Category: News

News

2023 in review – thank you for your support!

Post date December 25, 2023

As we look back on 2023, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all who showed their unwavering support of our vital work! Thank you for your time organizing fundraisers, thank you for the generous pledges and donations in kind, thank you for keeping Ukraine and Ukrainians at the forefront, as the world kept turning – your donations made all the difference in over a million lives – thank you for being the Light!

This year, our primary focus remained on humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine though the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal – our joint effort with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), launched in January of 2022. To date, we have dispersed $50 million in food, medicine, medical equipment, surgical aid, mental health support, ambulances, generators and gear for the first responders, as well as launched new long-term projects such as demining and rehabilitation of war victims.

We expanded that effort with the humanitarian assistance to Displaced Ukrainians who found their temporary refuge here in Canada through the multitude of projects across the country. $1.2 million distributed to help with food security, shelter, newcomer orientation, language (ESL, FSL) and psycho-social support.

Additionally, for a second year in the row, we sponsored two weeks of summer camp for almost 1,500 displaced children from Ukraine at 38 locations across Canada and provided 61 CUF bursaries to displaced post-secondary Ukrainian students, in partnership with the Shevchenko Foundation.

CUF-UCC UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL

Aid to Ukraine since February 2022: $50 million

Food and Hygiene kits
Ambulances, Medical Equipment, Medicines
Surgical Missions – CUSAP
Evacuation of Cancer Patients to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto
Mental Health Support
Rehabilitation and Prosthesis
Shelter for Women and Children
First Responders Gear, Rescue Boats, Demining Robots
Generators, Stoves, Beds and Bedding

Winterization Projects: December 2023 – April 2024

Medicine to 38 hospitals along the front line
30,000 Food Boxes for 75,000 people
2,400 Beds, Mattresses, Bedding to internally displaced persons
3,000 Wood-Burning Stoves to families living in remote areas
6,000 Thermal Blankets
& Christmas gifts to over 1,000 children

Long-term projects:

Surgical Missions – CUSAP
Rehabilitation of war victims
Mental Health Support Programs for Adults & Children
First Aid Training for civilians and paramedics
Demining: Education and Technical Aspects

Our work would not be possible without our many trusted partners and the unwavering support of our donors – thank you!

Russia’s brutal war on Ukraine is devastating – amidst the loss and pain, we stand with our brothers and sisters. Please help us continue our vital work and donate at www.cufoundation.ca

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

Post date November 28, 2023

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 90^th anniversary of Holodomor on the Parliament Hill.

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/

Tags Announcement by Lecce, Holodomor

News

UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL SUPPORTS UKRAINE’S DEMINING EFFORTS

Post date November 15, 2023

In addition to the perils of all too frequent Russian air strikes, Ukrainians in many parts of the country also have to beware of land mines and other unexploded ordnance. According to the UN, since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, over 300 civilian deaths and 700 injuries in Ukraine are attributed to accidents relating to such explosive devices. Also, extensive mining by the Russian armed forces in the fertile farmland of central Ukraine is having a substantially adverse impact on agricultural productivity, which impact is felt not only in Ukraine, but throughout the world, in the form of shortages and increased prices for food.

Ukraine is now the most heavily mined country in the world. Demining has been identified as one of the Government of Ukraine’s critical objectives in the short and long term. Estimates for clearing Ukraine of Russian mines and unexploded ordnance run into the of billions of dollars and will take decades to complete.

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) in partnership with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) are doing their part through their joint Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal fund, to help in this effort, with current participation in three humanitarian demining projects.

In a recently signed agreement, CUF will fund the Ukrainian Demining Association (UDA) in the execution of humanitarian demining in three distinct parts:

(1) Non-technical survey — the first important step toward land clearance — where UDA and its affiliate will survey agricultural land in the Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts and report findings to the National Mine Action Authority in Ukraine;

(2) Explosive Ordnance and Risk Education (EORE) will be undertaken in 8 regions of Ukraine to educate the public, and children in particular, on how to identify and avoid mine hazards, which have been strewn throughout large areas of Ukraine. This effort is expected to reach over 18,000 participants. Also, UDA will conduct a digital EORE campaign to reach a broader audience online;

(3) Mine Victim Assistance (MVA) will identify and assist needy victims of mine, missile or explosive ordnance injury through cash payments. Staff experienced in humanitarian assistance will identify and counsel mine victims and provide cash assistance for medical-related expenses.

In August, 2023, through the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, CUF and UCC purchased and arranged for the delivery of three mobile X-ray backscatter imagers to the National Police of Ukraine (NPU). The NPU has been very active in a variety of explosive ordnance disposal and humanitarian demining activities particularly in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. One of its principal responsibilities is to clear public, commercial and residential buildings, abandoned vehicles and infrastructure installations from explosives planted by retreating Russian armed forces. The hand-held mobile backscatter units allow for imaging from one side of an object, such as a door or wall. This allows NPU technicians to scan for explosive devices more quickly, accurately and, importantly, more safely.

In 2022, three demining robots were purchased and delivered to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. These units are used for remote detection and clearance of mines and have been deployed in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions of Ukraine.

Tags demining

News Humanitarian/Medical

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal supports the rehabilitation of war victims.

Post date October 27, 2023

Many injured Ukrainians, both military personnel and civilians, are taken from the frontlines to the Unbroken Centre in Lviv every week to receive specialized medical care, including reconstructive surgery, physical rehabilitation, and prosthetics care. Since February 2022, Russia has maintained their daily violent attacks on Ukraine, leaving thousands with complex injuries, many of which healthcare facilities in the country are under-equipped to treat.

The National Rehabilitation Centre Unbroken, which is already providing orthopedics services, burn care, prosthetics manufacturing and fitting, reconstructive operations, physical therapy, and mental health treatment to children and adults, hopes to increase their scope. With millions of internally displaced Ukrainians—over 11,000 of these requiring prosthetics—there is a lack of adequate health care in the country able to keep up with the demand.

With a generous grant from the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and Ukrainian Canadian Congress’ (UCC) joint project, the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA), the Unbroken Centre will be able to purchase specialized equipment, such as treadmills, treatment tables, and complex rehabilitation systems for their patients. Additionally, the grant will go towards the training of healthcare workers to further their skills in prosthetic care, reconstructive surgery, and rehabilitation. The training will allow 10 medical professionals to travel to the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center in Toronto for 2 weeks, while hundreds of others will be given the opportunity to join online sessions related to their respective fields.

The grant will allow the Unbroken Centre to treat more than 120 people with inpatient rehabilitation, as well as 660 people receiving outpatient care monthly—totaling over 9,000 annually. After experiencing horrific trauma, both physical and mental, thousands of injured Ukrainians will be able to recover near their families within their home country.

Images provided by “Unbroken”

The aid that the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been delivering to Ukraine over the past 19 months is vast and diverse, and is made possible by our steadfast supporters – thank you!

Two fundraisers were held in recent months to support the project “Unbroken”.

On July 15, an event called Art-Edude was held at the Montreal Art Centre to benefit the “Unbroken” Rehabilitation Centre through the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. As a result, $6,200 were donated to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation for this project.

Currently, the City of Winnipeg is holding a fundraiser for Unbroken Centre to mark the 50th anniversary of its sistership with Lviv, Ukraine. To learn more and support, please click here.

We are truly grateful that there are so many caring and generous people across Canada who continually organize events in support of our ongoing projects.

Presentation of funds raised at the Art-Etude event, organized by Eramelinda Boquer, to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation for the “Unbroken” project.

Background

To date, we have delivered over $47 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.

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. Read more about CUF’s history on Wikipedia and donate.

Tags rehabilitation, unbroken

News Humanitarian/Medical

CUSAP 4th Life-Altering Mission in Poland – 27 patients, 32 operations, 105 procedures.

Post date October 12, 2023

“Those suffering have absolutely no one to turn to. Ukraine is at absolute capacity,” says Dr. Antonyshyn, founder and head surgeon of the Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP).

Unfortunately, Ukraine’s overburdened healthcare system cannot alone handle the immense patient needs caused by the war. They need the help of international partners like CUSAP. The complex injuries referred to our group of highly-skilled medical volunteers require a multidisciplinary surgical team and the latest technology in facial implants.

During this 4th mission held in Czeladž, Poland, 52 Ukrainian patients were consulted, and 27 were operated on. During one week, the team performed 32 surgeries, which included 105 procedures: craniofacial, orthopedic and hand / peripheral nerve.

The surgical missions are specifically designed to address craniofacial trauma, soft tissue trauma, upper and lower extremity reconstruction and burn reconstruction.

The heart and soul of these missions is the multidisciplinary team of surgeons, anesthetists, intensivists, nurses, administrative staff, and other specialties, including psychologists and an occupational therapist. This is a well-rounded team of incredibly skilled professionals who continuously volunteer their time and expertise to treat those severely injured in Russia’s unprovoked, genocidal war on Ukraine.

“It is such a privilege to be able to help these people. They deserve all the help we can give”, said Dr. Chris Graham, an orthopedic surgeon.

The hardest part of every mission is the goodbyes when we see patients being repatriated back to Ukraine. Over the course of their treatments, they become friends and family, leaving an impact on the hearts of each member of the team. The heartfelt gratitude of these patients leaves a mark that lasts a lifetime. “We had love. Now, thanks to you, we also have health”, said the wife of one of the patients.

Over the 4 surgical missions held in Poland – September 2022, November 2022, April 2023 and September of 2023:

95 patients operated on
110 surgeries performed
331 procedures
14 microvascular free tissue transfers

We are very grateful to all who continuously support CUSAP’s life-altering surgical missions. We would like to extend a special thanks to the two anonymous donors of $200,000 CAD and $75,000 USD, who supported this latest mission – thank you sincerely on behalf of the 27 patients who now have a chance at a better quality of life!

Our next surgical mission is planned for the early part of 2024. Please consider supporting this vital project of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation by donating at www.cufoundation.ca.

Background

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

Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP) is a humanitarian surgical aid initiative established by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation together with the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in 2013 that provides life-changing care to patients affected by the war in Ukraine. The surgeries have significantly improved the quality of life of Ukrainians who undergo the operations.

Tags CUSAP, Medical Mission Ukraine, Surgical Mission

News Humanitarian/Medical

CUSAP missions restore hope for a better-quality life.

Post date September 28, 2023

It has been nineteen months since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine started in an almost 10-year-long war. Thousands of lives have been lost, and thousands are forever changed by injuries sustained either on the battlefield or while simply waiting for a bus or turning in for the night. During the twenty-first century, in the heart of Europe, this is the reality of millions in Ukraine.

Surviving a mine blast or a missile attack is a blessing, but it is also the beginning of a long and painful journey to recovery. Veterans and civilians with craniofacial, head and neck, and orthopedic injuries who cannot be further helped in Ukraine are referred to the Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP), where a team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists, nurses, and support staff deliver complex, life-altering reconstructive surgeries and pre- and post-surgical care to give patients a chance to return to a normal life.

For a glimpse into the life-altering work of the CUSAP team, we would like to share the story of Pavlo, one of 286 patients helped since the program was established in 2014 by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre under the leadership of CUSAP’s head surgeon, Dr. Oleh Antonyshyn.

About a third of patients return for multiple missions as their injuries are so severe that their recovery is a multi-step process with many procedures performed by the multidisciplinary team of surgeons. Pavlo is one of such repeat patients. He sustained a mine blast injury on August 31, 2022. He was missing the midsection of his face with full exposure of his nasal cavity. Pavlo was referred to CUSAP and became a patient in November 2022, CUSAP’s second mission in Poland.

To date, he has undergone reconstruction of his nasal framework, followed by nasal reconstruction and lip reconstruction and revision. Between missions, he was operated on by Dr. Oleksandr Lompas, a Ukrainian surgeon, who joined several missions and operated alongside Dr. Antonyshyn and the Canadian team. Dr. Lompas managed Pavlo’s case in Ukraine and performed smaller operations to maintain his progress and prepare him for the more significant procedures on the missions.

Please meet Pavlo and see his progress with CUSAP…

Photos by Andrey Syrko

On Tuesday, September 26, Pavlo had another long set of surgical procedures done by the CUSAP multidisciplinary team to further reconstruct his midface with a forearm flap and bone and skin grafts.

As Pavlo nears the end of his recovery, there are many more who are only at the beginning. As the war continues and Ukraine fights to liberate its land and people from under Russian occupation, more veterans and civilians will need reconstructive surgical aid.

We are grateful for the generosity and steadfast support of our donors for enabling the CUSAP team to restore hope and change lives of hundreds of Ukrainians, like Pavlo, who have suffered a serious physical toll as a direct result of war.

To continue supporting the Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program, please visit www.cufoundation.ca. Thank you, Дякуємо, Merci.

Background

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and implement aid projects created by Canadians and directed to Ukraine. Read more about CUF’s history on Wikipedia.

Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP) was established by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation together with the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to help Ukrainians who were severely injured during the Revolution of Dignity in 2013 and the subsequent war in Eastern Ukraine in 2014. Since then, Canadian plastic surgeons have operated on 286 patients – civilians and veterans. The surgeries have significantly improved the quality of life of Ukrainians who undergo the operations.

Tags CUSAP, Medical Mission Ukraine, Surgical Mission

News Humanitarian/Medical

Access to safe water renewed for 25,000 people in 36 villages of Kherson oblast.

Post date September 21, 2023

Russia has relentlessly targeted civilian infrastructure in the Kherson Oblast, leaving many villages without a safe water supply. Access to clean water is not just a necessity but also a fundamental human right. Before the area was liberated from Russian occupation, water pumps and towers were damaged, destroyed and stolen by the occupying forces.

The Kakhovka Dam, a crucial part of Kherson’s civilian water infrastructure, was repeatedly targeted by Russian artillery and completely destroyed on June 6th, resulting in thousands of people losing access to fresh, drinkable water.

An additional challenge faced by these impacted communities is the lack of a regular water supply for their crops and household vegetable gardens, which causes poor yields. While already having to withstand daily Russian rocket attacks, the destruction of water supplies—the lifeline of these rural communities—adds yet another threat to their survival.

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) through their joint effort – the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA), have ensured that 36 villages in Kherson’s Beryslav Region along the Dnipro River regain access to safe water by contributing USD $50,000 to the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), enabling the purchase and delivery of 40 submersible water pumps and 60 1,000-litre water tanks.

UCCA, a well-established non-profit organization and founding member of the Ukrainian World Congress, is working closely with Ukraine Protection and Development Fund (UPDF) to ensure the efficient and effective allocation of these water pumps and tanks. The villages receiving this assistance are among the most underserved for humanitarian aid in the area, primarily due to their dangerous proximity to Russian forces, with some located just a few hundred meters from the frontline.

The funds for this project were collected at a fundraiser breakfast featuring a keynote address by the Honorable Bob Rae on June 27th. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, over 25,000 local and internally displaced people now have access to clean water. This relief not only provides immediate assistance to these villages but also ensures their long-term sustainability. Together, we are making a significant impact on the lives of thousands of Ukrainians affected by the war. However, our work is far from over. We will continue to advocate for the rights of these communities and strive for a future where access to clean water is guaranteed for all.

The aid that the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been delivering to Ukraine over the past 19 months is vast and diverse, and is made possible by our steadfast supporters – thank you!

Background

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) was launched in January of 2022 by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) 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 $47 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.

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

Tags clean water, water pumps

News Humanitarian/Medical

CUSAP Team Lands in Poland for the Fourth Surgical Mission.

Post date September 14, 2023

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is pleased to announce the fourth humanitarian surgical aid mission of the Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP), which will take place from September 17 to October 4, 2023, in Poland.

Next week, CUSAP surgeons, internists, nurses, and support staff will travel to Poland to deliver complex and life-altering surgeries to Ukrainians injured during Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.

Every CUSAP mission hopes to ease the tremendous burden on the Ukrainian healthcare system by lending the time and expertise of our highly skilled and dedicated volunteer medical professionals, who deliver surgeries as well as pre- and post-surgical care with integrity and compassion.

Photos taken by Andrey Syrko

The Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program would not be possible without the help of our collaborators and the support of hundreds of donors.

In addition to funding from the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, we would like to express our gratitude to two incredibly generous anonymous donors, who contributed $200,000.00 CAD and $75,000.00 USD to fund the September 2023 CUSAP mission.

It is the generosity of all our donors and supporters that enables the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to restore hope and change the lives of Ukrainians who have suffered a serious physical toll as a direct result of the war. Thank you, Дякуємо, Merci!

To make your contribution and follow the latest news on CUSAP, please click here. Canadian donations are eligible for tax receipts from the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.

Background

CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) was launched in 2022 by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) 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 $46 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.

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

Tags CUSAP, Medical Mission Ukraine, Surgical Mission

News Humanitarian/Medical Projects

Four boats handed over to State Emergency Services of Ukraine for Special Rescue Operations

Post date August 22, 2023

Ukraine has been living in a state of full-scale war since February 24, 2022. Its civilian infrastructure has been targeted on a daily basis – from residential buildings, hospitals, schools, day cares, and town squares, to power grids and, more recently, the Kakhovka water dam, that significantly escalated the humanitarian and caused ecological catastrophe in Ukraine, leaving behind an irreversible and devastating impact on the lives of thousands.

The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam revealed shortages in the stock of rescue boats and other equipment available to the branch of Ukraine’s State Emergency Services in Kherson, which was due to the region’s occupation by Russia for over 9 months. During that time, the offices and supply warehouses of the State Emergency Services in the area were robbed and damaged.

As reported in June, following the attack on the Kakhovka Dam on June 6th, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), through their joint effort – Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, immediately redirected the delivery of food boxes and family emergency kits (consisting of a water purification unit, hygiene kit and a solar light) to the regions affected by the disaster. As of today, the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has also donated 4 motorized rescue boats – 2 Ribs and 2 Navigators, to the State Emergency Services of Ukraine in an effort to begin replenishing their stock.

“In order to save people during the flood caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, rescuers of the State Emergency Services brought boats from other departments across Ukraine. For example, 90% of the watercraft kept in Kyiv, were transferred to Kherson region,” explains Oleksandr Melnyk, deputy head of the department of special technical support of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Services. “Therefore, the boats we now received through the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, are very important, as we will be able to start replenishing some of our emergency stock located in various regions.”

Two Navigator boats received by the State Emergency Services were transferred to their branch in the city of Dnipro, and two hard-bottomed Rib boats were transferred to the Kyiv branch.

The aid that the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been delivering to Ukraine over the past 18 months is vast and diverse, and is made possible by our donors – thank you!

Background

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) was launched in 2022 by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) 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 $44 million in food, medicine, emergency shelter, mental health support, surgical aid, firefighters gear, individual first aid kits, ambulances, generators, and many more types of aid. Please click here to read further about our humanitarian relief efforts since the full-scale invasion on February 24th, 2022.

Tags Boats, State Emergency Services

News Holodomor National Awareness Tour

The Holodomor National Awareness Tour – Program of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation since 2014

Post date August 17, 2023

Holodomor describes the 1932-1933 famine-genocide of Ukraine, where millions of Ukrainians were deliberately starved to death by the brutal policies imposed by the communist regime of the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin.

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation developed the Holodomor National Awareness Tour (HNAT) program in 2014 to foster education and bring awareness of the Holodomor to Canadians.

The Holodomor Mobile Classroom (HMC), a state-of-the-art education center, helps educate Canadians of all ages on the tragic historic events of the Holodomor and is a key component of the HNAT program. To date, the HMC has visited 525 schools engaging over 43,400 students and educators and connected with over 24,675 people across Canada at 289 community events.

This year, the focus of the Holodomor National Awareness Tour is on eastern and western Canada as well as commemorating the 90th Anniversary of Holodomor.

The travels started out in the latter half of May visiting schools in New Brunswick which HNAT originally planned for the spring of 2020 before COVID shut everything down and as such was not completed.

After several very engaging days in New Brunswick, and a brief stop in Sydney, Nova Scotia where we took part in the Ukrainian Festival of Culture based at the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church Parish Hall, we continued to Newfoundland, marking our first visit to the province. We spent ten days in Newfoundland visiting schools in Corner Brook and St. John’s where we received a very warm and positive reception from both students and staff at the schools visited.

Funding for the creation and implementation of the Holodomor National Awareness Tour was initially obtained through Federal and Provincial government grants, private sector sources, and individuals.

Funding, especially from Government sources, has evaporated in light of the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine as governments and much of the private sector and individuals overwhelmingly focus their support to deal with the current humanitarian and military needs of Ukraine.

At the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, we have also redirected the majority of our efforts to alleviate the humanitarian damage of the illegal war caused by Russia. Nevertheless, we recognize that it would not be wise to lose some of the very important projects we have developed in an effort to forestall a repetition of the horrible lessons from history. That is why we are turning to you, to ensure that the Holodomor memory remains a relevant force in the 21st century.

We are appealing to you to help us raise sufficient funding to commemorate this 90th Anniversary of the Holodomor and to continue teaching Canadians about this genocide.

Support HNAT

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. For more information: www.cufoundation.ca

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

Tags HNAT, Holodomor