September 12, 2016
Ukraine
For 17 years, he volunteered enthusiastically in Transcarpathia. Evžen Adámek, the director of the Caritas Znojmo, came back from a humanitarian mission in the east of Ukraine at the turn of August and September. How was the journey, what does he like about Ukraine, and why does he think that Ukraine is often ignored?
How did your help in Ukraine started?
We started in 1999, when one of the Slovak nuns has called us. She had been helping poor children in Transcarpathia, she had wanted them to have a job after they finished their studies or came of age. She had read about us in a magazine and wanted us to help them build a ''candle room'' which we have in Znojmo. We have extended our activity with the ''Child sponsorship project'', establishing a half-way house and providing funding for operations for seriously ill children from poor families.
What has kept you there helping, both in the past and in the present?
My motivation is still the same - helping people who need it. I saw Ukraine as a beautiful country where the people are honest and unspoiled, and keep their traditions, especially in the country. For example, people there have their own small farms, like we have had in our country before. They are self-sufficient and don't want the support of state. People live in a village in more humble way. It helps me to come back to traditions which I remember from my childhood spent with my grandmother in the village. Today, I feel that people are always busy even though they have a lot of tools to save the time. They just waste time with all these tools.
What was the goal of your last mission? It was the first one in the east part of Ukraine, correct?
The last mission was really specific. Together with Archdiocesan Caritas Olomouc we provided funding, largely from the national collection of Caritas Czech Republic to the eastern part of Ukraine.
There is still a great need for support because of the conflicts. In Transcarpathia, we have cooperated with Caritas Zolochiv for a long time - it's approximately 60 km from the town of Lviv. Caritas Zolochiv is led by father Mychaylo, a military chaplain who has worked in the east of the country. He acquanited us with Caritas Kramatorsk which helped people who had to leave their homes. We had an opportunity to see their work and I think they do it very well. For example, to ensure the most effective help to people, from donations they repaired the most essential parts of destroyed houses, so there was at least one room with windows, a roof, and heating. People were at least partially prepared to wait out the winter. I found it to be a very reasonable system because it's not possible to restore everything at once. Our financial contribution will be used for these repairs and first aid, including food for people fleeing from dangerous territories. Covering the cost of health care will be the third priority.
Just to get an idea, can you tell me a story of people who will be helped?
I remember an old woman who lived in a village Myrne near Mariupol. She had been sleeping in a summer kitchen after the rest of her house had been attacked by ''katusha'' at night. She was grateful to Caritas which helped there. A part of rubble had already been cleared by them. Gradually, they will help her to repair a ruined part of the house because she cannot manage it. Together with Caritas Kramatorsk, we had an opportnity to visit a buffer zone near the border of the artificially created Donetsk People's Republic. We saw there for example, a recenty repaired school, but its window had been damaged by shooting again. It's a very tense situation there, the local people don't know when and from where the shooting will appear. The whole buffer zone is split among the local charities very well. Caritas Kramatorsk is in charge of the north part, Caritas Zaporizhia is in charge of the middle part and Caritas Mariupol is responsible for the southern part supported by our colleagues from Olomouc.
You don’t hear much about Ukraine in the news, what's the reason for this in your opinion?
For sure it was faded out by another events that occurred during the last year and this year, such as terrorist attacks and a huge refugee wave. And if I say it harshly, in Ukraine there is nothing new that would be interesting for the media although this country is still at war, people are dying every day. We were out of danger because of the contact with the local people who knew it well there. But we heard a shooting from a distance. It's a pity that nobody talks about that because it shouldn't be forgotten. I think that Ukraine is worthy of our help.
If you had to say what Ukraine needs most, what would it be?
Ukraine definitely needs to be rid of corruption. It deformes and drowns in problems over and over again. If they could change it by the magic wand, they wouldn't need any help because they would be absolutely self-sufficient. It's a rich country, people are hardworking and capable there. If the ''East'' and the ''West'' left them, they would be self-sufficient. I am worried that it's already embedded among the young generation and it will be hard to get rid of it. Many people still smuggle something or trade illegally to earn their living. Starting in September, an anticorruption law began to apply and people hope it will finally end. I would believe it too but I don't think it's so easy.
How can you be sure that the local charities which you're supporting would not succumb to corruption?
We have helped the local Charities many years and no funds were misused. We have a very transparent, quality system developed by us. We don't give money to someone without verifying and knowing that they have a concrete way to help. Also, we don't start our help without recommendations, so donors don’t have to worry about their money.
That said, I would like to continue to help not only in the eastern part of Ukraine but also in the west of the country. A lot of funds from Germany or Austria are invested in the eastern part of the country but according to the consul of the Czech Republic for the western Ukraine, this part of the country is often ignored.
Diana Tuyet Lan Kosinová
Photo: Richard Bouda
