July 17, 2020
Dear TOUCH Sponsors and Donors,
Greetings!
COVID SITUATION IN UKRAINE COVID19 continues to dominate our lives no matter where we live in the world.
In the country of Ukraine, the statistics comparing April and July are: • Number of confirmed cases as of April 16, 2020: 4,161 • Number of confirmed cases as of July 15, 2020: 55,607
• Number of deaths as of April 16, 2020: 116 • Number of deaths as of July 15, 2020: 1,427
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. In the Zakarpattia Oblast statistics comparing April and July are: • Number of confirmed cases as of April 16, 2020: 116 • Number of confirmed cases as of July 15, 2020: 4,112
• Number of deaths as of April 16, 2020: 2 • Number of deaths as of July 15, 2020: 142
We know of no children or program leaders in The TOUCH Project who have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. We are very thankful for that information. But like the United States, the country (and Transcarpathia) is currently having a spike in the cases. We have heard from individuals working with The TOUCH Project that they are frustrated by those individuals who are not taking the virus serious and are not willing to comply with even the simplest requirements such as wearing masks. Here are the guidelines in Ukraine (and Uzhhorod) currently from their government website https://covid19.gov.ua/en :
• Stores, pharmacies, petrol stations and banks- Operation is restored. Visitors are to wear masks at all times on the premises. • Cafes- Only the outdoor terraces are allowed to be opened. The decision on the opening and closing of cafes adopts by local authorities. That is why rules of visiting vary from region to region. • Sport clubs- The number of visitors should not exceed 1 person per 10 square meter in individual workout, and 5 square meters per person during team workouts (but up to 10 people in a group). • Events- The government allowed excursions for groups up to 50 people, as well as indoor religious events, provided 1 person per 5 square meters and visitors maintained a distance of 1.5 meters. • Medical institutions- It is allowed to provide medical care: during childbirth, patients with cancer, palliative care in hospital, other urgent measures of hospitalization and scheduled operations, if in a result of their rescheduling there is a significant risk to life. • Educational institutions- The 2019/2020 academic year for schoolchildren and students continues in a remote format. The External Independent Evaluation will take place from June 25 to July 17. International students who come to take the exams are exempt from passing observation or self-isolation. (Note: It sounds like they are still up in the air somewhat about remote or in-classroom learning in the fall.)
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THESE DONORS • Rotary Club of Lincoln City, Oregon- $500.00 for Pavlovo Farm Home • Corvallis Sister Cities Association’s Uzhhorod Council in Corvallis, OR- $2500.00 for Pavlovo Farm Home • Valley Community Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon- $1550.00 for new furnishings of classroom at Public School #14
Thank you to these organizations and to all of our donors. You make so many things possible! PROGRAM SUMMARIES: We’d like to give everyone a brief summary of the five programs in The TOUCH Project and how they are doing thanks to the conversations that Vasya Chubar, our TOUCH interim director, had with the program leaders:
CHASLIVTSI BOARDING SCHOOL Dr. Paul Blanar said that classes at Chaslivtsi Boarding School never resumed after the children were sent back to their homes or the home of a relative following the virus outbreak. There were no attempts to arrange on-line classes. He is hopeful that studies will begin in September after the summer holidays. The staff is not on site at Chaslivtsi, but Paul shared that school administrators tried to stay in touch with any family needing help or advice. Some of the families mentioned that the graduates did not receive their filled backpacks that have been routinely provided in the past to those students as they finish up schooling and leave Chaslivtsi. This was difficult this year, because a graduation ceremony was not held and the students were dispersed, but TOUCH will ensure that this is taken care of eventually. As far as Paul is aware, everyone is healthy among the children and staff.
PAVLOVO FARM HOME The situation at Pavlovo has become somewhat dire. Bus transportation is running again so at least the young women who work in Uzhhorod factories can get to work. But financially, they are not receiving the same support from a wealthy donor in Florida, as they had in the past. This may be related to COVID slowing down businesses in the US.
There are currently 10 young women living at Pavlovo. At this time, they are not taking new girls even though there are many who'd like to live at Pavlovo. Maria Lutso, the “mama” at Pavlovo, felt that if the financial situation did not improve, they would need to consider temporarily suspending the program.
Because of the uncertainty of a TOUCH delegation to Ukraine in September, we have wired over $2500 at this time to Pavlovo to help relieve some of the financial stress they are undergoing at this unusual time. We are extremely grateful that the Corvallis Sister Cities Association-Uzhhorod Council met and voted to approve an additional $2500 to send to Pavlovo via wire. Carla Francis, a TOUCH sponsor and frequent member of TOUCH delegations, contacted her Rotary Club in Lincoln City, Oregon and they have made a $500 donation to help the young women at Pavlovo, also. Rotarians in Uzhhorod are also considering how they can lend a hand. In addition, with TOUCH donor Pete Bober’s help, we have been in contact with Katherine Bizilia, a teacher and Zonta member in Uzhhorod, and she will contact her fellow club members and see if Zonta can help Pavlovo. Many wheels are in motion. Pavlovo is an excellent program and has changed the lives of many young women who have benefitted from the education, socialization, skills, nurturing, and love they have received at Pavlovo Farm Home. The TOUCH Project is honored to partner with Pavlovo and offer extra support at this time. We don’t want it to be one more casualty of the pandemic.
One very positive current happening at Pavlovo include their bumper crop of blueberries. With the help of a couple from Michigan, the blueberries have been growing at the Pavlovo garden farm. The young women have helped to harvest the berries and sell them at market. Here are some photos of the picking, sorting and selling process. Congratulations to all!
Blueberry plants at Pavlovo Farm Young women at Pavlovo picking the berries.
Pavlovo women sorting berries. Jim driving the crates to market.
Selling the berries at market. Beautiful blueberries!
And on another positive note, Vasyl Lutso, the “Papa” at Pavlovo, continues to recover from his horrendous fall off the roof while making a repair on the Pavlovo house a couple of years ago. He was intubated for months, unable to move parts of his body, and leave his bed. Many Ukrainian friends and TOUCH sponsors stepped up to help with his medical and rehabilitation costs. Vasyl feels unsteady to walk without some form of support (an arm, walker, cane), but he has about 80% use of his hands back now. He continues to need rehabilitation. Here is a recent photo of Vasyl and Maria:
NEW FAMILY PROGRAM Valentina Balan-Chervonookaya, director of the New Family Program, shared that they "do business as usual." They are holding dance and singing practice, training, and rehearsals regularly. They usually participate in summer camps and summer music festivals but that is all up in the air at this time due to COVID19. We have received the names and information regarding new children for the program and made assignments to 6 patient TOUCH sponsors who were on a “waiting list.” Here’s a photo of many of the youth at a class where they were learning sign language at the New Family Center:
REHABILITATION CENTER FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES Dr. Iryna Roshkovych share that the situation has not changed much since April. Children still are not attending the center and according to the latest instructions it will not be possible till the end of July, although Ira was unsure if things would be safe by that time. The staff is providing distanced consulting and assistance to the families with children at the Center, but she felt that without regular and direct interaction with a child, the effect is minimal. The staff continues to work on developing new methodological materials and programs as well as being involved is some maintenance and renovation around the premises. We are planning a skype or zoom conference with the staff to better understand what role TOUCH can help to benefit the children.
PUBLIC SCHOOL #14 Lots of action happening at Public School #14. Thanks to all of the TOUCH donors who contributed last spring, a new classroom is being built as we write. We are thrilled that they are busting their seams do to an increasing student population and need the classroom. That means more children will be attending the school in the fall (unless the education goes remote again). $10,500 of your TOUCH donations were recently wired to Public School #14 to enable the current construction.
Here are some exciting photographs to show the progress of the school’s new construction.
Supplies for the new classroom arrive. The project begins!
Walls and windows go up. Next the roof.
View from the adjoining courtyard at Public School #14 in Uzhhorod. This site used to be where an old, unsanitary outhouse was located during the TOUCH delegation’s first visit to PS14. Toilets are now inside with plumbing and the school population growth requires a new classroom. What a great trade!
20th TOUCH DELEGATION PLANS UNCERTAIN FOR SEPTEMBER We wish we had more definitive information about the TOUCH-20 delegation to Ukraine this fall. We were so looking forward to our 20th delegation traveling to Uzhhorod in September. With the ever-changing situation with COVID19, we have been unable to make plans for this to happen. We are still hoping, but that’s all we know at this time.
Sabra has worked hard to find different ways to wire funds cheaply to Ukraine. She has utilized both Western Union and Moneygram. If any of you know of other means, please let us know. If we are unable to send a TOUCH Delegation to Ukraine this fall, we will continue to wire our donor/sponsor donations from the past year to the various programs.
AS WE WROTE IN APRIL, PLEASE STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY! THIS TOO SHALL PASS…EVENTUALLY AND FASTER IF WE ALL TAKE CARE. THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.
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]