In early October 2008, UCARE organized and executed a humanitarian aide route to Ukrainian orphanages. This route took us through Volyn oblast, to seven internaty (orphanages) and facilities for children. The internaty house and teach true and social orphans and children with disabilities. Our weeklong route allowed us to meet with directors, teachers, and children at all of the internaty.

Planning this route is a yearlong task, beginning with a fact-finding trip by a UCARE volunteer in the summer of 2008. Dr. Luba Petrusha visited with directors and their assistants, toured the internaty and inquired about their needs, wants and dreams. Based on this information, UCARE volunteers formulated a plan to fundraise and realize the route.

In October, Peggy Lynch and Nadia Haywas arrived in Kyiv to complete purchases and embark on the route. To best meet the needs of the children and help provide for some of the general needs of the internaty, some items were brought from the United States, but the majority of purchases were made in Kyiv and Volyn. All of the internaty received new underwear for all the children, toiletry items (toothpaste, soap, lice shampoo, personal hygiene products) maps and books for classrooms, educational toys, and sports equipment. Additionally, the children received coloring books, crayons, and chocolate, gifts that make a child's life in an internat bearable.

Since each internat had shared its needs with us, we met with the directors and took each one shopping for the items they needed most. The internat in Lypljany received 5-gallon water vessels to provide clean drinking water in the dormitory building. Senkevychivka received a water heater for the boys' shower. Krupa, and internat for visually impaired and blind children, received enlarging equipment to provide the children access to reading material, relief maps, and other such specialized equipment. Rozysche internat requested and received an industrial sewing machine, and biotoilets for dormitories housing children with motor disabilities and cerebral palsy, eliminating the need for the children to use outdoor facilities at night. Ivanyche and Holovno internaty received woodshop tools to provide vocational training for their students.

The children at each internat greeted us and were eager to learn about us. They helped us unload the vans, and proudly showed us their rooms, their projects, and did not want to see us leave.

Routes like this are made possible only by donations from our sponsors. Many of the items UCARE delivers directly are consumable; underwear gets grown out of, clothes wear thin, toiletries get used up, sports equipment must be renewed, crayons get used, coloring books filled in. These items need to be replenished often. Larger donated items benefit the whole internat, improve the lives of children living there, and provide educational and vocational opportunities.

Our route in Volyn just touched upon the needs of these children.

Renovating or installing new bathrooms to provide hygienic living conditions, updating sewing and woodworking workshops to train and give this youth a chance, setting up internet access and computer labs to broaden their horizons...There is much we would like to do, and need your continued support to do so. UCARE helps with needs and wants, but only through generous sponsor support can we help these children realize their dreams. Lypljany children dream of dormitories with indoor bathrooms and running water. Senkevychivka internat hopes to expand their sports program, get internat access, and renovate a dormitory. Krupa internat for blind and visually impaired children hopes for a small bus to take children on mobility training trips. Rozysche internat would be thrilled with indoor plumbing in the dormitories.

To make a donation or sponsor a route, please click here.

For more information regard the Route please contact:
Nadia Haywas, Child Internat Aid Lead
internat@ucareinc.org