March 29, 2016
Ukraine
Archdiocese Caritas of Olomouc workers are currently in Ukraine. The journey through cities and villages are on the programme during which they will visit individual charities, children’s homes and areas of social entrepreneurships such as the Kolomyia farm.
Wednesday, 30th March – Olomouc
It’s 6 a.m. and we have a long journey ahead of us. The first stop is Ternopil, Ukraine. In the afternoon, we pass the Ukrainian border.
Thursday, 31st March – Ternopil
The workers of the Archdiocese Caritas of Olomouc – director Václav Keprt, head of the humanitarian department Martin Zamazal and humanitarian aid coordinator Rostislav Strojvus – arrive at the place.
Visit of Ternopil’s cathedral
We start with a visit of Ternopil’s dome. There are small doors leading to the cathedral. Once the doors close, a huge decorated area opens to us. Through the dome’s body we are accompanied by Father Orest.
Today’s Ternopil Conference
The monastery area of redemptorist Fathers became the conference room on the same day. There were Greek Catholic priests with metropol archbishop in lead, sitting on chairs and benches. They listened to a speech by Václav Keprt, who introduced the functioning of Archdiocese Caritas of Olomouc network. The meeting culminated with questions of some priests. They were interested in developing better cooperation and communication with potential donors. Although, some of the priests provide the ones in need with their charities, they are not provided with any donations from their government. ‘You should inform your government or the head of towns that you are doing their job,’ stressed the director of ACHO.
The metropol archbishop gave his blessing to the anti-alcohol sanitarium
On Thursday March 31, the spirits of patients and staff of Ternopil’s sanitarium were uplifted by the festive event. The local areas were given a blessing by the Greek catholic metropol archbishop Vasijl’ Semenjuk. In the dark corridors one could hear prayers and singing. The blessing was ended by a spiritual folk song about Ukraine. Everyone felt chills down their spine because there was a hope in the song.
There are more and more patients suffering from alcoholism coming to the Ternopil’s sanitarium. Most of the patients returned from war and suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder which causes the alcohol addiction. ‘They experienced the war with their own eyes, they were ordered to shoot someone, additionally they were worried for their own lives the whole time and this is something that is hard to go by,’ explained one of the doctors.
The sanitarium was built in the early 1970s. One of the doctors who has been helping the Ternopil’s patients actually laid some of the very first bricks of the building.
In the sanitarium, men stay in rooms by two. A row of these small, very humbly equipped rooms are built along a dark corridor. Opposite of these rooms are another row of rooms. Improvements to these old rooms were made only in the past year. ‘The Charity of Archdiocese of Olomouc town transported old but well-kept beds to Ternopil last year in autumn. This has motivated us to further improvements to other rooms for patients,’ said Father Orest who led the Charity along with Ternopil’s cathedral. The beds for Ternopil were provided by the hospital of Uherský Brod.
Today’s festive event introduced the problem to public as well. According to the sanitarium staff, a Ukrainian entrepreneur called with an offer to donate beds in a good condition.
From Caritas Ternopil
A microbus took us to Caritas Ternopil the same day. There are also children from families with crisis coming to Caritas. They cook and create in the new kitchen; one of the highlights is their performance of folk dancing and singing and performance the birth of Jesus Christ. They also take part in other interesting activities of Caritas.
There is also a new dental office in the Caritas building. Many of the poor families or even refugees from the eastern part of the country cannot afford a dentist. However, they can have their examinations or treatments free of charge here.
Caritas Ternopil saves a remarkable amount of money each year thanks to a new boiler which was purchased by the Charity of Archdiocese of Olomouc town.
Friday, 1st April – Chmelnyckyj
It’s April but we are quickly driving farther and farther away… Destination: Chmelnyckyj. A city in which Caritas along with the local Greek catholic church help people in need.
Social taxi – a journey from apartment after 9 years
The Chmelnyckyj inhabitants run for example Social Taxi. Since March 1, it has been transporting from Caritas and has already helped at least 100 disabled people in wheelchairs. ‘Most of our clients turned to us with a request to help them. Some of them have been locked in their flats for unbelievably nine years, and have not got outside. This has changed now. Apart from the fact that we drive them according to their needs, organize small journeys, trips or drive them to concerts. We also help people regarding to individual matters such as driving them to pool, the doctor. According to our research, it would be helpful to have at least five such taxis in our city,’ claims the Greek Catholic priest Ivan Dankevyč who leads Caritas Chmelnyckyj. There are about 300 other people lying in the prosthetic centre, and the number will increase. ‘They come home injured from the war from the eastern part of the country. The country is full of barriers, though, therefore they come back to the complete different reality.’
Furthermore, the Caritas Chmelnyckyj workers work with children and youth. They introduce them to various professions which they can give a try which creates a huge motivation for them in the upcoming years. One of the highlights is the photo contest during which children gain confidence and can present their work at exhibitions that are being shown in the other parts of Ukraine. ‘The children take photos in the problematic areas and they also carry out interviews with local inhabitants. Thanks to the photographed scenes and records, the problems are introduced to the public,’ explains one of the charity workers. These activities are included in the project Mobile Work with Youth.
There are other projects of Caritas Chmelnyckyj, such as a Christian school and Humanitarian aid – dresser and meals. For example, the dresser is located in the building which is next to the church. There are two refugees from the east of Ukraine working for the dresser. Charity donates the clothes not only to the locals in need, but also to those who escaped from the war, from the eastern part of the country. Many other charities call them having their packages of clothes for the needy ready. ‘We have such a huge turnover we do not manage to fulfil the requests,’ adds the director of the charity, Mr. Dankevyč.
According to him, the store with compensatory helping tools for the disabled to rent should start running in the newly built building as well. The disabled do not have much, such as walking aids. Even the therapy room, a room for mothers and their children and the office area will be built-in in the building.
Another project that is bound to be successful is the candle-making room. Since 2015, there have been 250 kilograms of candles created in the room. Some of the candles are coloured. The Chmelnyckyj encountered a problem though - it is difficult to reach colours of high quality. Along with the Olomouc charity workers, they have been trying to figure out how to enable the import of colours from the Czech Republic. The wax products of Caritas Chmelnyckyj are sold in the whole area of dean´s office. Caritas Chmelnyckyj prepares to produce decorative candles.
Mr. Petro has been working about a half of year in the candle room. He earns a bit more to add to his very low pension. It is not easy to live on only 1800 Ukrainian hryvnia (the currency rate is 1:1). ‘I worked for Caritas for ten years but then after the surgery, I had to stay home. Not a long time ago, I asked them if they have something for me. Therefore I am very grateful for the work in the candle room,’ says the man.
Fulfil wishes or equip to the school
Another chapter of the current activities of Caritas Chmelnyckyj are the one-time activities. For example, the Letter to St. Nicholas when children fill in a form with their wishes and those wishes are sent to their sponsors who attempt to fulfil their wishes. Last year, at least 1,000 children were delighted by the presents they received. Some children are from the Chmelnyckyj sanitarium. On Mondays, their parents accompany them there – some of them don’t know how to take care of themselves, for example their addiction to alcohol, and they are picked up by their parents on Fridays if the procedure is successful. Another successful activity is the School bag when 150 children from very poor families are provided with the school equipment.
Saturday, April 2nd – Kyiv
While travelling, we transfer from the bumpy roads to the smooth, newly-built highway. It is lined with the electricity poles that surprisingly serve as homes for storks’ nests. On the afternoon of Saturday April 2nd, we arrive in Kyiv and the same day we head to the centre of the Ukraine metropol. Right to Maidan by the subway. Two years ago, there were many people protesting against corruption and the Soviet-like governance of Ukraine. However, the Revolution of Dignity was halted by shootings, which resulted in many deaths. The photos of those being shot, flowers, Ukrainian flags, humble shields or protection helmets from work used by people to protect themselves and the holes from bullets in poles and tree trunks. We pass all of this on our way from Maidan to the ministry, parliament and government buildings.
The marks after the tragedy are evident even from the second side of buildings leading to the football stadium. Symbolic silhouettes on the ground in front of the main entrance of stadium or the photographs, flowers, paintings drawn on paper and sprayed on the wall a bit farther away. As if two years have not passed..
Karolína Opatřilová, ACHO
