Category: Community/Education

Categories
News Community/Education Humanitarian/Medical Projects

OVER 1,000 FAMILIES IN UKRAINE ARE SUSTAINED WITH GLUTEN-FREE FOOD FOR A YEAR

The World Health Organization estimates that 1-2% of people worldwide have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder resulting from a permanent intolerance to gluten. In Ukraine, according to experts, at least 300 thousand suffer from this disease.

“People can have gluten intolerance and may not know about it for years, and at the same time be treated for diseases caused by gluten intolerance.” explains Dr. Olga Naumova, an allergist, President of the Ukrainian Celiac Society.

Fifteen years ago, Dr. Naumova united families with children suffering from celiac disease and founded the Ukrainian Celiac Society. For the past decade, Dr. Naumova and volunteers have been conducting educational campaigns, explaining the dire consequences of this disease such as diabetes and infertility.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, there was a new, developing market focused on manufacturing of gluten-free foods. Eleven family-run Ukrainian companies produced licensed gluten-free products – four of them are currently under Russia’s temporary occupation and three ceased to exist. Families in need of gluten-free foods, have been facing both a sharp reduction in availability and significant price increase.

A grant from the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) – a joint effort of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, to the Ukrainian Celiac Society is providing around 1,000 specialized food boxes a month for families with children suffering from gluten intolerance over a period of 12 months.

Thanks to the support of our Donors, with this grant we are helping families with children suffering from Celiac disease and support local manufacturers of licensed gluten-free foods.

“For parents of children with celiac disease, it is important not only to receive a specialty food box but also be able to source locally these foods in the future. The grant from UHA helps these families sustain their children’s health and the health of small niche businesses,” emphasized Dr. Olga Naumenko.

Thank you to all who continuously enable a variety of humanitarian aid to Ukraine through the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal – do donate, please follow the link www.cufoundation.ca.

Background

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) was launched in January of 2022 by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) to coordinate the provision of humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to civilians impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including relief for displaced persons in Europe and Canada.

To date, we have delivered over $70 million in food, medicine, emergency shelter, mental health support, surgical aid, firefighter gear, individual first aid kits, ambulances, generators, and many more types of aid, including in-kind donations.

Please click here to read further about our humanitarian relief efforts since the full-scale invasion on February 24th, 2022.

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and implement aid projects created by Canadians and directed to Ukraine.

Categories
News Community/Education Holodomor National Awareness Tour

Study of Holodomor genocide in Ukraine to be included in Grade 10 Canadian history course

Today, November 28th, Minister Lecce announced that the Ontario government mandated the study of the 1932-33 Holodomor – a man-made famine orchestrated by the Soviet regime in Ukraine 90 years ago, to be included in Grade 10 Canadian history course beginning in September of 2025.

This is a momentous news for the Ukrainian Canadian community that lobbied tirelessly to make this brutal campaign of Joseph Stalin against Ukrainian identity and existence that claimed millions of lives, known. Canada was the first country in the world that in 2008 recognized Holodomor as genocide of Ukrainians, and now, including Holodomor in the curriculum will ensure our youth learns about adverse consequences of extreme political ideologies like those of totalitarian communist regime, in the classroom.

“The rise of extremism, including Communism and Marxism, are direct threats to our democracy, social cohesion and values as Canadians,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. “I am determined to strengthen education on our shared values, including by mandating learning about the horrors of state-sponsored persecution of Ukrainians in the Holodomor in Grade 10 Canadian History. This learning will help ensure students are never bystanders in the face of such horrors, understand the danger of totalitarianism and help safeguard fundamental Canadian values of freedom and democracy over communist extremism.”

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is also deeply grateful to the Government of Ontario for reinforcing this learning by investing $400,000 to support the Holodomor National Awareness Tour and the Holodomor Mobile Classroom (HMC) that will enable the HMC to travel to schools across the province and engage students in grades 6 to 12 through the experiential learning directly linked to the Ontario curriculum.

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation developed Holodomor National Awareness Tour in 2014 to foster education and bring awareness of the Holodomor to Canadians. To date, the Holodomor Mobile Classroom engaged over 70,000 people across Canada and had visited more than 500 schools.

The Holodomor Mobile Classroom (HMC). Image by: Tetiana Dodonova

The Holodomor Mobile Classroom is a unique learning environment that uses cutting-edge technology to fully immerse and assist students in learning about the Holodomor in a digital classroom on wheels.

The fusion of technologies and interactive content that was developed for this program, defines an entirely new way to conduct lessons allowing both the facilitator and students to actively engage with each other.

This year, the Holodomor Mobile Classroom traveled Eastern and Western Canada, and just last week, was in Ottawa to mark the 90th anniversary of Holodomor on the Parliament Hill. 

Image by: Tetiana Dodonova

We are very grateful to the Donors who made the travels of the Holodomor Mobile Classroom possible over the years and look forward to many more thanks to the support of the Government of Ontario!

Today’s announcement ensures that students will learn about the unknown chapter in Ukrainian history, and that they will continue to embrace and value democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law that Canada holds in the highest regard.

Background

To learn more about the Holodomor National Awareness Tour (HNAT): https://holodomortour.ca/

Categories
News Community/Education

Canada-Ukraine Foundation and Shevchenko Foundation congratulate the recipients of the CUF Bursary Fund for Displaced Post-Secondary Ukrainian Students

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Shevchenko Foundation (TSF) announced a new bursary on June 1 to provide financial assistance for displaced Ukrainians enrolled in Canadian post-secondary learning institutions.

The overwhelming response resulted in the disbursement of 61 bursaries totalling $302,500. The students are from 21 cities in Ukraine and will be studying at 30 different educational institutions across Canada.

“The Shevchenko Foundation has demonstrated leadership in scholarships and bursaries for students for decades – once again, they have demonstrated they were the ideal partner to receive these funds from CUF and administer this program,” said Orest Sklierenko, President and CEO of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. “CUF was happy to fully support this initiative for displaced Ukrainian students in Canada.”

“The overwhelming response to the funding program demonstrated a need that, in partnership with CUF, we were able to address. We’re grateful to CUF for partnering with TSF on this invaluable initiative,” stated TSF President Boris Balan. “We congratulate the bursary recipients and wish them well on their educational journey.”

This type of programming is possible thanks to the continued and generous support of our many donors. To learn about the many initiatives of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, please go to our website.

Background

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is a national charitable foundation established in 1995 at the 18th Ukrainian Canadian Congress to coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects by Canadians directed to Ukraine and other organizations in Canada.

The Shevchenko Foundation is a leading nationwide charitable organization entrusted to preserve, develop, and promote Ukrainian Canadian arts, heritage, community, and education.

Categories
News Community/Education

Canada-Ukraine Foundation partners with Shevchenko Foundation to launch post-secondary support for displaced Ukrainian students

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Shevchenko Foundation (TSF) today announced a new bursary for displaced Ukrainian students pursuing post secondary studies in Canada.

The CUF Bursary Fund for Displaced Post-Secondary Ukrainian Students will provide financial assistance to displaced Ukrainians enrolled in Canadian post-secondary learning institutions.

An initial $300,000 contribution by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to the CUF Bursary Fund will allow for 60 successful applicants to be awarded $5,000 each toward their post-secondary costs.

“We’re pleased that CUF has chosen TSF as a trusted partner with which to establish this invaluable bursary,” stated Boris Balan, Shevchenko Foundation President. “We have introduced a series of special grants to assist the Ukrainian community in welcoming and supporting newcomers to Canada since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This bursary will support a critical need among Ukrainian students who must now realize their educational aspirations in a new country.”

Many post-secondary students have arrived to Canada from Ukraine since February 24, 2022, on the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) visa, one of the special measures the Government of Canada has introduced to support the people of Ukraine. It offers Ukrainians and their family members extended temporary status and allows them to work, study and stay in Canada until it is safe for them to return home.

“The Shevchenko Foundation has demonstrated leadership in scholarships and bursaries for students  for decades – they’re an ideal partner to make this happen and do it right,” said Orest Sklierenko, President and CEO of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. “We are constantly evolving our humanitarian work to support Ukrainians suffering and displaced by Russia’s barbaric war. This is just the latest initiative, and we look forward to more innovative ways to help Ukrainians in their time of need.”

“We believe that an investment in our young people will not only benefit the student but serve the betterment of both Canada and Ukraine,” added Bohdan Kolos, Chair of the Education Committee of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.

Background

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is a national charitable foundation established in 1995 at the 18th Ukrainian Canadian Congress to coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects by Canadians directed to Ukraine and other organizations in Canada.

The Shevchenko Foundation is a leading nationwide charitable organization entrusted to preserve, develop, and promote Ukrainian Canadian arts, heritage, community, and education.

Information on the bursary: CUF Bursary for Displaced Post-Secondary Ukrainian Students

Categories
News Aid for Artists Community/Education

Shumka Raises over $60,000
for Canada-Ukraine Foundation Aid For Artists

EDMONTON – Ukrainian Shumka Dancers are proud to announce over $60,000 will be donated to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation Aid for Artists raised through various events, fundraising initiatives, and Shumka on Tour. 

Since the war on Ukraine began almost one year ago, preserving and advancing Ukrainian culture is important now, more than ever. In response, throughout 2022 Shumka led several fundraising initiatives to raise funds for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation Aid for Artists.

Fundraising initiatives included opportunities for audience members to donate during Shumka School of Dance concerts; the donation of concession and bar proceeds from April’s Shumka on Tour performance in Edmonton, in partnership with the Alberta Jubilee Auditoria Society; a special screening of Dancing on Eggshells in partnership with Metro Cinema; proceeds from Shumka Emerge at Camrose’s Lougheed Centre; and over $36,000 from Shumka on Tour through audience donations, the sale of special merchandise and a limited-edition “Shumka Blonde” label with Sea Change Brewing. 

The designated Aid for Artists fund of the Canada Ukraine Foundation provides an outlet for the community at large to support the arts and artists of Ukraine who keep the country forward-facing, courageous and united. “Art is the soul of our people; our strength and identity. Preserving and advancing Ukrainian culture is now more important than ever,” noted Shumka Executive Director and Aid for Artists Committee Chair, Darka Tarnawsky.

The CUF Aid for Artists of Ukraine Committee aims to work with Ukrainian visual and performing artists, arts institutions, NGOs, and various levels of government culture ministries to build capability and capacity within the Ukrainian arts community in Ukraine. Through CUF-supported and sponsored programs and projects, the arts will be promoted by enabling artists, arts workers, arts organizations, arts institutions and artist advocates to improve the preservation, promotion and development of Ukrainian arts in the communities they serve. The current focus of the Committee is on raising funds and determining criteria for dissemination of such.

Shumka encourages Canadians to continue to donate and support in this time of need. For more information about the Canada-Ukraine Foundation visit cufoundation.ca. For more information about Shumka, Aid for Ukraine, and upcoming projects, visit Shumka.com. 

Categories
News Civil Society Community/Education Humanitarian/Medical

Six Months of #Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Today marks six months since the launch of Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal on January 27th

This CUF-UCC joint project was established almost a month before russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, which enabled a swift delivery of humanitarian aid – both in Ukraine and to Ukrainians who have sought refuge in bordering countries and in Canada.

Thanks to your generosity, in the past six months the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal:

  • Delivered food boxes to 130,000 families in 21 Oblasts
  • Purchased 3 months of medicines for 100,000 people
  • Sent the first shipment of 140MT of buckwheat seed to Ukraine for planting this year
  • Delivered 160 pallets of hospital equipment / medical supplies throughout Ukraine, including 7 pallets of IFAK’s
  • Completed two evacuation flights for children with brain cancer to Sick Kids Toronto
  • Arranged for training psychologists in Ukraine to treat the mental health of 5000 patients
  • Set up funding for 2000 displaced children in Ukrainian-operated summer camps in Canada
  • Delivered 8000 food boxes in Moldova and 3000 food boxes in Romania to displaced persons’ families
  • Committed/distributed $15.5 million of donations

See our website for all press-releases to date.

Due to the severity of russia’s invasion, our work is only beginning. The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal continues to lead and support many projects in parallel to ensure essential assistance and aid is delivered to where it is needed most.

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.

Categories
Civil Society Community/Education Humanitarian/Medical News

Ukrainian Canadian summer camp support program for displaced Ukrainian children across Canada

TORONTO/OTTAWA – The UCC–CUF Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal announced today the launch of the Ukrainian Canadian summer camp support program for displaced Ukrainian children to attend summer camps in Canada organized by Ukrainian Canadian organizations during the summer of 2022.

The Ukrainian Canadian summer camp support program will cover the cost for children who attend a summer camp in Canada, up to $350 per child per week for up to 2 weeks. “The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal summer camp program will provide an opportunity for Ukrainian children – displaced from their homes because of Russia’s genocidal war against Ukraine – to adjust to life in Canada, to meet new friends, and to share the joys and life experiences that no children should ever be deprived of,” stated Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. “We are very grateful to the many generous donors from coast to coast in Canada, who continue to support the Humanitarian Appeal’s efforts in delivering humanitarian relief to the Ukrainian people.”

To confirm qualifications and discuss the process and reporting guidelines, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation encourages qualifying organizations to reach out to the Foundation through your local Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) director (see our website) or by filling out our apply for funding form on our website. 

“Children have been among the biggest victims of Russia’s war of aggression This is one small way we can help child refugees deal with the trauma of being uprooted from their lives – offering access to recreational programs with other Ukrainian children,” said Orest Sklierenko, President and CEO of the Canada Ukraine Foundation. “We look forward to working with our partners and making this program a success.”

CUF also encourages parents of children planning to attend summer camps to contact the organizers running the program and inquire about this support.

A complete list of participating organizations and links to their websites will be posted on the CUF website in the coming days.

Your donation is needed to help support this important community project!

Donations in support of humanitarian relief can be made through:

www.cufoundation.ca

Email: [email protected]

Background

In January 2022 the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation launched the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal – a joint effort to provide humanitarian relief to displaced persons in medical care, emergency shelter and food security. Today, Russia’s increased attacks on Ukraine have resulted in 15M affected people, including 6M who have left Ukraine, the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II. Thousands of displaced Ukrainians, primarily mothers and children, have made their way to Canada.

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal received around $40M in donations from all corners of Canada, including funds from provinces, family foundations, corporations, organizations, churches, large and small businesses, and tens of thousands of individual donors across the country. The funds deployed to date have been used to provide emergency humanitarian relief in emergency food, hygiene, and medical supplies for the millions of affected families in and around Ukraine.

Some donors have also approached the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal and offered their generous donations to support displaced Ukrainians in Canada.

As a result of the increasing volume of these requests across Canada, the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has launched a parallel Fund to track and deploy support to displaced Ukrainian families in Canada.

All donors giving to CUF can decide whether to donate to emergency humanitarian support in and around Ukraine, or to support displaced Ukrainians in Canada, by visiting the CUF website or mailing their donation to CUF’s office.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress brings together all the national, provincial, and local Ukrainian Canadian organizations under one umbrella.

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation was formed in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize, and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians and directed to Ukraine. For almost three decades, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation has helped coordinate and provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine as it strives to strengthen its democracy through economic prosperity and freedom.

Donations in support of humanitarian relief and displaced Ukrainians can be made through: cufoundation.ca For further information: [email protected]

Categories
Community/Education News

Op-Ed Article Published in The Winnipeg Free Press

An Op-Ed article about Russia’s elite, written by CUF national executive member Bohdan Romaniuk, was recently published in the Winnipeg Free Press. The article can be viewed here.

Categories
Uncategorized Community/Education Humanitarian/Medical News

News from Dzherelo Children’s Rehabilitation Centre

Dzherelo Children’s Rehabilitation Centre in Lviv, Ukraine has been operating differently since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, yet it continues to meet the children’s needs and many new challenges.

Much is happening: in-person services and programs are undertaken with safety protocols in place, as well as online support and instruction/education for parents, children, and youth. A home visits program for Early Intervention services was initiated. As a result, two more Dzherelo community branches opened for children and youth, and two more outreach branches are being planned. Professional development for staff was undertaken, where video interaction supervisors were trained and certified. In addition, Dzherelo Centre continues to share its knowledge and experience with teams from other cities in Ukraine, such as Vinnytsia. Dzherelo was recently recognized for its innovations and is partnering with UNESCO to expand their unique communication program through different parts of the country. Dzherelo is in the final stages of a significant structural renovations project that included the modernization of systems in the original Dzherelo building, which were showing signs of deterioration.


One cannot overstate the importance of all the valuable support Dzherelo has received from Canada since its inception in 1993, including the four tireless co-founders, consultants for organizational development, as well as architectural and construction consultants. Canadian Armed Forces continue to volunteer and provide financial support. And volunteers from Friends of Dzherelo in Toronto provide awareness and fundraising. For all this Dzherelo is truly grateful!


This past September, these same volunteer Friends of Dzherelo raised funds through their “Mira’s Treasures Pop-Up Sale” event. They brought over two hundred participants to the Plast Huculak Centre in Toronto to donate and buy various pre-loved personal objects, clothing, books, and jewelry.

The Director of Dzherelo Centre, Zoreslava Liulchak, writes:
“In order to keep Dzherelo a valuable and unique organization, there is a great need for us to share our commitment to improve the quality of life for all our chil-dren. Dzherelo thanks you and all their many supporters for their help.”


The Directors and supporters of Dzherelo Centre are dreaming BIG; they wish to expand their unique network of services in Ukraine. Two more satellite branches are planned (no.7 & no.8) in Lviv, plus a first-in-Ukraine “Supported Living Residence” for young people and assistants. They wish to spread expertise on alternative and supportive methods of communication for children with disabilities to other parts of Ukraine.

 

Categories
Uncategorized Community/Education News

“Stependiat” Sponsorship of Higher Education for Orphanage Students in Ukraine

“Stependiat” sponsorship program is mounted by the charitable foundation “Pryyateli Ditey” in Kyiv under the direction of Maryna Krysa.


The goal of this project is to provide orphans graduating from an Internat (high school) the opportunity to receive a higher education from post-secondary institutions.


A Director of an orphanage tries to find placement for his students either in a local technical school or college with courses such as electricity, plumbing, masonry, culinary skills, hairdressing, massage, or transportation. He aims higher for his more promising students who are capable of tackling accounting, taxes, engineering, economics, medicine. National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy has created a “catch-up” year for such students since they’ve had a lesser quality education in an orphanage, after which they can then enter first year.


Through the Stependiat program a Director works with Maryna Krysa to facilitate the often traumatic move out into the world from the cocoon-like safety of an orphanage. Therefore, seminars are held by Pryyateli Ditey for groups of about 20 new students each summer, where they meet and learn survival skills from teachers and psychologists covering topics such as safety, medical care, finances, nutrition, etc. Arrangements are made for their housing.


Sponsors are needed for their living expenses. The cost is U.S. $600. per student per year. Most courses are 3 years, except for graduate or medical school. From this money the students receive monthly stipends for textbooks, school supplies, winter clothing, medical visits, and food. They must bring into the office the item they bought (eg. boots) and show the receipt. Guiding them to handle money wisely is a large part of their education.


Over the 20 years of this program, graduates have been successful in finding work in their field, in the government, and even in prestigious spots like the Bill Clinton Foundation. They are very grateful. From a rocky start in life, we can help these children to find success in adulthood.

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is very honoured to support the Stependiat program and administer donations from Canadian donors.