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Bratslav Boarding School Receives Medical Equipment, Books and Toys from Ukraine 3000 Foundation

December 3, 2009, Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation Kateryna Yushchenko visited the Bratslav Educational Institution for orphaned children and children, deprived of parents’ care. Also took part in the event Head of Vinnytsia Oblast State Administration Oleksandr Dombrovsky, Head of Vinnytsia Oblast Council Hryhory Zabolotny, Vinnytsia Mayor Volodymyr Hroysman, Director General of Nemiroff Company Alla Hlus. Head of the Board of Directors of Ukraine 3000 Foundation Oleksandr Maksymchuk, Director of the Ukrainian Cinema Foundation Andriy Khalpakhchi, representatives of the local authorities and Ukraine 3000 Foundation.

Accompanied by the Center boards and its director Nina Kulias, Mrs. Kateryna toured the grounds. She visited the Ukrainian Language and Literature, Visual Arts, Physics, and Astronomy rooms and gerade school classrooms. Mrs. Yushchenko also visited the dormitory with girls’ and boys’ bedrooms, prayer room, psychologists’ studio, and a self-service kitchen.
“I was really impressed with what I saw at your center,” Mrs. Yushchenko said. “I’d gladly attend your school myself. You give these children love and protection and raise them as true citizens of Ukraine. But the most important is that you make them feel members of a family. You care about each other, you learn to love God and live as a one big family.”

Mrs. Kateryna expressed her satisfaction with the big changes to the better going on at Ukrainian orphanages. “I first visited an orphanage in Ukraine in 1995 and was appalled with the living conditions of those children,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine how children, being raised in such conditions, would be able to build up our country.”

Mrs. Yushchenko thanked all those helping and supporting the Bratslav boarding school, in part, Vinnytsia Oblast State Administration, oblast council, local authorities, and private sponsors. She said, addressing the children, “I’d like to see you doing even more for your school. And I’d also be happy if you came here in 20 years and adopt those few children that would still be here.”

Mrs. Kateryna called upon all students to help children with limited abilities, make sure they had free access to schools, museums, hospitals, other public institutions. “You have to finish what we have started, giving these people a chance to become full-fledged citizens of their country,” she said.

On behalf of Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation, Mrs. Yushchenko donated to the Bratslav boarding school medical equipment (ECG machine and BP monitor), books, and toys to the total of over UAH 12,000.

The institution also received sports equipment from the Vinnytsia governor.

The Bratslav Education and Upbringing Center – nursery school - general education school – Vinnytsia Oblast Council’s high school was created on the basis of the Bratslav Orphanage founded in 1918. Today the school boards 162 students under the supervision of 59 pedagogs and 85 stuff members.

Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko and Ukraine 3000 Foundation members are on a one-day trip to Vinnytsia oblast.