gadyach orphanage Donation TRIP 

June 2002

On behalf of an adoptive family who wanted to contribute to the orphanage where they had adopted their children, we contacted Gadyach orphanage “Veselka” (Rainbow), to find out the items that they need most.  We had a budget of $850, and after several conversations with the orphanage director, we purchased the following items in Kyiv, for delivery on Saturday, June 1^st, which was Children’s day in Ukraine!  The orphanage particularly asked us to delay delivery for a week in order to bring things to the children on this special holiday.   

The entrance to  the "Veselka" orphanage 

We left Kyiv at about 5:00 a.m  and arrived at the orphanage about 9:00 a.m. The weather was horrible as we left Kiev, but Gadyach met us with sunshine and warmth.

As we arrived, we saw that the orphanage is situated in a very beautiful national park area.  The entrance drive to the orphanage is beautifully lined with thin, tall  poplar trees (the Ukrainian national tree).  Lesya Ukrainka, a famous Ukrainian poetess, wrote her poetry at nearby Lesin Gai, which is within walking distance of the orphanage.

Varvara Grygorivna, the director of the orphanage, greeted us when we arrived.  She is a very friendly, openhearted and sweet person.  She has been working in this position for 22 years, supervising a staff of 80-100 workers.  She showed us into her office, and then we unloaded the items for the children.  We had the privilege of being present when she distributed some of the toys to the children, and watching them begin to play with them.  After visiting with the children, we took a tour of the orphanage grounds, while the director gave us some background information. 

Items

Amount

Price

5.35 H = $1 US 

1.

Album for drawing - 24 pages

140.40

2.

Colored paper

50 pieces 

   63.00

3.

Watercolor paints - 12 colors

100 packs 

270.00

4.

Colored pencils - 12 colors

100 packs

457.20

The orphanage houses approximately 100 children age 3-7 years, and it was founded in 1920 right after the World War I and  the Russian Revolution, when many children were left homeless by the fighting.   The International adoption rate here is three times higher than adoption of children by Ukrainians.

The children, as in other orphanages, have a standard routine for meals, play & sleep, with rare special events as breaks in the routine. They are taught to read and write here, in preparation for the next level of  schooling.

The children are well supplied with food. Their daily ration is approximately 8-10 Grivna, which is higher than most other orphanages, and in addition, the workers grow a lot of food in the orphanage gardens.  The clothing situation is less comfortable, though it is still bearable. The most acute needs of the orphanage as of today are funds for repairs. The current orphanage building was constructed in 1980 and has never been repaired.

Their other needs are a refrigerator, a lawnmower (the women workers are still using scythes to cut the grass, and the area is quite big), equipment for a playground, and a clothes wringer, called a centrifuge, (this is a hand-cranked or electrical wringer which would take most of the moisture out before drying). The director remembered the family (and particularly the adopted boys) fondly when we showed them current photos.  We very much enjoyed the hospitality and warmth that we were greeted with on our visit, and will look forward to our next trip there in the fall.

Their other needs are a refrigerator, a lawnmower (the women workers are still using scythes to cut the grass, and the area is quite big), equipment for a playground, and a clothes wringer, called a centrifuge, (this is a hand-cranked or electrical wringer which would take most of the moisture out before drying). The director remembered the family (and particularly the adopted boys) fondly when we showed them current photos.  We very much enjoyed the hospitality and warmth that we were greeted with on our visit, and will look forward to our next trip there in the fall.

The director remembered the family (and particularly the adopted boys) fondly when we showed them current photos.  

We very much enjoyed the hospitality and warmth that we were greeted with on our visit, and will look forward to our next trip there in the fall.

COMMENTS

If you want to be a part of our charity programs and share your heart with Ukrainian orphans, please check with us at infosrc@earthlink.net to find out about upcoming humanitarian trips and how you can make a difference in their world.

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