Canadian ambassador commends work of Help Us Help the Children

KYIV - The ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, Derek R. T. Fraser, on April 14 visited the warehouse where humanitarian goods for distribution to Ukrainian orphanages is being organized by the Ukrainian Charitable Fund Priyateli Ditei and Help Us Help the Children, a project of the Children of Chornobyl Canadian Fund.

During April and May volunteers from "Pryiateli Ditei" and Help Us Help The Children are visiting 150 orphanages throughout Ukraine. They will distribute medicine, toys, over 6,000 pairs of boots and shoes, and other materials that help improve the quality of life for 25,000 Ukrainian children, and aid in their overall development. The materials will be delivered on six routes, covering over 16,000 kilometres in all 25 oblasts. The total value of the humanitarian aid to be distributed is $500,000 Canadian).

"The work of Pryiateli Ditei and Help Us Help the Children over the past several years has been an excellent example of the spirit of cooperation between Canada and Ukraine," said Ambassador Fraser. "These organizations have worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for orphaned children in Ukraine," he added.

Pryiateli Diteo was co-founded by the then National Bank of Ukraine Chairman Victor Yuschenko, who remains a strong supporter. Help Us Help The Children has been working in Ukraine since 1993, and since then has distributed over $9 million (Canadian) in humanitarian aid to over 30,000 Ukrainian orphans. As well, Pryiateli Ditei and Help Us Help the Children have organized summer camps, train-the-trainer programs and orphanage directors' conferences, and administer a sponsorships/scholarships program for orphaned children. Help Us Help the Children consists of a dedicated core of activists, primarily volunteers, who have committed significant time and energy toward achieving the mission of the organization.

Help Us Help the Children relies on donations from governmental, commercial, religious and private donations for its work. In particular, the contributions of the government of Canada, the foundation Dopomoha Ukraini, Ukrainian churches, Coca-Cola, womens' organizations in Canada, and Ukrainian and foreign banks are acknowledged by the organization. Help Us Help the Children also works closely with the International Women's Club of Kyiv and the International Renaissance Foundation.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 4, 2000, No. 23, Vol. LXVIII

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