Ukraine war ​having “appalling ​impact on ​children”

The Under-Secretary General’s recent report to the UN Security Council provides a stark reminder of the continued suffering inflicted on the people of Ukraine.

The situation is dire, particularly for children who are facing displacement, trauma and challenges to their mental health.

The two-year anniversary of the escalation of the war marks a significant milestone.

The recent intensified attacks have seen more schools and health-care facilities damaged or destroyed and civilians lives lost.

This underscores the prolonged challenges and the need for our ongoing efforts supporting our Rotarian friends in Ukraine who continue to work tirelessly to meet the needs in their communities.

The Rotary GB&I Ukraine Team is highlighting some recent projects helping children supported by Rotary members in GB&I.

FRIENDSHIP BOXES

In May 2023, the Rotary GB&I Ukraine Crisis Taskforce sent out a notice appealing to Rotarians to send in ‘friendship boxes’.

The aim was to fill these boxes with things that would interest and stimulate the children of Ukraine in their house or shelter, enabling them to give their mind a break from the conflict.

Boxes could contain things such as coloured pencils, crayons, books for colouring, puzzles and reading books as well as good wishes cards.

Thanks to the commitment of Rotary clubs across Great Britain & Ireland, over 400 friendship boxes were received by children in Ukraine, some in the most heavily impacted areas of the conflict.

A specific story that has come back to us from Ukraine on the impact of the friendship boxes is from Buzova village near Kyiv.

The local school was heavily damaged by 14 shells and rockets in March 2022 and Rotary is helping the rebuild whilst the children temporarily study in the village Kindergarten.

Rotary members arrived in the village and delivered the friendship boxes to the smiles of 35 children. The project was warmly welcomed by everyone there, including the children, teachers, parents, guardians and local Rotarians.

See information sheet to get involved or to donate for this ongoing project.

SAINT NICHOLAS PROJECT

With the help of Felixtowe Rotary Club, Rotary was able to bring some Christmas joy the children of Ukraine with a series of Saint Nicholas Day parties.

Rotary organised 27 parties with ‘Saint Nicholas’ in places such as schools and hospitals.

The team of Rotarians running this project, Dirk Lustig, Yulia Pavichenko and Vitalii Lesko, covered over 4,500km in 10 days, traveling to 9 regions of Ukraine that have been devastated by the recent conflict.

Many of the children at these parties were orphans or refugees, some with special needs, so it was especially heartwarming to see them singing, dancing and laughing along with ‘Saint Nicholas’, outstandingly portrayed by Dirk Lustig!

HELPING BABIES

Newbury Rotarians packed 12,000 knitted baby hats and knitwear for Ukraine ​and Moldova to help protect them from the bitterly cold winter weather. Many ​thanks to generous knitters and well-wishers!

Rotarians across these islands facilitated the production and delivery of 3,000 ​specially designed ‘Kangaroo Mother Care’ wraps from Moldova to hospitals in ​Ukraine. This evidence based WHO supported project encourages skin-skin ​contact helping vulnerable babies thrive in the early weeks of their lives.

GREETINGS CARDS

This can be a simple yet impactful way to extend a hand of friendship between children and young people in GB&I and Ukraine through sending greeting cards.

See this information sheet for details.

The Rotary GB&I Ukraine Theme Opportunity Team members:

• Jannine Birtwistle (Lead): rotaryjannine@icloud.com
  
• Cheryle Berry and Allan Smith (Rotary GB&I)
  
• Sergii Zavadsky, Borys Bodnar and Yulia Pavichenko (Ukraine Rotary District ​Coordinating Team)