Today's story is about a difficult choice. About wisdom and the ability to accept the situation. About courage with the words: "Who, if not me?". About a person who helps hundreds of families, hospitals, and military personnel.

This is a man who can raise UAH 100,000 in a short period of time to deliver humanitarian goods to Kharkiv. And in this cosmic sum there will be 20 hryvnias of an old neighbor. Who, knowing WHO collects, will bring hryvnias in a clenched fist. Because he is honest, and this money will definitely go where it needs to go.

Yevhen Chumak is a charter member of the Rotary Club "Kharkiv New Level", a successful businessman, a loving husband, a caring father and a loyal friend. We are lucky to know him personally. And we want to introduce you to him!

Evgeny has been actively participating in projects since the first days of the club's creation. During the war, several villages in the Kharkiv region are provided with humanitarian kits. Helps with medicines of the 13th hospital. He helps military men whom he met in a life-threatening situation. And there is a lot more that Zhenya does not tell, considering it to be ordinary affairs. Which everyone can do! But, we know that having such love for people is not given to everyone.

- What would you do if you had nothing to do? Let's imagine that you have everything, and there is peace on planet Earth.
- I would help people. From the age of six, I repeated that I wanted to help people!
- Is that why you chose the profession of a doctor?
- No, a friend said: "Zhenka, go to medical school, there are so many girls!" Yevhen remembers his youth with a smile!

Zhenya did become a doctor. But not a surgeon, as he dreamed, but a family doctor. Such work did not suit him. Difficult times and low wages led to the idea that something should be changed. Especially since a family has already appeared and a daughter was born.

"After the institute, I was assigned to the 13th hospital. Worked for a month and received UAH 199. Which I spent at once - I bought diapers and formula for my daughter. There are 2 hryvnias left in the wallet. I remembered it for the rest of my life!” - says Yevhen.

On the yellowed job pages of the newspaper, Zhenya finds a job as a sales consultant. That was the start. Giving 200% in the new place, he achieves high results in sales. And after some time he becomes the head of the department. Salary is growing steadily. Yevhen's wife, with his support, decides to open her own business, which later becomes a family business. Competently dividing the areas of responsibility at work, they manage to maintain peace and love in the family.

The Chumaki couple go through many trials together. One of which is construction! Having bought the land, made a stunning design project, they were preparing to realize their plans in no hurry, but the whole world is going into quarantine due to the insidious disease of COVID-19. There is no idea to freeze construction. On the contrary, standing on one's own land, there is a clear desire to build! During the year, all the construction work is finished, so Evgeny and Yana are moving into their own house! They plan again how they will receive friends in the spring, where exactly they will plant trees and how they will sunbathe by the pool.

But on February 24, the world changed.

War appeared as an uninvited guest on the doorstep of every home. Fear and horror shackled the consciousness. At this moment Yevhen decides that he and other men are obliged to stand up for the protection of children, women and old people. This is how a detachment of volunteers appears. Local men go out every evening to patrol the streets and outskirts of the village. With this act of Yevhen, the history of service in wartime began. Acquaintance with TRO, assistance to the military. One meeting entailed dozens of others.

In the Rotary humanitarian HAB, Yevhen receives food kits, with which he supplies one village. Later, after meeting the deputy of the Chuguyiv district, he receives help from the city for neighboring villages.

"They call me more often and say: how can we help you in your ministry? According to my wife's calculations, we brought $40,000 worth of aid to Artyukhivka in 4 months. In addition to humanitarian kits, we help elderly lonely people with firewood collection," says Yevhen.

When people encounter Zhenya's kindness and humanity, they want to give back.

A grandmother who does not have a smartphone learns about humanitarian aid from her neighbors. Their duties include notifying when help will arrive. Eugene tries to pay attention to everyone! He is expected not only for help. But also for the sake of a warm word, support and belief that if such people exist, then the world has not gone crazy. And soon this nightmare will end!

"When I make a wish, I always ask for wisdom! You know, it led to the fact that God gave me such people who taught. Events that were taught. I don't like to read. My eyes are getting tired. But in order to learn about new information, I decided to develop an audio channel. I started listening to audio books. It was not easy for me. Now, I listen to hundreds of books a year. Listening at speed *2" - Yevhen shares his tricks.

The last 2 books Yevhen listened to are:
- "Black Swan"
- "Antifragility".

In such a difficult time, Evgeny "reads" and uses all the potential to gain focus here and now. Makes plans for the future. Yes, reality has changed. But life goes on!

"People who set goals and go no matter what to achieve them are able to survive any difficulties!" - an opinion learned by Yevgeny during visits to the memorial complex in Auschwitz, Poland. A place where thousands of people were tortured and killed.

Our interview could go on forever. But people in several villages are already waiting for Yevhen with humanitarian aid.

"Every day can be the last. I ask myself: what have you done today?” - Yevhen says calmly, and goes to do what he can where he is!

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