Report on LifeNets Vinohradiv Project 2013 by Oleh Kubik

July 18, 2013

Every time I leave Vinohradive, Ukraine, I ask myself, “How could it get any better?” Every year the program seems to improve in ways I do not foresee or imagine. It continues to grow on different levels.

June 5, 2013

This is the third year that I am going over to Ukraine to work in the orphanage in Vinogradive.. What started as teaching basic English quickly shifted to running a Youth Camp patterned after the many summer camps of the Churches of God that I have been involved with for nearly 20 years. The days are busy from sunrise to sunset with activities, arts and crafts, sports, Christian living principles, swimming and meals.

Oleh KubikOleh Kubik

The patterns established by Dr. Kermit Nelson are now being incorporated in dozens if not hundreds of camps throughout the world. The spirit of SEP/Orr lives on!. The youth love the American staff and the staff truly enjoy the Ukrainian orphans. It is surprising to see the communication that takes place without a common language. My Ukrainian has fully returned to me. It was my first language and it was spoken at home until my teenage years. This camp/orphanage would not be possible without the support of so many from across the world. These kids have nothing. From the paints to new soccer balls, to great meals. When we leave I hear expressions of gratitude that I have not heard in this country. They are deep and eartfelt. They appreciate the interest concern and friendship from our staff. It is a thrill to light the darkness and expand boundaries of the Kingdom!.

Dates of camp this year are from June 24 to July 6. We have a nice mix in our staff. I will be doing all much of the translating. The others know NO Ukrainian which is actually a plus. They have no choice but to communicate in English.

Surprising what kind of barriers are crossed when people take an interest in one another. We have several high schoolnewcomers that I’m sure are pretty nervous but they will do well as soon as they start building relationships. I tell people they will not be the same after this trip. They will see people that are not tarnished by our course Western society.

They have a spirit of gratitude and appreciation that I have not seen in our country. They will meet Ukrainians that have struggled with a long miserable history. Yet they  happy and pleasant to be with. They will meet Romas and intermix with them. Youth show respect elders the we did in America in the fifties. We teach English but our kids learn more from them than they do from us.

In two weeks only so much can be done. After several years we are seeing a cumulative effort on increased English skills.    

When our staff come back, the sleep for a week out of exhaustion. Its great!

Oleh Kubik

Before I go any further, I want to thank all that have made this project possible. Starting with those that have provided financial support such as the Scharpen Foundation, the Rock Valley Christian Church to those that have volunteered their personal time and energy to teach English and work with at-risk children at an orphanage.

Without the money and sacrifice of so many, this camp would not function.I have rarely seen such a combination of talents that has pieced together such a wonderful program. From finances to teachers to physical grounds to staff. I have been involved with camps in various capacities since nine years old and this one is truly unique.

This project has been ongoing for several years now. I want to thank those that built a foundation in English instruction in previous years. This year we have seen a geometric growth in language skills and a desire to master the language like never before. With access to internet, the youth at Vinohradiv have expanded their horizons to see there is a larger world than their small Zakarpatia area. Opportunities for them are extremely limited and they realize they need more than Ukrainian language to be able to get decent educations, careers and to be able to travel outside of Ukraine. They want more out of life than tending a garden with Baba and working at poverty level pay for the rest of their lives. There is a desire to live a life greater than the previous generation. Many Ukrainian youth are just picking up and leaving Ukraine. The early death rate of men is 65. Ukrainian men do not do well when they cannot support their families. In ten years the population of Ukraine has decreased from 55 million to 45 million. People are just saying goodbye to parents, family, villages and looking for opportunity elsewhere by both legal and illegal emigration..

When we arrived this year, we found the orphans at Vinohradive much more receptive to learning English. They were more alert and aware of what was going on around them. Three years ago they never asked a question. This year it was “How do you say this and how do you say that?” They are eager to converse with Americans. They pump us with questions about everything about lives-our family life, our marriages, our homes, schools, how much we earn, sports, our dogs the cars we drive, on and on and on. At this point I cannot give enough praise to the staff members that went over with us. All I ask is they get involved and build bridges with the youth. Our teaching is very relational. Once friendships are established, the orphans are not afraid to go into any aspect of life in discussion. My Ukrainian has greatly improved over the last three years. It is my original language and have been reading, writing and thinking in Ukrainian to improve my skills.

I become the chief translator with dozens of mini conversations, classroom settings and translating during church services. At the end of a 12 hour day my brain is fried. There is a lot of mental energy expended during translation as my brain shifts from one lobe to another. I go to bed numb every night but satisfied and happy. .

One of the greatest compliments was given. They said, “ This year, they learned more English in two weeks than they did in a full year of high school!” English is a difficult language. You can study it and memorize it, conjugate it. You can try and get the plural and the singular straight. You can wrestle with the tenses. There comes a time when you take off the water wings and swim. By immersing the students in the language, they learn not to fear mistakes. They begin to think in the language and they take off in their communication skills. They want to learn and carry their own dictionary to improve their skills.

I asked the group, “ Could this be done in a less expense manner by having Europeans or Ukrainians teach this class?” They response was “No! No! No!.. We want Americans to teach us! They are energetic, positive and happy” When playing volley ball. if you miss the ball you say “Nice try”. If Ukrainian miss the ball, we say “Get out of here and we yell at them.” They watch everything we say and do, They mimic us in every way.

The orphanage has quite a reputation. Local officals contacted the Polichko’s and asked if he could double the size of he summer camp to 100 kids. Sadly we had to turn them down. We did not have staff or finances or food to handle that amount of people. When asked why they were chosen, the officials responded, “Because you teach spiritual values. You pray. Have Bible classes. :You teach about God. Even though we don’t agree with your theology, you’re kids are happy, and well behaved. Other camps the kids can be hooligans running around. The Polichko’s take in at risk kids and still manage to keep order in difficult circumstanses. The mayor approached me and said. “These kids lives are hanging by a thread. Some of the kids, their parents have been murdered or died in accidents. Unless someone helps, their lives will simply become meaningless and purposeless. Any help, concern, attention or instruction you show them is greatly appreciated. We thank-you and Ukraine thanks you!!” Our instructions to our staff is to let the kids know they are not alone and there are those that care. I have not seen gratitude our own country as I have seen it in Ukraine.

Each day we start with and hour and half lesson. Then the rest of the day it looks likes we are playing. When we eat, swim tour, play volleyball, do arts and crats, its English, English, English. Either by saying it or singing it. We never let a moment go by where we don’t teach a word of phrase.

We had sent out a questionnaire, asking for reaction to the program. The answers were I will change the names of those that responded because of personal and private information.

One student wrote: “All summer I sit at home or work in the garden with Baba. We do not have a car and it nice to be able to go to the Tissa to swim. I have never been to the river until I came to the camp. The first time I went swimming was when I was 12 years old. I have done things that I would never be able to do”.

Another wrote. “ More and more we see those getting jobs have a knowledge of the English language. This is a smaller and smaller world. Those that know English can work with Internet and get better jobs.

Another wrote,” I like the food—I don’t have to eat alone at home. I see my friends here. We play games in Enlish.We like the Americans. They have a lot of energy.” Another student wrote,” I am so thankful. I tell others of things we do here, They cannot believe we do so much in two weeks. Thanks to all that support this camp and allow you to fly over here.”

Another wrote,” All my life I have lived in Vinahradive. We have always just driven past the old castles and forts. This is the first time that I have visited those old monumnts.

I want to finish with a letter from Diana, our prize student. This is exactly how she wrote:

"Hello friends from America! My name is Diana, I want to say that I am so thank you that you helping kids from Ukraine and me also. I am thank God that I can to spending two weeks in camp with kids and wonderful people from America. Because many kids haven’t this possibility. We are everyday eating good food, driving to different places and study English. I think that I learn more in two weeks in the camp than all my year in regular school. I am thank God for all of you in America and everybody on misia. “LifeNets God Bless You""

Personally I want to thank all those that have contributed their Time and Treasure to this program. You’re sacrifice has made a big difference in the lives of over 50 kids. I have been privileged to see up front and first hand the remarkarble growth in these children’s lives. Thanks and as Diana says, “ God Bless You!!”

Dyat’ko Oleh ( My Unofficial Title from the kids) Uncle Oleh