PRILUKY orphanage Donation TRIP 

December 2002

The Orphanage “Sonechko”we delivered the donation to is situated in Priluky, Chernigiv region and is not the worst one. This is the general orphanage where 100 % of children have psychological and speech development delays. It is home to around 150 pupils aged 4-7 years old at any one time.

I called the orphanage director Kotlyarova Lidia Vasilyevna to inform her of the donated funds and to discover their needs. The director told of their needs such as electric sewing machine and over locker to sew blankets, sheets, etc. for children, that is their main needs. Then she added that they also need a food industry electric stove, a computer and a boom box. So, we decided to by a sewing machine and an over locker of good quality.

I called to “Liberty International” and asked for help. They offered a sewing machine and an over locker manufactured by “Brother." Here is the final and complete list of items purchased for this project. The currency rate is 5.35 UAH to 1 USD.

Since the equipment is not heavy we decided to go to Priluky by our van.

The trip was planned on December 18. The van was loaded on December 18, and started on its way at 1:30 pm.

Priluky is situated about 150 km far from Kiev. The trip was estimated to take about 2 hours, so the driver Nicholai and Yuri Safonov arrived there around 3:30 pm.

PRILUKY ORPHANAGE HUMANITARIAN PROJECT

Upon arrival, Yuri and Nicholai arrived at the orphanage and were shown to the Director’s office where the orphanage staff  along with the director’s assistant, Lyudmila Ivanivna, were waiting for them. After Yuri and Nicholai introduced themselves, the orphanage staff said that they had been waiting for them and were extremely glad to see them, and particularly happy to get the donation so necessary for children.

The director’s assistant showed them around the orphanage and noted that the director and the orphanage staff were very grateful for this donation. 

She said that most of the children were adopted by American and Italian couples. During last 3 years there were 35 adoptions by foreign families and 2 adoptions by Ukrainian families. Very often children go to summer camps. Last August they went to Italy.

In the orphanage, children have various performances so we were invited to the orphanage for the New Year celebration. The orphanage staff teaches children the history and culture of Ukraine. They also provide music education there in the orphanage. They conduct music classes and there are musical instruments to play. They also observe the Week of Health, the Week of Theatre, etc.

The orphanage staff is very proud that they treat the orphanage as their own home. They also had cases of adoption the orphans by the orphanage workers, but it was a long time ago. The orphanage does, however, still have  problems and needs.

The children there are not bad supplied with the food. The daily ration of a child is estimated 4.5UAH (about 0.84 USD). But, the situation must be improved.

Their real problem is the clothes. They get it from the Second Hand. That is why they were very grateful for the donation we brought, because now they have the sewing machine and the over locker that will help them to sew not only the linen so necessary for children but the clothes too.

Their next problem is medicines. Since this year they had no funds for medicines from the Local Administration, they have urgent need in getting money for influenza injections for 80 children. 1 vaccination costs 42 UAH (7.85 USD). That is 628 USD. They asked to help them to find sponsor if we can.

  Actually, they have constant need in medicines such as: antibiotics, helminthic medicines and bactericidal irradiators (quartz lamps).

The general impression of the donation is very pleasant: the director’s assistant and staff were really grateful for the donation. All the staff seemed to be very nice, helpful, and open people, and they invited us to visit them again.

COMMENTS

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