The HelpUsHelpTheCildren (“Pryyateli Ditey”) project was initiated in Canada in 1993, through the financial support of the Children of Chornobyl Canadian Fund. As more and more Ukrainians became involved in this worthy effort, the Ukrainian organization “Pryjateli Ditej” (HUHTC) was officially registered in 1996. In 1997, the U.S. partner organization of HUHTC, the “Ukrainian Children’s Aid and Relief Effort” (UCARE, Inc.) was established. Together, these three organizations have made a tremendous difference to thousands of orphans throughout Ukraine.

Help Us Help The Children’s current programs in Ukraine include:

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Over the past ten years, "Pryjateli Ditej" has delivered assistance donated by Ukrainians, Canadians, and US firms and organizations to 50, 000 children in over 220 orphanages throughout Ukraine. Volunteers from all three countries supplied orphanages with much-needed antibiotics, medical supplies, vitamins, hygienic products, books, school supplies, clothes, shoes, toys and food. In addition, the volunteers, who include doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, have consulted orphanage staff on how to use the donated medicines and have assessed the needs of each orphanage.

SUMMER CAMPS

For the past seven years, “Pryjateli Ditej” has organized educational summer camps for teenage orphans and handicapped children in the Carpathian Mountains with themes such as “Children Helping Children”, “Our Fate is in our Hands”, and “Kozaks of the 21st Century”. The camp program focuses on developing life skills, social awareness, independence and self-respect. It also provides educational and career counseling. The 2005 summer camp involved more than 500 teenagers from 37 orphanages throughout Ukraine.

WINTER CAMP

At the start of the 2005 year, "Pryjateli Ditej" held its first educational winter camp in the Carpathian Mountains. The 50 most well behaved children-orphans from several orphanages across Ukraine will be invited to take part in this momentous event. The camp’s theme, “Christmas in Ukraine”, will aim to unveil Ukrainian Christmas customs and traditions, as well as to teach national folklore and history.

ASSOCIATION OF ORPHANAGE DIRECTORS AND STAFF

In 1997, "Pryjateli Ditej" organized the first national conference for the directors of Ukrainian orphanages to encourage the creation of an Association of Orphanage Directors, and in 1998-2000 financed annual seminars, where the coordinating committee wrote the by-laws of the organization and a work plans. The goal of the Association is to improve the living standards of orphans through the reform of children’s institutions and the social rehabilitation and adaptation of children. "Pryjateli Ditej"'s role is to help directors raise awareness in the Ukrainian government and society of the problems faced by children’s institutions, and the acute need to effectively resolve those problems.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Two "Pryjateli Ditej" programs – "Pre-University Entrance Assistance" and "Scholarships" are aimed at helping orphans receive a higher education at post-secondary institutions in Ukraine. There are currently 131 students participating in the program, who receive monthly scholarships, medical care, clothes, shoes and food.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED ORPHANS

The goal of this program is to provide medical assistance to orphans with birth defect or other physical handicaps. In 2002, the project provided medical consultations, surgery and prostheses in leading Kyiv medical institutions to 13 orphans from the Tsyurupinsk Children's Home. The project has identified hundreds of children who need medical treatments, but the success of this program depends on financial support from donors.