This was a very interesting day. We were honoured as representatives of YMCAs in Europe to meet with the Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of the Town of Antratsit. The town officials are happy to work with YMCA Antratsit and co-operate in joint ventures. The town also partners with the Red Cross on health matters.
The town officials consider sport ‘the best way to provide
something good for children’. They provide opportunities for young people to
play football, enjoy swimming and also activities for children to take part in
with their grandparents. Each year they
hold Protection of Children Day which 300+ attend. Over 500 children attend sports clubs.
The town also has a programme to support orphans which is a
widespread problem in Ukraine. This is
due to death of parents, parents moving abroad for work and leaving children
behind and various social reasons including parents in prison. There is a national adoption programme which Antratsit
takes part in. they have a programme,
Every Child Should Get a Family, which enable children with living parents, who
may be able to have them back, to be placed in families, as a family member, ‘for
education’ – similar to foster care in UK.
Families who support these children get a monthly State allowance for
each child placed for education. Additional
support provided by the Municipality includes social support, help to pay for maintenance
of their flat, holidays, presents and psychological support and support
meetings. Of the 152 orphans in the town, only 58 can be adopted as the rest
have living parents. Ukraine law
dictates that it is illegal to separate families, so orphaned children will go
to grandparents if they are living.
Rob Cox, CEO YMCA Northumberland, asked Madame Deputy Mayor
how the YMCA benefits the town and what were her hopes for the future. She replied that the state organisations,
schools, Social Services and Red Cross co-operate closely with YMCA Antratsit and
she hopes it will continue.
Thanks Alexis, prety powerful stuff!
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