April 16, 2020
Dear TOUCH Sponsors and Donors,
Our last update was on March 5, 2020. So much has changed in our world since that time. On that March date, only a few weeks ago, the COVID19 statistics globally were: • Number of cases: 97,500 • Number of deaths: 3,345 individuals As of today, April 16, the number of worldwide cases and deaths have skyrocketed to: • Number of cases: 2,150,000 • Number of deaths: 142,000 individuals
Ukraine is included in those statistics. Uzhhorod is the government center of the Transcarpathia (Zakarpattia) Oblast. An oblast is like a “state” in the US and there are 24 oblasts in Ukraine. This is the current information for both Zakarpattia Oblast and for Ukraine:
In the Zakarpattia Oblast Confirmed Cases Recovered Deaths 116 12 2
In Ukraine Confirmed Cases Recovered Deaths 4,161 186 116
Many of you asked how the children and people of Uzhhorod were doing. We have asked questions to our friends, medical contacts, and program directors to get answers. Here is a summary information we have received from them over the last few days: • Uzhhorod is in “shutdown” similar to what we are doing in the US • Borders between Ukraine and other countries are closed and there is no public transportation in towns, between cities or regions. • Restaurants, non-essential businesses, public schools, Uzhhorod National University, and public transportation have all been closed since mid-March. • Grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies are open. • After April 6, citizens over 60 were asked to remain at home and groups of more than 2 individuals are not allowed without a good reason. • There is a state restriction to use masks when you are walking on the streets but not everyone obeys the rule. • Public School and Uzhhorod National University classes are closed and online classes are being offered • There does not seem to be a “run” on toilet paper and they wonder why we are having one • There are 92 cases of COVID cases in Uzhhorod which may or may not jive with the Zakarpattia stats • The Railway Hospital is closed because of positive cases among the staff. • The Infection Hospital is full, as of today. • The Regional Hospital is being used as an infection hospital and has therefore opened up more patient beds. • Thousands of Ukrainians returned to Ukraine during the last few weeks from various parts of Europe (Italy, Germany, Spain, etc.) where they go to earn a better salary. This caused an escalation of the infection rate in Ukraine. • Medical clinics are using phones to do triaging in serious cases. • Hospitals are refusing chronic, non-COVID19 cases unless it is an emergency. This has sometimes resulted in a premature death of patients with cancer, wounds, etc. • Health care providers are wearing more personal protective equipment currently than a month ago, but they anticipate a shortage in the future. And they are trying to have patients with virus symptoms use a different entry and room for examination. Donors in the cities have purchased some of the needed PPEs. • Two sources shared with us that ventilators seem to be available because they have several distributors for this equipment, including Ukrainian factories. • Testing supplies are limited and take days to get results. It appears that there is a cost involved for testing unless you appear to have the virus. • There are 100,000 cases of Tuberculosis in Ukraine. Therefore lung disease and pneumonia are sometimes mistaken for the virus. • The Sakura (Japanese Cherry Blossom trees) are a tourist attraction in Uzhhorod and people from other countries and cities come to see them in April. This year, they were only enjoyed by the local population due to transportation bans. Vasya Chubar, our interim TOUCH Coordinator, shared these two websites for information: • https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ for global stats • https://nv.ua/ukr/specials/svitova-epidemiya-novogo- virus.html?utm_source=site&utm_medium=virukr&utm_campaign=covid for a map of the situation in Ukraine that is updated frequently. Uzhhorod is in the oblast that is the farthest to the left (west).
Here is a photo of Mary Radetsky, past Uzhhorod Sister Cities Association President and one of the coordinators of students who interpret for each TOUCH delegation. She is an English teacher at the Linguistic Gymnasium and sent this photo of how the online instruction is occurring with her classroom.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW SPONSORS Donations from sponsors and donors in The TOUCH Project since late October 2019 are now has increased by $10,000 in the last month and we now have about $48,000 in the account, according to the CSCA-Uzhhorod Council Treasurer, Bill Francis. Thank you everyone!
We welcome Andrea and Kyle Roerig from Corvallis as our latest donors to join The TOUCH Project. Andrea is a nurse and Kyle is in the Agriculture Department at Oregon State University. Please check out the list at the end of this update of all of the TOUCH Project Sponsors and Donors.
INFORMATION ON INDIVIDUAL TOUCH PROJECT PROGRAMS We understand that you would like to know what is happening with the children in The TOUCH Project. So do we. The children in The TOUCH Project are already very vulnerable and we worry about them. They are often poor, ethnically diverse from the general Ukrainian population, and in family situations that need strengthening. Unemployment will likely hit their caregivers first. The Roma neighborhoods are situated in close contact and often without sanitary conditions. We worry about the children but are thankful that the local government encouraged social distancing fairly early. We will continue to request information although it is more difficult since the schools and non-profits are shuttered for now. Here’s what we know:
PUBLIC SCHOOL #14: The school is closed. Online lessons are being offered but only 10% of the children who attend PS14 have computers in their homes. So this is an incomplete solution for the children. Under 50% have cell phones in the households. The PS14 staff is trying to contact the children. They have posted interactive videos and other learning materials on a website for the children, also. At this point, no children have contracted the virus or they are not being tested. We are still trying to figure out the best way to get the funds raised for the new classroom to Uzhhorod. Randy Killen is planning to hand carry the monies to Ukraine as soon as the flights open up to Europe. If that does not happen in time, we are looking into bank wires and other means. Oxana Legeza, principal of PS14, says that they will begin the project in May with the heating unit and pipes being built. They are very grateful for the fundraising that occurred.
REHABILITATION CENTER FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES This Center is also closed for the time being due to quarantine instruction. No one is attending the Center until the end of April or further notice. Remote advisory and consulting services are being provided by the staff to their families. Those who are in very difficult financial situations can ask for support from the Social Security Department. The staff is working on methodological materials. So far, the staff remains healthy.
PAVLOVO FARM HOME Pavlovo has been in a somewhat dire situation because their major donor in Florida had some financial set backs and they are not receiving funding from him of late. In addition, Maria’s husband, Vasyl, is still recovering from his fall off the Pavlovo roof and much of the labor he performed at the farm is not happening. The other serious issue is that several of the Pavlovo young women have employment in Uzhhorod which is about 10 miles from the farm. With the closure of public transportation and the high cost of taxis, they have not been able to get to work. Therefore, everyone is at Pavlovo. With the arrival of spring, they look forward to the birth of new animals, the opportunity to work outside, plant the annual garden and harvest the crops. We will be sending some funds to Pavlovo with either Randy Killen or by wire to “tide” the Pavlovo program over to the fall.
CHASLIVTSI BOARDING SCHOOL The children have all been sent home when the quarantine officially started in mid-March. At this time, none of the children have the virus or have not been tested. Online studies for these children do not appear to be an option. Members of the staff are concerned that the lack of awareness could result in the spread of the virus among Roma communities.
NEW FAMILY PROGRAM Valentina says that the New Family Program Center is closed for now, but she still meets with the youth or their families who have special needs for food, clothing, or medication. Their website displayed photos of activities that occurred in early March before the Center was closed. Here they are:
New Family youth celebrate spring activities in early March 2020.
Group of New Family kids with gift bags from a donor.
Valentina (far right) with children at New Family Center on March 7, 2020.
Choreographer helping New Family youth learn a new dance.
New Family youth getting a complimentary hair cut.
These youths all received free hair cuts and styling from a hair dresser in Uzhhorod!
PUBLIC SCHOOL #14 ADDITION IS BECOMING A REALITY
Sabra initiated an online fundraiser to help with the construction costs. We are very thankful to Melanie and David Bennett of Milwaukie, Oregon who offered to donate $6,000 (!!!) toward the construction costs of $15,000. Melanie was part of the TOUCH -19 delegation and saw first-hand how an additional classroom would benefit the school. TOUCH supporters also came to the rescue. Many of you have made donations and we are very grateful. With the initial contribution from TOUCH funds of $4400, plus online and mailed-in donations of $2,975, and Bennett’s lead gift of $6000 – we now have $13,375 raised toward the goal of $15,000 for construction. We still have $1,625 left to raise to finalize the construction and $3000 to cover the furnishing expenses.
If you would like to donate, please do so at this site: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FA4AB2CA2FC1-anewclassroom
We send a big thank yous to all who have contributed to the project to date including: Bill Setnor, LaDawn Park, Ryan & Anna Halverson, Gail Anderson, Peter McAlerney, Marilyn & Todd Richardson, Tammy Skubinna, Shaunene & Sherrill Edwards, Kathy & Richard Halverson, Tom & Annie Sherry, Peggy Giles, Clayton Shumway, Carolyn & Dave Bella, Jim & Els Lofgren, Anne & Roy Hart, Judy Norman, Bret & Diana Godfrey, Linda Modrell, Nancy and Les Pliskin, Bonnie & Pete Reagan, Yvonne & Doug Norman, Rosemary & John Magee, Michelle & Bob Babbel, Pat Fahlbusch, Carol Sweeney, Alice & Mark Rampton, Katrina & Pernell Roberts, and Anonymous.
SISTER CITY NEWS The TOUCH Project would not exist without the support and oversight of the Corvallis Sister Cities Association (CSCA) and specifically the CSCA-Uzhhorod Council. The CSCA provide us the non-profit status, a a volunteer treasurer and the board and council to oversee our activities. If you received a membership letter from CSCA recently, we hope you will consider supporting this organization. By doing so, you will support The TOUCH Project.
We also want you to know that the annual CSCA-Uzhhorod flower basket sale has been cancelled. Stay tune because orders will be taken this fall for spring deliveries. That is different than in the past due to a change from Peoria Gardens who continue to provide these beautiful baskets at cost for a CSCA fundraiser. All other sister city events like the flower sale in Corvallis’ Central Park, the booth at Farmer’s Market, and Bogrash dinner appear to be cancelled or on hold until further notice, also. We continue to take baby steps toward a September 2020 delegation trip for The TOUCH Project. Only time (and the situation with the virus) will let us know if this is possible TOUCH 20 Delegation emails.
PLEASE STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY! THIS TOO SHALL PASS…EVENTUALLY AND FASTER IF WE ALL TAKE CARE.
Sincerely, Alice Rampton, Co-Chair Sabra Killen, Co-Chair The TOUCH Project The TOUCH Project 541-231-6238 360-834-1240 [email protected] [email protected]