Disabled & Vulnerable Orphans of Ukraine Successfully Completes First Humanitarian Project

Partnership with local Ukrainian charity organization helps support special needs orphanage

Philadelphia, PA USA (February 2003) The Disabled & Vulnerable Orphans of Ukraine (DVOU) recently announced the successful completion of its first humanitarian project to support severely mentally disabled orphans in Torez, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on January 20th, 2003. DVOU was able to execute its first task to help Torez's orphanage through a partnership with the Ukrainian charity organization Dobrota in Donetsk city. The DVOU-Dobrota relationship was formed to assist the Donetsk region's orphanages for special needs children through humanitarian aid, medical relief, and children's rights advocacy.

Dobrota effectively assisted in project management, which included orphanage assessment, cost accounting, plus monitoring and control of the distribution of goods. DVOU contributed $837 to the Torez orphanage, and more than $300 were donated by Dobrota, totaling over $1,100. Various items purchased with DVOU funds included food, medicines, clothing (diapers & hats) and miscellaneous items such as towels, lamps, switches, basins and plug sockets. Monetary contributions were used to locally purchase needed supplies for the Torez orphans, instead of buying and shipping items from the United States. “In addition to supporting the special needs orphans in Ukraine with donations, we feel that purchasing goods near the orphanage assists in stimulating the local economy as well", said Lillian Horodysky, DVOU's Executive Director.    

Greg Higgins, an American Peace Corp volunteer working at Dobrota, was present at the contract signing between Dobrota and the orphanage; ensuring the accuracy of the amount of purchased goods and its distribution. Furthermore, Mr. Higgins assisted with supplies packaging at the warehouse in Donetsk, where the materials were organized and stored just before the delivery.            

Dobrota is a charity organization in Donetsk, Ukraine whose mission is to combat poverty through charitable social partnerships in the Donetsk community, as a means for solving the most urgent social problems in the area. The foundation financially supports and aids local educational, health care, and social protection institutions in addition to public organizations for the sick, disabled, multi-children families, needy families and individuals. For more information on Dobrota and their activities, please visit their website at www.dobrota.donetsk.ua and click on Donetsk city charitable fund "Kindness" for the English version.            

DVOU is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization located in Philadelphia, PA USA aimed at identifying and resolving critical issues and emerging areas of need in the lives of special needs orphans suffering from HIV/AIDS, Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, tuberculosis and other diseases. Services offered include humanitarian aid, health care, advocacy, education and training. DVOU can be found online at www.dvoua.org or call 1.215.884.9212 for more information. Contributions are tax deductible.