Children of Chernivtsi (Ukraine) Christmas Appeal

“Millions of children are going to sleep cold and scared and waking up hoping for an end to this brutal war. Children have been killed and injured, and many have lost parents and siblings, their homes, schools and playgrounds. No child should ever have to bear that kind of suffering.” Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director.

We are a group of business contacts and friends that are due to travel to Ukraine on 26 November 2023 to deliver Christmas presents and humanitarian aid to children who are disadvantaged and displaced by war currently housed across 3 orphanages and over 23 shelters in and around Chernivtsi, Ukraine.

During the course of the war, the children of Ukraine have suffered enormously. It is estimated that over 100,000 children are currently living in orphanages in Ukraine. In certain cases orphans are abandoned by their own family due to lack of finances to support them, however, other reasons include alcoholism, abuse, crime, illness, and poor medical health. Obviously, the war has caused more children to be orphaned through the loss of parents in the conflict.

The children we seek to help are facing life without love from parents, a life with an uncertain future. In some occasions, children are given to an orphanage straight after they are born.

These children then face more difficult situations when they turn 16 and leave the orphanage. Without money, limited education, no half-way home and no effective support, statistics show that in Ukraine 10% to 15% of these children commit suicide before they reach eighteen, and somewhere between 60% to 70% of Ukrainian orphans quickly become involved in prostitution or other organised crime.*

All this data makes our hearts weep for these children, and as such we want to do our best to help as many of these children as we can. Even a little help goes a long way to assist these very disadvantaged and vulnerable children.

We are working with the ‘Caritas Charitable Organization of the Chernivtsi Diocese’ ("Charity") in an attempt to improve the quality of the lives of:

a. over 250 (including learning and physically disabled) children across 3 orphanages in and around Chernivtsi; and

b. over 500 displaced children that are currently being housed in temporary shelters across 23 parishes in the Chernivtsi region that may have lost one or both of their parents as a result of the war.

The Charity is working hard to offer the children the best possible life experience in as much of a family-like setting as possible. There is a significant focus on education, play and social interaction. This appeal seeks to source many of the items required by the Charity that they simply do not have the funds to acquire.

We are acutely aware that our appeal is not going to solve the issues that the children face on a permanent basis. However, we are all fully committed to making the journey even if we can only offer small improvements to their day to day lives, a moment of temporary happiness or only generate one smile from a child.

The journey will involve a return trip of over 3,250 miles from Manchester to Chernivtsi via France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Chernivtsi is located in the Southwest of Ukraine, in the Eastern Carpathians, 40 km (25 miles) from the border with Romania.

We have been liaising with Prof. Mariia Fedoriak and Fr. Liubomyr Ivanochko, the directors of the Charity in Chernivtsi, and we are informed that it is critical that any aid arrives prior to 1 December 2023. After this date, new customs regulations come into effect in Ukraine and the charity cannot afford to pay the lawyers fees required to process the necessary paperwork to ensure the aid can get through prior to Christmas.

The charity has confirmed that, in addition to any Christmas presents we may choose to bring with us, the following items are desperately needed:

• School supplies to include stationery, notepads, art and drawing materials etc.;

• School backpacks;

• Sports equipment to include balls, nets, tables tennis equipment etc;

• Children's games (including a special request for large lego or duplo blocks for the learning disabled children);

• Hygiene products to include nappies, sanitary products, shampoo, deodorant, body wash, shower gel, toothbrushes etc;

• Winter coats – we have been specifically asked NOT to bring clothing other than winter coats;

• 20 – 30 tents and associated camping equipment such as sleeping bags, sleeping mats/airbeds, lamps etc. - so they can be used for summer camps to take the children away from the orphanages/shelters for a much needed break.

• An off-grid solar power system to be installed at the remote summer camp the Charity has currently been gifted the use of.

We are liaising further with Prof. Mariia and Fr. Liubomyr to determine if there is anything else required. We will add to the list as necessary. Obviously, and in addition to the above, we will need to acquire a significant number of Christmas presents for children of various ages (ages 3 to 16).

We have set up this Just Giving page in the hope we can raise sufficient funds to purchase the above items and cover the cost of the journey. However, if you or your organisation are in a position to donate any of the items directly, that would be most welcome. Obviously, direct donation of any of the items on the list above would likely save considerable time and expense.

We intend to take 3 vehicles at present. We have already secured an Iveco Luton van and another commercial vehicle. We are currently in the process of trying to secure a further van (standard or Luton type). If you are in a position to assist us by loaning a van for the trip, please do not hesitate to make contact. Similarly, if you wish to join the appeal as a driver, please do not hesitate to get in touch. The plan is to leave Manchester on Sunday 26 November 2023 and return to Manchester Saturday 2 December 2023.

We will be hugely grateful for all and any donations that you or your organisation may be able to make. If you require further information about the work that the Charity carries out in Chernivtsi, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Many thanks

Children of Chernivtsi (Ukraine) Christmas Appeal

* Source: ChildAid