Report on LifeNets Vinohradiv Project 2014 by Oleh Kubik
Report on Orphanage in Vinohradive Ukraine.
July 28, 2014
May 28, 2014 For the sixth time in seven years LifeNets sponsors a two week program to teach English and provide support for a day camp at the Light of Love Mission in Ukraine. LifeNets has been supporting the work of Vasyl and Irina Polichko since 2001. Four US volunteers, Oleh Kubik, group leader, Colin Kubik, Michala Lockwood, and Cody Martin will travel on this very fulfilling mission. Here's some background. From Oleh Kubik, group leader: We are again gearing up for our Annual Ukraine Summer Camp. I call it that because the Mission has changed and adapted to what is being accomplished.
We still teach English but have expanded our efforts and goals to make use of the limited time that we are there. Camp will begin on June 28th and close on July 11. For two weeks our daily schedule runs like this. Breakfast at 9:00. Songs and hymns at 10:00. We sing in both English and Ukrainians. The children’s voices blend so nicely. We then have a basic English class. This year we will focus on the life and times Jesus. We will read a parable or event of Christ’s life . We will translate it into Ukrainian or Russian and then review vocabulary. Then review the English. We then have arts and crafts. Everything we do revolves around learning, speaking , reading in English. Kids say they learn more in two weeks than a year of English in their schools. We go over with 3 college students to serve. What we find is they learn from us and we learn from them. We exchange and compare cultures. We learn of similarities and differences. Sometimes there is laughter and sometimes there is serious discussion as we play and discuss life and Jesus. Every thing is in English as we cobble together conversation from lists, I pods, signing, and hand waving. It’s a joy and a challenge. It is a pretty filled AM. In the afternoon we head for the river to swim or go to the mountains to explore ancient castles. Ukraine is a surprisingly ancient land with forts and castles going back to feudal times. One of the most interesting is an old destroyed monastery that was destroyed by the Mongol horde in 1242! We go to serve and teach. We also find they serve and teach us. It is a remarkable exchange. Students that go there find they learn a lot and their lives are enriched. Each day we come home exhausted but happy. It is an experience of a lifetime! Oleh Kubik Project report |
This is my 4th year that I have directed the English Education Sessions in Ukraine. Each session has its own character because staff changes and the orphans grow up and some graduate and move on. Summer camps and orphanages are very tightly regulated in Ukraine. Ukrainians like others in the world love their kids and want to see a nice camp for a short period of time for their kids where they can forget their problems at home. The government closely monitors safety, food and accident reports. Several of the government employees commented how they wish that their kids could attend this camp. It really is a happy place. They orphans are a grateful bunch and appreciate any attention that you give them. They are orphans so they don’t always have boundaries in their behavior and things they say. But they are respectful and are quick to say they are sorry when corrected.
This year there was a tension that was not there before. With the war in Eastern Ukraine, refugees have started showing up in Western Ukraine. They bring with them horror stories of the fighting and with that comes and instability. Foreign countries anticipating trouble have clandestinely allowed Ukrainian citizens to obtain dual passports. In case of boarder changes, they are getting ready to absorb new citizens. Some of these boarders have been issues of contentions for the last 800 years!. Nothing changes. Inflation is roaring. The dollar is worth 12 hryvny (Ancient Viking term for Crowns). That means the average state pension of 1200 hrivny is worth $100.00 ! Try that in America. Ukrainians love their gardens. It is survival for them. They have no food budgets. Everything comes out of their gardens
The war has defiantly brought a pall over the whole country. There is an aura of uncertenty. And fear in the peoples voices. It is apparent in the orphans when they talk quietly among themselves.
This year we have had our usual hard luck cases. One widow had approached us and asked if we could take her three kids. The father had died of cancer at 38 and left five kids behind. The two older ones would go to work with the Mom and the three younger ones need a camp to to stay busy. Because of the your generousity we are able to hire cabs to go to the city to pick up these kids. Thanks to all of you that contribute! You do not know how good it feels to be able to help in some of these cases. We are able to help out with dental, nutritional, clothing and educational and medical assistance. We are able to place help directly into peoples hands with no overhead costs. Thanks again. We gave one family a $100 dollar bill to cover medical expenses and she did not even say thanks.She just broke out in tears.
There is a lot of structure to the camp. Lots of lesson time.(2-3 hours a day) with afternoon devoted to activities. I have learned somethings else about these kids. They love to draw!! They do amazing work sketching landscapes and still lifes. I am in awe of their talents. They also are amazingly creative with clay and pipe cleaners.
Every year I come back and say “It is my last year. It is just too exhausting for and old man” As soon as I get back I start planning for the next year. It is addicting doing this type of work.
Until next time...
-- Oleh Kubik
|
|
