Caritas Ukraine
Caritas Ukraine is a humanitarian aid - developmental N.G.O. agency of the
Ukrainian Greek Catholic and Roman Church in Ukraine.
The National Office of Caritas Ukraine is located in Lviv. There are
twelve diocesan or regional Caritas Centers in Ukraine that organize
charitable works in their respective areas.
Caritas was established in Ukraine in 1991. We are still a very young
organization. In order to train Caritas workers and volunteers Caritas
Ukraine in conjunction with its partner Caritas agencies in the West have
held training seminars on various topics relating to working with the poor.
Recently Caritas Australia sponsored a seminar conducted by Caritas India in
Ukraine for Caritas Ukraine employees to begin to organize developmental
programs in Ukraine based on the animation philosophy which has been so
successful in India and Bangladesh. Some of the programs that our Caritas
organizations are involved in include soup kitchens for the poor.
Alcoholism and drug addiction is a great problem in Ukraine. We have two
centers in Ukraine, which are sponsored by Caritas to help people who have
had their lives robbed by this disease. Caritas Ukraine is also involved in
the development of a special twelve part television program on the disease of
alcoholism, which will be aired on National Television and copies of the
video cassettes made available to our Caritas organizations, schools, medical
institutions and other organizations.
The Chernobyl Nuclear disaster has caused the increase of cancer in
children. This requires specialized and often costly care. Thanks to the
generosity of many western benefactors hospitals and clinics specializing in
medical care for victims of the Chernobyl now are established in Ukraine.
This is devastating situation will be part of Ukraine for decades to come.
Caritas Ukraine with the assistance of Secours Catholique, Caritas Austria
and Caritas Germany has been providing summer youth camps both in Ukraine and
abroad for children who have been affected by the radiation fall-out from the
nuclear accident and other related man-made catastrophes in Ukraine.
Caritas Ukraine is participating in a special programs for providing
vaccines and medicines to Ukraine in partnership with the American Catholic
Medical Mission Board. These vaccines and medicines are urgently required in
Ukraine. Catholic Relief Services, Caritas in the USA has assisted Caritas
Ukraine in prioritizing our goals and in working toward unity in our work
with the poor.
Often the physically and mentally challenged are among the ones most
forgotten in a totalitarian society which discounts the value of the weaker
members of society. Programs and care and educational facilities for the
physically and mentally handicapped in the former Soviet Union did not begin
to answer the needs of this element of society. Several years ago a group of
people from the west and from Ukraine came together with a vision to build
something new in Ukrainian society which would offer help to families who had
previously shut their physically or mentally challenged children into closed
rooms ashamed of them and with out help from the government or society. This
organization, known as Nadia or Faith develop the "Dzerhalow" or Spring
association. They are a partner organization of Caritas Ukraine. Here the
children are provided an warm and kind environment to learn in and to play in
and to receive physical and speech therapy. Family members are encouraged to
participate in the support group called "Faith and Light" which cuts through
all religious and ethnic boundaries.
Animation projects like this one are essential to change in society. They
assist individuals in personal growth and also change society through
non-violent educational and developmental means. Caritas Australia is
assisting Caritas Ukraine in the further development of programs based on the
philosophy of animation. While it is recognized that strictly welfare
oriented programs will still be part of the overall programming of Caritas
Ukraine programs dedicated to societal development will become a priority.
Although outside influences, including ongoing events associated with the
collapse of the Soviet Empire, will inevitably play an important role in the
country's future, the ultimate fate of Ukraine lies in the determination,
hard work and perseverance of its people.
Your prayers, support and encouragement for the work of Caritas Ukraine will
be greatly welcomed. For further information on ways of helping please
contact Caritas Ukraine.
Contact information:
Email: ken@ugkc.lviv.ua
Fax: 380322 720007,
Mailing address:
Caritas Ukraine
Pl. Sv. Jura 5
290000 Lviv, Ukraine