CANADA-UKRAINE FOUNDATIONCANADA-UKRAINE FOUNDATIONThe people of Ukraine need your help today. #HelpUkraineNow by donating to the Humanitarian Appeal.
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Thank you for your understanding and support.
September 5th to 20th, a team of 30 Canadian medical professionals travelled to Czeladz, Poland to treat Ukraine’s victims of war. Read more
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XXVII Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians took place in Winnipeg, MB, October 28 – 30 of 2022. The three days filled to the brim with compelling plenaries, engaging workshops, interesting keynote speakers, comprehensive reports on the work of member organizations of Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), meaningful discussions and resolutions that set the priorities for UCC for the next three years.
Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF), as one of the UCC member organizations, was represented at the Triennial by its President/CEO, Orest Sklierenko, COO, Major (retired) Oksana Kuzyshyn, Chair of the Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee, Victor Hetmanczuk, and several Directors from across Canada that serve on its Board.
On Friday, October 28th, CUF has presented its report to more than 400 delegates and guests from across Canada, talking about its history, projects prior to the major invasion, and the humanitarian relief work since.
Victor Hetmanczuk discussed in detail the emergency response CUF has provided in Ukraine since February 24th, such as delivery of food boxes, medicine and medical equipment across Ukraine, the re-initiation of Surgical Missions (CUSAP) in Poland, shipment of civil de-mining robots and firefighter equipment to the Ukraine’s Ministry of Emergency Response, and support for mental health programs for children and adults. He has also talked about the winterization projects in Ukraine that are in the works as the harsh winter is looming.
Orest Sklierenko touched on the short, mid and long term goals as the humanitarian aid CUF provides in Ukraine will continue to evolve in response to the changing needs on the ground, and reaffirmed Foundation’s mission of providing help to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine for as long as there is need. You will be able to watch the full presentation next week on our website.
Many distinguished guests were welcomed at the Triennial, including:
Government of Canada reaffirmed their full support for Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion and announced:
This was also the time to recognize and honour the recipients of the Shevchenko Medal, the UCC National Leadership Award and the UCC National Youth Leadership Award.
CUF’s own Victor Hetmanczuk received Shevchenko Medal for Community Development, Oksana Kuzyshyn and Katrusia Smolynec received UCC Leadership Awards – we could not be more proud and express sincere gratitude for their dedication! These awards are the testament to their selfless devotion to our Ukrainian Canadian community!
Following the conclusion of the Triennial Congress, a delegation of the UCC visited the Taras Shevchenko Monument to pay tribute to Ukraine’s Bard.
Background
Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians and directed to Ukraine and to the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada.
April 9, 2022. Thanks to the generosity of individuals, organizations and businesses, the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal is pleased to announce that $30 million in donations have been pledged across Canada. This includes more than 55,000 donations from large corporations, community fundraising events and individual donors.
“With almost $10M in aid delivered and committed, we know that the scale of Russia’s violent war on Ukraine will mean the need to support Ukraine for many months and years,” said Orest Sklierenko, President of the Canada Ukraine Foundation. “The Ukrainian Canadian community will be there to provide support and deliver much-needed aid to help with the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War 2.”
For 27 years the Canada Ukraine Foundation has been working to support humanitarian projects in Ukraine. Many stakeholders and donors have entrusted CUF with their support, and CUF will continue to evaluate the needs on the ground and deliver support when and where it is required, taking care to assess the impact of each provision of aid prior to using the same channel again.
The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has also delivered aid to Ukrainian displaced persons in Romania and Moldova. CUF is working with more than a dozen organizations and projects to help alleviate the worst humanitarian crisis in Europe since WWII.
The following article by Marco Levytsky was published April 7 in New Pathway Ukrainian News https://newpathway.ca/cuf-helps-evacuate-2500-deaf-ukrainians/
Some 2500 deaf Ukrainians have been evacuated to safety thanks to the generosity of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.
Transportation has been by bus, train, and private vehicles, and some of the deaf citizens from eastern Ukraine have been moved to deaf centres and schools in Western Ukraine. Humanitarian aid is also being used for food, water, and life necessities.
CUF funds are also supporting countless others staying in the country, and cover the crucial sign language interpreting services, says Debra Russell, former President of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters and member of the Alberta Stands with Ukraine group.
Sign language interpreters have largely stayed in Ukraine and were volunteering until we were able to support them. The government updates are interpreted, as well interpreting is happening at hospitals, government offices for people to secure papers required to leave, in deaf centres where people go for the latest updates on the war.
CUF rushed the large shipment to Ukraine and directed it for efficient and strategic distribution by the recently-formed Medical Service of the Plast National Scout Organization of Ukraine, which along with its partner organizations quickly determined four metropolitan areas of focus where the Russian attacks on the country had resulted in major humanitarian need.
Dr. Markian Mandziuk, Acting Head of Plast Medical Service, noted, “We have no right to stop, and we will not stop! Plast Medical Service will continue to help the people of Ukraine, for a speedy victory and a better tomorrow for our motherland!”
Ukrainian hospital staffers sent this message about the syringes, for their new Canadian friends: “We are grateful for your help and your caring. These syringes are interesting to use, because we had used simpler ones in our usual work, but we learn quickly and use them to help civilians who now need help.”
After 165 days of war, 6.4 million Ukrainians have moved to Europe, and 6.6 million people have become internally displaced in Ukraine. 5.3 thousand civilians have been killed, of which 358 were children, and 7.3 thousand have been injured. (UNHCR, IOM, OCHA, DATTALION)
This has had a detrimental effect on the mental state of the population. The most common symptoms are chronic stress, anxiety, panic attacks, sleeping problems, insomnia in adults, fear of loud noises, loss of appetite, as well as bedwetting and nightmares for children.
The Ukraine Flash Appeal 2022 has identified a need for Mental Health and Psychosocial support to 3,766,425 persons.
CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been supporting Open Doors – the Centre of Psychological Counselling and Trauma Therapy in Kyiv. The contract will create a network of psychologists, translators and volunteers to deliver individual and group psychological and trauma therapy services. Translation services for volunteers from abroad will be established so they can lead educational seminars on psychological aid, stabilization of children in crisis and teach parents to talk to their children about war and coping strategies.
Dr. Syvak, who manages the Centre, reported that during the first three months of the program (May/June/July), 980 clients have been serviced. They are seeing growth in the number of people turning for help and in the average number of sessions that they attend.
The Centre also runs a stabilization group for psychologists to support providers who work in high stress situations and need a place to process their experience, rebalance and stabilize. The network has served 284 psychologists in three months. There is a waiting list of 255 for August and September.
The third part of the program is to bring Ukrainian clinicians in Ukraine to American standards of education and practice. 100 psychologists have completed the two year program. 126 have started the next cycle. This program will enable another 40 psychologists to start a new two year session. The candidates come from social and volunteer service centres, hospitals and Government establishments.
Thanks to the generous support and commitment of our donors, Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal is able to continue its critical mission of providing aid and assistance to Ukraine – it ranges from immediate humanitarian relief to a long-term support, as in this case, through training of more mental health professionals, specializing in trauma therapy, so that everyone who needs and or seeks mental health support has access to high quality counseling services.
Background
The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance/relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.
Overwhelming $1,878,888 were donated to Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) over the two weeks of Martha Rogers’ generous pledge to match up to $1 million of donations made between August 24th and September 7th!
Thank you to Martha Rogers for the most generous endorsement of CUF and its critical mission!
Thank you to all our donors for the exceptional kindness and generosity!
This is a show of tremendous support of Ukrainians during this dark chapter in their history, and of CUF’s strong track record of providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
The 1,878,888 were assigned by donors as follows:
Martha Rogers’ $1,000,000 matching pledge has been allocated, as originally communicated in the press release, with $500,000 going to “Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal”, $250,000 to “Displaced Ukrainians Appeal”, and $250,000 to “Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program”.
Our heartfelt thank you for the unparalleled good will of all who took the time and made the donation!
Background
The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal is a joint program by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF), with the aim of providing a coordinated approach to humanitarian with emphasis on getting assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance with respect to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.
To date, we received $43M in donations, $22M of which have been dispersed and allocated.
The “Help Displaced Ukrainians” Appeal – is a parallel fund, established by Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal to deploy support to displaced Ukrainian families arriving in Canada.
The Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program, supported by CUF, provides surgical care to war casualties, with care provided by internists, orthopaedic, head and neck, general, vascular, oculoplastic and burn surgeons, in addition to plastic, hand, craniofacial and neurosurgeons and paediatrics.
Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians and directed to Ukraine and to the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada.
To support the continuing work of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation in delivering assistance projects generated by Canadians to Ukraine. Your donation ensures our programs and committees receive the funding they need to provide life-changing aid to Ukraine, especially during these troubled times.
Charity Registration number: 898992151RR0001