A new social project related to the St. James Way of Podillya has appeared on the “My City” crowdfunding platform — “A Promotional Tour along the Camino Podolico for Veterans – The Way of Recovery”.
The authors are the team of the NGO “Association of Friends of St. James Way in Ukraine”: Svitlana Hordiichuk (project author, guide and ambassador of Camino Podolico), Diana Rashkevych, and Oleksandra Martyniuk.
Budget: UAH 154,000
Fundraising deadline: June 5, 2026.
In May-June this year, the Association plans to organize two promotional hikes along the Camino Podolico route for male and female veterans – opinion leaders among service members. According to the description, the project will become a unique combination of physical activity, tourism, and emotional and psychological rehabilitation through hiking across Podillya.
Where did the idea of a promotional tour along the Camino Podolico route for veterans come from?
The author of the project “Camino Podolico – The Way of Recovery” for male and female veterans, Svitlana Hordiichuk, has been involved in hiking tourism for five years. Since 2023, she has been leading tourist groups, and since 2024 she has organized multi-day journeys for women along the Camino Podolico route. On several occasions, loved ones and relatives of service members joined her groups and shared that they would like to walk this route again – but together with their close family members.
Therefore, in 2025, Svitlana initiated free recovery-oriented hikes in cooperation with the Department of City Marketing and Tourism of Vinnytsia City Council and the NGO Association of Friends of St. James Way in Ukraine. During the summer, the project was implemented: a kayaking trip along the Riv River for service members and veterans took place, as well as a two-day art-therapy hike for women from military families and a one-day 10-kilometer walk along the Camino Podolico route as part of the European Heritage Days.
After analyzing the experiences of military personnel who had walked the Camino Podolico while on leave, the project was refined and submitted for crowdfunding.
Project Overview
In May–June 2026, the team of the NGO Association of Friends of St. James Way in Ukraine plans to organize two five-day promotional hikes along the cultural and educational route Camino Podolico for male and female veterans, as well as opinion leaders within the military community.
Participants will walk the most scenic and engaging sections of the route, discover veteran-owned businesses, explore various accommodation formats, and visit key locations along the route.
The goal of the initiative is to demonstrate how nature can serve as a free and accessible tool for recovery; to strengthen veterans’ integration through interaction with local communities; to showcase to organizations and local administrations the rehabilitation potential of the Camino Podolico route; and to promote the project “Camino Podolico – The Way of Recovery”.
Additionally, the team aims to encourage more veterans to complete the route, attract grant and partnership support, and strengthen veteran-led businesses operating along the trail.
The social impact of the project includes building trust, fostering the development of the veteran movement in Podillya, and supporting the growth of professionals who work with veterans and their families.
How to Support the Project?
The project will be implemented once the full funding goal of UAH 154,000 is raised.
The main portion of the budget covers the organization of two promotional tours for 16 male and female veterans, including accommodation, meals, transportation costs, medical insurance for participants, as well as payment for the project author and two volunteers.
You can support the initiative with a charitable donation via the following link.
The platform provides transparent budget details, reports on expenditures, and explains funding decisions – ensuring that every donor knows exactly how their contribution is used.
By choosing the “donation with reward” option, supporters can receive a checklist with tips for completing the Camino Podolico route, enjoy coffee with the guide and Camino ambassador Svitlana Hordiichuk, or receive partner gifts and official Camino Podolico souvenir products.
Additionally, if at least 20% of the total amount is raised by March 20, the project team will gain the opportunity to pitch the initiative and potentially receive additional co-funding of $1,000 from the “My City” platform (approximately 30% of the total project budget).
“This is a chance to give veterans not only physical recovery, but also emotional support, community, and new opportunities for life after the war. Support our project and help our heroes return to a full and meaningful life!”, – says the project initiator, Svitlana Hordiichuk.