordinated work of several organisations:
ILM Highland donated the Chromebooks as a charitable gift.
Highlands Innovation CIC conducted full diagnostics to make the devices “reusable” and ready for long-term use.
Highlands for Ukraine helped organise and coordinate the delivery.
The Road of Life: Simon Cole-Hamilton and the Rotary Clubs of Inverness
H4U gave a talk to the Inverness Rotary Club shortly after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to ask for the help of members in getting aid to eastern Ukraine.
H4U told the Inverness Rotarians that one of the main aspects of need in Ukraine is the requirement for 4x4s on or near the front line – to uplift casualties from the battlefield, to help evacuate civilians from areas that are about to be invaded by the enemy and to get vital supplies through to vulnerable the elderly and disabled living on the edge of the fighting.
Two of the Rotarians at the talk were particularly taken by this aspect of aid work. The next thing H4U knew, Simon Cole-Hamilton and David Martin had raised funds with the aid of their own club along with Inverness Culloden and Inverness Riverside Rotary, had gone to Dingwall Auction Mart and purchased a Ford Ranger.
Now the Rotary clubs in Inverness have sent eight jeeps, some of them driven by Simon Cole-Hamilton himself. Duncan Ross, who is a regular volunteer with H4U has also driven one of the vehicles for our friends at Jeeps for Peace charity. J4P take regular convoys to Ukraine from their base in Edinburgh.
Simon has been on several of the convoys now and will undertake more trips later this year. He delivers vehicles, filled with Inverness Rotary and H4U humanitarian aid to Kolomyia. On this occasion (February 2026), our Chromebooks were among the vital supplies. Having seen the joy the equipment brought, Simon has expressed his readiness to deliver the next batch as soon as he can.
A Celebration in Kolomyia
For the beneficiaries of the Unified Centre for Rehabilitation and Social Services of Kolomyia (Day Care Department for Persons with Disabilities), this gift was a historic event. While sponsors have previously helped with furniture or stationery, for the first time in the centre’s history, modern computer equipment was handed over for their use.
These individuals possess full intellectual capacity, and the Chromebooks have become tools for their education, work, and connection to the world. These photographs from the centre capture their genuine smiles and a true day of celebration.
Gratitude
We express our deepest appreciation to ILM Highland, Highlands Innovation, the three Rotary Clubs of Inverness and Inner Wheel, the founders of Jeeps for Peace and particularly to Simon Cole-Hamilton, and Viktoria Obraztsova. Your compassion, backed by action, has made lives better today. We know for certain: the six degrees of separation rule works, bringing us together for a common cause.
