Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine

The Ukrainian Association of WA is a member of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, and our mandate is to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine. As such all proceeds from today’s concert will be donated to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, which is a collaboration between Caritas Ukraine, Rotary Australia World Community Services (RAWCS), and AFUO.

Currently Rotary Kyiv, is repurposing public buildings. Buildings which can be repurposed are unused schools (as remote learning is in place and will continue until after the war), kindergartens, sanitoriums and halls which are already equipped with key infrastructure such as dining and sitting areas, children’s play areas, first aid rooms, wet rooms, generators, and even bunkers as they require minimal internal modification. Five of the 10 planned 200-500 bed shelters are now fully operational housing 2500 IDPs. Our goal is to provide 30 such shelters across Ukraine. Each dormitory costs approximately $160,000 which includes all bedding, furnishing, white goods, kitchen fit outs etc. We are purchasing all items in Ukraine unless this is not feasible. This supports the Ukrainian economy and provides employment in manufacturing. And the displaced who live in these dormitories will also receive food, clothing, medicines, and hygiene items.

In the case of particularly vulnerable and traumatized women and children, specialized assistance will come through Caritas Ukraine’s sheltered area “New Safe Home” project. Residents are not only displaced families with children who left their homes because they had been damaged or attacked in the war but also displaced mothers with children who have lost their spouses due to the war, mothers with children who survived severe traumatic events during the war and need intensive psychological support as well as women with children with disabilities who need specialized conditions and care. This involves complex relief services such as providing appropriate domestic settings, leisure facilities for children, restoring the learning process, specialist assistance and counselling to assist residents to overcome the war and personal life trauma, regain confidence, independence, and life skills. In such cases, only one family unit will be accommodated per room. Socialisation will be encouraged by assisting with employment and children attending the local school. Self-sufficiency will be encouraged through community gardens etc. The cost of such a building repurpose, fit out and 12-month program is $175,000

I urge you all to think of making a donation however small or large it may be as you are leaving today - maybe – just maybe we could raise enough money to repurpose one such building from this appeal !!