Dear Donors, we are happy to share that from April through June, our charitable activities amounted to UAH 1762488,29 (USD 42671,55). The continuing war affects the most vulnerable. We receive many messages from struggling families asking for bare essentials and food as they cannot ensure the next meals for their children.
‘I have tears in my eyes because this is a great help for me. Now, my daughter will have food and goodies for several months. Thank you hundreds of times,’ these are the words from our beneficiary Olga. Single mum Olga and her children had to relocate to a safer area of Ukraine. The mum of two reached out to our organisation in despair. Olga is struggling to feed her children as there are no work opportunities where they live now and no support from the children’s father. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, BKC provided Olga with some clothes and food for her family.
We also provided baby formula and food packages to families with small children in the Kharkiv region, which has long been intensely attacked, including attacks on civilian objects, and receiving basic humanitarian aid is essential for their survival.
Earlier this year, we purchased renovation materials to fix the floor at an orphanage with more than 100 severely disabled children, many of whom are bedridden or wheelchair users. The orphanage’s floor was in poor condition, having not been renovated in 50 years since it was built. This made it difficult or even impossible for those who use wheelchairs to move without help. The old flooring also caused bad smells and posed hygiene issues that may have had adverse health effects on the children. The new flooring will ensure easy and comfortable movement for children relying on wheelchairs, and we cannot thank our donors enough for making it happen.
BKC purchased an interactive whiteboard, school desks, and other furniture to equip classrooms in another specialised educational institution in Zhytomyr Oblast. Seventy-two children with physical and intellectual disabilities, aged 7 to 17, reside and study there. We also provided sports shoes and luggage for six girls from the same institution to help them prepare for an upcoming basketball tournament. It is a rare and special event during these difficult times, and the teenagers are excited and looking forward to it. As the orphanage administration had no budget to equip their students for the contest and asked for our help, it feels priceless to support these girls who, despite their young age, have had a very tough life, on their special occasion.
We also paid for the treatments of five children with disabilities and purchased two surgical suction pumps, as well as glucose test strips for Kyiv City Children Clinical Hospital #1.
Another BKC initiative helps mothers of disabled and vulnerable children earn an income to feed their families. The mums we support work flexible hours, combining work with caring for the children. They sew, bake, offer art classes, make handicrafts, and provide manicure and hairdressing services to earn a little something for their children. With no other support or opportunities, their small venture is often the only chance to earn something; without it, the family would face starvation. One of the mothers we supported is Tetiana from Kharkiv, one of the hardest-hit cities in East Ukraine. As the war started, Tetiana and her family were forced to seek refuge in a safer area in Ukraine as the attacks on the city intensified. Before the war, Tetiana had her venture providing manicure services, but upon leaving Kharkiv, she had to abandon everything, including her business. Starting a new life in a new place, with little to no work opportunities, savings, or support, is extremely tough, and often, our beneficiaries – primarily single mothers – have no place to go and feel desperate because they can’t feed their children. BKC provided Tetiana with nail tech tools and equipment to enable her to start working in the new place. ‘I am very grateful for the help, for giving me wings to fly and faith to not give up no matter how hard it is. I wish you many years of prosperity, development, strength, and success,’ said Tetiana. Since the beginning of the year, we have had the privilege of supporting eight incredible women, each of whom has shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. Their stories underscore the vital importance of our work and the need for continued support to help more mothers in similar situations.
We also would like to share an update on our project providing psychological support and informal educational opportunities in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions. Attacks in the East are increasing, which is saddening and concerning. Children living in East Ukraine, close to the border, equally deserve to have a childhood. They deserve to have a supportive environment where they can be heard and seen, where they can run and play —without a care in the world. With the constant attacks, the enemy forces are robbing our children of everything. Still, we remain hopeful that the situation stabilises and that our little beneficiaries won’t be exposed to daily air sirens and the threats of war.
The children we help are raised in poverty and deprivation amidst the ongoing war, with an overwhelming sense of despair and hopelessness. Your kindness and attention to their cause mean the world to them. It makes them feel seen and valued because every life matters. Your help counts.
