Sylvana KozakBook a conversation

Causes

Beyond the boardroom.

Community fundraising and programmes I have created, organised and often personally funded — for families in crisis, displaced women and young people.

Tulum, Mexico · January 2023

Fire relief fundraising

Emergency support for families who lost their homes

A fire destroyed the homes and belongings of 20 to 25 families in Tulum — 60 to 70 people, including 18 children.

  • Raised funds quickly to meet the families' most urgent needs.
  • Mobilised the local expat community to collect clothes and children's items and to help with deliveries.
  • Used the funds to buy water, food, hygiene supplies and hammocks, and organised transport.
  • Delivered the supplies directly to the families.
The neighbourhood after the fire
The neighbourhood after the fire
Delivering water to families who lost their homes
Delivering water to families who lost their homes
Food and essentials bought with the funds raised
Food and essentials bought with the funds raised
Clothes and children's items collected from the community
Clothes and children's items collected from the community
Buying hammocks for families who had lost everything
Buying hammocks for families who had lost everything
Preparing supplies with a volunteer from the community
Preparing supplies with a volunteer from the community

Children's faces have been blurred, as these families were photographed during an emergency.

Poland · 2022

Programme for Ukrainian women displaced by the war

A five-week wellbeing programme

I created, organised and personally funded a five-week programme for women who had fled the war with their children. I arranged the venue at a fitness centre, brought in a professional fitness trainer, ran workshops and led mindfulness sessions after each training session.

The women became more aware of their emotional, mental and physical health and went on to secure work that matched their professional experience — some in Poland and some after returning home.

Leading a workshop session
Leading a workshop session
Workshop with the women
Workshop with the women
Training with a professional fitness trainer
Training with a professional fitness trainer
Circuit session at the fitness centre
Circuit session at the fitness centre
Together after a session
Together after a session
The final session
The final session

London · 2017

Higher Achievement Workshop

Working with young people

A programme I created for students, shaped by their needs and feedback. It combined group sessions, individual sessions with smaller groups, and a talk and workshop for over 40 students. A short documentary records the programme, including interviews with students at the end.

Talk and workshop for over 40 students
Talk and workshop for over 40 students
Working with the students
Working with the students
Group session
Group session
With students from the programme
With students from the programme

Poland · 2024

G29 youth project

Know Yourself, Coping with Emotions and Stress

Workshops delivered in person for six students and online for sixteen international students, using interactive reflection, role play and goal-setting exercises.

With the students, G29 in-person workshop
With the students, G29 in-person workshop
Group discussion
Group discussion
Role play exercise led by a student
Role play exercise led by a student
Online workshop with international students
Online workshop with international students

Photographs of young people are shared with written permission from their parents.