SOS Children in Ukraine
Ukraine became independent in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It had for many years been the bread basket of USSR. Situated between Russia and Europe, Ukraine tries to have good relations with both. Western Ukraine has close ties with Europe and Eastern Ukraine with Russia, which creates cultural and political tensions. In 1986, the major accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986 affected about 8% of the country. The affects are still being felt nearly twenty years later.
SOS Children's Villages began working in Ukraine in 2003, setting up an emergency relief programme in the Podol district of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. This involves distributing food parcels to large families, mainly with a single parent. In addition a counselling service for children and young people at risk from HIV/AIDS through experimenting with drugs was started. Advice is also given to their parents.
Plans are in place to build an SOS Children's Village in Brovary, about twelve miles from Kiev near the border with Belarus. It is due to be ready in 2006.
Local Contact
SOS Children’s Villages in Ukraine
31 Kopilovskaya, Kiev, Podol District, Ukraine
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