NEWS AND VIEWS: Organization formed to assist disabled orphans in Ukraine (11/17/02)

NEWS AND VIEWS

Organization formed to assist disabled orphans in Ukraine

by Lillian Horodysky

The Disabled and Vulnerable Orphans of Ukraine (DVOU) has been established to address the significant challenges at-risk orphans in Ukraine face. DVOU is dedicated to identifying and resolving critical issues and emerging areas of need in the lives of disabled and special needs orphans suffering from HIV/AIDS, cerebral palsy, Downs syndrome, tuberculosis and other diseases by offering specialized programs in humanitarian aid, health care, advocacy, education and training.

To raise awareness about their campaign to meet the needs of Ukraine's disabled and vulnerable orphans, the DVOU has partnered with Cyber-NY, a New York web design agency, to launch its website at www.dvou.org.

I saw first hand the alarming condition of orphanages in Ukraine. There were rooms after rooms full of children, lying in their beds, just staring up at the ceiling. All that could be heard was the rustling of their covers, if they moved. It seemed as though the thoughts in my own head were louder than a disabled orphan's barely audible sigh.

The conditions of most Ukrainian orphanages are deeply disturbuing. Most orphanages for children with special needs are located in remote areas of Ukraine. Less than 25 percent of the governmentally allocated budget reaches these orphanages, and orphans' chances of survival are dramatically reduced even further because of substandard medical care and child care, and little or no education.

Much can be done to improve the quality of care disabled orphans in Ukraine desperately need by focusing on delivering individualized care. The DVOU will work to replace institutional orphanage care with family-based care, by supporting mothers at risk of abandoning their children, reuniting children with families, assisting in developing the foster care system and maintaining small family-style children's homes.

In addition, DVOU will partner with donors, non-governmental organizations, foundations, corporations and federal agencies to build public awareness, provide medical support, organize developmental and education programs, engage in advocacy and develop specialized humanitarian projects to help special-needs orphans in Ukraine.

For more information about DVOU's efforts or to find out how you can help, log on to www.dvou.org or write to 1245 Rhawn St., Philadelphia, PA 19111.

Lillian (Lilia) Horodysky, founder and executive director of Disabled and Vulnerable Orphans of Ukraine, was born and reared in Detroit and now lives in Philadelphia. She lived in Kyiv in 1994-1999, working as an account director for the multinational clients of Grey Advertising. Currently she is internaional operations and marketing manager with VerticalNet, charged with setting up new operations and implementing marketing campaigns in Europe, Africa and Asia. She is a member of Ukrainian National Women's League of America Branch 128 and The Washington Group.

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