DVOU organization completes first humanitarian project in Donetsk (03/09/03)

DVOU organization completes first humanitarian project in Donetsk

PHILADELPHIA - The Disabled and Vulnerable Orphans of Ukraine (DVOU) has completed its first humanitarian project to support severely mentally disabled orphans in Torez, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. DVOU was able to execute its first task to help Torez's orphanage through a partnership with the Ukrainian charity organization Dobrota in the Donetsk city. The DVOU-Dobrota relationship was formed to assist the Donetsk region's orphanages for special-needs children through humanitarian aid, medical relief and children's rights advocacy.

Dobrota effectively assisted in project management, which included orphanage assessment, cost accounting, plus monitoring and control of the distribution of goods. DVOU contributed $837 to the Torez orphanage, and more than $300 was donated by Dobrota for a total of over $1,100. Various items purchased with DVOU funds included food, medicines, clothing (diapers and hats) and miscellaneous items such as towels, lamps, switches, basins and plug sockets. Monetary contributions were used to locally purchase needed supplies for the Torez orphans, instead of buying and shipping items from the United States.

"In addition to supporting the special-needs orphans in Ukraine with donations, we feel that purchasing goods near the orphanage assists in stimulating the local economy," explain Lillian Horodysky, DVOU's executive director.

Greg Higgins of Newtown, Conn., an American Peace Corps volunteer working at Dobrota, was present at the contract signing between Dobrota and the orphanage, ensuring the accuracy of the amount of purchased goods and its distribution. Mr. Higgins also assisted with supplies packaging at the warehouse in Donetsk, where the materials were organized and stored just before delivery.

Dobrota is a charity organization in Donetsk whose mission is to combat poverty through charitable social partnerships in the Donetsk community as a means for solving the most urgent social problems in the area. The foundation financially supports and aids local educational, health care and social protection institutions, in addition to public organizations for the sick, disabled, families with many children, needy families and individuals.

For more information on Dobrota and its activities, visit the website at www.dobrota.donetsk.ua and click on Donetsk city charitable fund "Kindness" for the English version.

DVOU, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization located in Philadelphia, aims to identify and resolve critical issues and emerging areas of need in the lives of special-needs orphans suffering from HIV/AIDS, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, tuberculosis and other diseases. Services offered include humanitarian aid, health care, advocacy, education and training.

DVOU may be found online at www.dvou.org. For more information, please write to: DVOU, 1245 Rhawn St., Philadelphia, PA 19111, or call (215) 725-1003. U.S. contributions are tax-deductible.

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In related news, DVOU and the Toronto-based Ukrainian Cradle Adoption Agency (UCAA) announced their partnership to build awareness of poor conditions faced by institutionalized special-needs orphans in Ukraine.

With the lack of government funding, orphanage administrators and medical personnel find it increasingly difficult to support disabled and vulnerable orphans. Through understaffing, ignorance or disinterest, these children have very little contact with adults who can provide the stimulation they need for healthy development. Special-needs orphans are often left lying in their beds alone for long periods of time, causing myriad physical, intellectual and emotional disturbances.

"Ultimately, they develop a combination of dysfunctions such as aggressive or passive behaviors, sensory disorders, attachment problems, learning disabilities or consequential invalidity, on top of their own special disability," commented Ms. Horodysky. "This is why we need to join forces and form one voice to build awareness of the plight of Ukrainian disabled and vulnerable orphans."

Ukrainian Cradle Adoption Agency, a licensed international adoption agency, is a non-profit corporation that assists Canadian parents in all aspects of their adoption process in Ukraine. Information about UCAA may be obtained online at http://www3.sympatico.ca/soniak/ucaa.htm or via telephone at (416) 622-7677. The UCAA's director is Sonia Kondrat.

The DVOU-UCAA partnership went into effect in December 2002.

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