Working Hands
Many kids in Ukraine are living in (very) poor circumstances. Partly due to poverty many parents are alcoholic, due to which 'broken families' are more a rule than an exception. The children are often the victims of such situations. In order to provide some relief "Working Hands" is active in Ukraine on a regular basis. The overview below lists the projects which has been completed during the period 2007 - 2010. Additionally you will find here information on the project planned for 2012. The photo-album 2010 you will find here. You could compare the situation before and after Working Hands projects here.
This year Foundation Oekroe will again work in Ukraine. From 28 May until 9 June 2012 twelve volunteers will travel to Central Ukraine in order to work on two different projects. They will work at nursery schools at Verbka and at Michalutska. Those refurbishment projects will be executed with local contractors and volunteers. In those villages there are no or insufficient facilities for children in the age of 3 - 6 years old to go to school. By realising those two projects both parents will get the possibility to get an income from paid work, next to looking after their children. The income levels in Ukraine are too low for families to live from one salary. As a result, many children live under very poor conditions.
To sponsor Working Hands click here.
Last change: 31 March 2012
The Working Hands project for 2011 consists of the refurbishment of a revalidation centre for children and youngsters with a disability at Hrytsiv not far away from Shepetivka. The revalidation centre has been founded recently and has a capacity of approx 40 children/youngsters who could get therapy five half days a week. The roof is leaking while other adjustments on the outside and inside are necessary. The centre has been visited by a delegation of Foundation Oekroe on the 5th of November 2010. At this occasion there were talks with the leadership of the centre, with the regional government and with the general management of a large agricultural company that guaranteed a significant part of the necessary funds. As next step, a detailed budget has been prepared by the Ukrainians. During a second visit Wednesday 23 February 2011 detailed arrangements were discussed and agreed. Finally a formal agreement of cooperation has been signed by the Ukrainian side and Foundation Oekroe.
Working Hands worked jointly with Ukrainians on the project from the 30th of May until the 10th June 2011. The Ukrainian partner has committed to complete the project by the end of July. Updates received during the period Working Hands worked in Ukraine xould be found here.
Updated: 15 June 2011
During 2010 the clinic at remotely located Lozove (via road approx 15 km from Derazhnya of which about halve cobble stones....). Here 3 men and 1 woman of Working Hands, together with a local contractor, have carried out a lot of work. Directly after arrival they started to replace the window frames (the new ones were pre-ordered by the contractor and were available when they started). Furthermore the interior has been rearranged for which walls were taken down and new ones have been errected. Also the installations have been upgraded. The finishing touch is on schedule. Around 1 October 2010 everything will be ready. People from the surrounding villages as well as Lozove itself are very pleased with the refurbishment of their hospital. Due to the new windows it will be much more pleasant inside the hospital while it is freezing 25 degrees during the winter. For photos click here. As asked by several people you could compare the old and new situation here.
At Koretz, between the cities of Rivne and Novo Grado, 4 members of Working Hands and a local contractor worked hard to establish 10 showers at the dormitory of a secundary school which did not have any working shower before. After the school holidays started students from civil engineering provided assistance under the guidance of the head of the civil engineering department of the school, a strong lady who has the guys fully under control... To work together with the Ukrainians gave the Dutch participants a lot of satisfaction. From the Ukrainian side the project was well prepared. When the Dutch group had to leave for Holland the tiling of the first shower had started. Early September the project will be completely finished. Then it is finally possible for the 250 students (aged 13 - 17 years old) who are living at the school 9 months per year to take a normal shower for the first time. By the way the local government is so enthusiastic due to the help of Oekroe that they spontaneously provided funds to refurbish the toilets as well. Talking about cross-fertilization! For photos click here. As asked by several people you could compare the old and new situation here.
The cooperation with Ukrainians in order to improve the standard of living has given Working Hands participants an new dimension to their work. Many intend to participate nect year as well! To sponsor Working Hands click here.
Updated: 2 December 2010
Creche Kiyanka (nearly ready)
One of the two 2009 projects was located in Kiyanka (near Novo Grado Volynskyi) in Central Ukraine. An unused part of a building (the reminder acts as town hall) has been converted into a creche for about 30 children who are 0 to 6 years old. Children who live under difficult circumstances at home (alcohol abuse, violent nature, etc) could stay here during the day. The creche should be a relief for those children. Here they will get tenderness and, not to forget, receive good nutrition. Both are not evident in Ukraine. This project was completed late 2009. Dutring a next visit we hope to see the creche in full swing! As asked by several people you could compare the old and new situation here.
For the first time during 2009 Working Hands undertook a second significant project in parallel. This project was located in Derazhnya (some 160 km from Novo Grado Volynskyi). Two large, impersonal and completely worn-out hospital rooms within the maternity ward were split into 4 modern rooms each with a private bathroom (which is not obvious in Ukraine). During a visit late 2009 already 60 children were born here on top of the normal birth rate! This means the hospital is now seen as a good alternative for getting a baby at home which is less hygienic. Moreover it turned out that this Working Hands project had encouraged the local authorities to additionally create a "first class" maternity ward. This first class section is available for those who could afford it and consists of a nursing room for mother and baby, a sleeping room for the family, a dining room and a bathroom. As asked by several people you could compare the old and new situation hier.
During the summer of 2008 a toilet facility has been built between two exisiting wings of the local school at Lavki. As a result the kids can finally use a normal rest room, whereas before they had to use a latrine... Due to some typical Ukrainian circumstances there was a delay until end of 2009 before the children could take the new facility into use. The video shows the youngest children who sing a song to express their gratitude! As asked by several people you could compare the old and new situation here.
Furthermore, during the summer of 2008 a roof that was destroyed by fire was replaced (emergency aide). The handicapped widow living here was not insured against fire and did not have her own resources to pay for the repairs herselves. Working Hands made the roof waterproof again.
School at Lavky
Emergency Support
During 2007 the ground floor of this clinic at Gulsk has been converted into two residential units for foster children. The units accommodate two foster families with 9 to 10 children each. The children living here now had to leave their own home and parents due to tragic circumstances.
Oekroe has been able to arrange foster parents with a Christian background. The children consequently do receive a Christian education. Since the foster parents home went into service parents and children are being visited monthly on behalf of the Oekroe Foundation. The facility has been opened by the president of Ukraine in August 2007.
The picture on the right illustrates the status of the wooden floor before Working Hands started their project in Kiyanka (2009). Lots of challenges as you could see. Perhaps something for you to support? Without financial support and/or your prayers our activities would not be possible. You are able to support us by transferring money to
- Bank account Oekroe "Working Hands"
- IBAN: NL09 RABO 0122 2746 01 BIC: RABONL2U
Your support would be highly appreciated.
Subsidy has been requested for the projects of Working Hands 2010 from the “Nationale Commissie voor Internationale Samenwerking en Duurzame Ontwikkeling” (NCDO) Dutch for “National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development ”. NCDO is part of the Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Floor Kiyanka before renovation started