Agricultural project. Part 2
The seeds were distributed to all those who wished and now they are starting to sprout, giving joy and hope to their planters. And we have successfully launched the second stage of the Agro-Project from our partners Ukraine TrustChain: the distribution of seedlings. This year, we are distributing seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, and cabbage. We gently call it: “the Borscht set”. Indeed, to make our Ukrainian specialty, borsch, delicious, we add these very ingredients. Thus, people have already started receiving seedlings in the villages of the neighboring regions, and, as always, we have received many thanks.
“I am Svitlana Norgan, 62 years old. Since the beginning of the war, I have been unemployed, no one wants to hire people of pre-retirement age. My husband died. My family is far away from me. When the seedling distribution project started, I didn’t believe it was really happening at first. Please, accept many thanks to those who provided us with these wonderful seedlings from me and my neighbors! Pensioners and those who have lost their jobs are the ones who depend on their pensions and small incomes from part-time jobs. Sometimes, after buying medicine, they don’t have enough money even for bread, so a vegetable garden helps them survive. In these difficult times, people like us really need it. Thank you again!”
“I, Natalia, am from Donetsk region, back in 2014 when the ATO started, I got married and gave birth to a baby that had a disability. My husband is now mobilized. I do not work having a disabled child… I am very grateful that I can get planting material that will help me survive. Thank you for such a good initiative!”
True stories from Kherson
After the water receded following the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, the Step with Hope Foundation team in Kherson had a lot of work to do like drying the premises, disinfecting, and restoring them so that people could live there again. We treated basements and ground floors that had been completely underwater. In the Ostrov neighborhood, we know every house and its residents, because there was no building with people deprived of our attention. But there are also two houses that we did not have time to do anything with last year because there were no residents in them at the time. We even came up with the idea of putting up announcements so that the owners after returning to their homes would know about the possibility of drying and disinfecting the premises. But no one ever called us.
Almost a year later, we were finally contacted by the residents of one of the apartment buildings that we never visited. Because no disinfection had been done, the basement and first floors were overrun with fleas, and the dampness on the ground floor was so great that it was hard to breathe in some apartments because of the mold. The walls were soaked with the remaining moisture because there was no heating in the area during the winter. Those who returned immediately contacted our team because some residents from neighboring houses had recommended us. So far, we have installed two dehumidifiers and disinfected the basement and first floors. On the upper floors, we helped to overcome the mouse infestation. It was extremely complicated, so we even had to involve additional team reserves, but the result was not long in coming. The next day there were no fleas left at all! Also, as we have been draining 6 buckets of water from one dehumidifier daily, the mold smell is almost gone. We continue to dehumidify the rooms and make sure that there is no harmful fungus or mold anywhere.
Donetsk region: help is near
As always, we are happy to deliver groceries to places without other volunteers working, brochures handed out by other humanitarian organizations, or any video broadcasts being shot from the scene. The places, that still have some survivors left, waiting for help. Donetsk region, especially Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Slaviansk, is turning into such an abandoned area.
This time, we distributed 100 food packages from our partners, Samaritan’s Purse, as well as one hundred loaves of bread. We also gave out eyeglasses and then listened to some stories we would like to share with you.
“My name is Volodymyr, I have a disability group and a pension. Thank you for every kind of help. A loaf of bread and a package of groceries help me survive in this time of trouble. But the most important thing you give us, those left alone with their misfortune, is your care and love, which bring us hope for the best.”
But the village of Horniak has a different real-life story. As you can see, we do not limit ourselves to only one type of assistance. A new challenge happened here, too. A large walnut tree fell in the yard of a woman to whom we usually provide food aid. The woman could not move or saw the trunk herself, and the tree blocked the entire yard. Our team could not leave the woman alone and just walk away, so we helped to cut the tree into firewood, under the constant sound of shelling. Lady Valentyna is thankful for our help from the bottom of her heart.
In Kramatorsk and Slaviansk, we also distributed food, bread and clothes that we collect twice a month in Dnipro. The total weight of the food was about 500 kg.
Help in the Kharkiv region
In the Kharkiv region, in addition to distributing food parcels, we always try to support the population morally. For this purpose, we conduct various programs aimed at children, teenagers, and their families in general. This time, we held classes for kids and delivered targeted aid. We are delighted to be of help. This particular trip was memorable because we helped a family who had lost their car but had a diseased child in their arms. Right during our visit, the child needed an urgent consultation and examination by a doctor, so we helped the father find another car as fast as possible, and drive the child to the nearest hospital. Everything went well and medical care was provided in a timely manner.
Additionally, this time we went to the village of Prosiane to give out eyeglasses. The people, most of them being pensioners and disabled, were excited, deeply grateful, and merely happy. About 300 people came to the event. We had to work hard, praise the Lord!
We would also like to share with you the gratitude words that we got:
“I am Natalia Vasylivna Likhtarova, a mother of three children from Znamenka. I want to thank you for the tasty bread and for helping us in such a troublesome time. Thank you very much. All the best to you and a peaceful sky above!”
“My name is Panova Liudmyla Stepanivna. I am a resident of Nova Vodolaha, Kharkiv region, and a pensioner. I would like to express my gratitude for the Foundation’s care for us, ordinary people, for the bread we receive every week, and for the vegetable seeds that have come in handy. My husband and I are in a very difficult financial situation and in very poor health. Since we get sick quite often, a large share of our pensions is spent on medicines and doctor’s consultations. So, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your help and for the fact that your girls knowing we hardly ever leave the house bring us the bread right home. You are doing a good deed, may God bless you!”
Dnipropetrovsk region
This week, 70 families in Nikopol received targeted help. By targeted help, we mean food, bread, and free eyeglasses. People accept all this help with exceeding joy and always say that the most important thing for them is not what is contained in the packages, but the hope that remains after our visit and the belief that someone else cares for them. We will continue our work there.
Besides that, we organized a food distribution point in Pavlohrad. The bread from Ukraine TrustChain also proved to be very relevant this week, and we received several notes of thanks for it.
“My name is Lidiia Andriivna, my family and I came here from Horlivka. Thank you very much for your warmth and help with bread. Today, when our family of five has such huge expenses, the food you provide is a real lifesaver.”
This week, the Novomoskovsk team of volunteers from the international charitable foundation Step with Hope went out to the villages of Mykolaivka and Novostepanivka, as there were many people in need of help there, too. This time 230 people received eyeglasses and groceries. We are obliged to our partners, Restoring Vision, for the opportunity to distribute the eyeglasses. Now the people are waiting for us again, and we are glad that we were able to give them our care and attention.
The volunteers of Kryvyi Rih organized a trip to distribute food packages to the villages of Sofiivka and Khrystoforivka in addition to the weekly bread distribution. Planting material and humanitarian aid were distributed there. Moreover, this time we also brought medical supplies to the people. The total weight of the humanitarian cargo was about 1500 kg.
Clearly, the mission of the foundation is not just about delivering humanitarian aid to the population, but also about providing full care, attention, and assistance to each person through our psycho-social direction. With this in mind, even the mobile teams that distribute food in the villages always aim to help people improve their mental health as well. This time we conducted several psycho-social trainings for internally displaced persons and people affected by the war. Another set of the “Healing Your Soul Wounds” trainings was held at the assistance center of the ICF Step with Hope in Kryvyi Rih. We received some thankful feedback:
“My name is Larysa, I am 60 years old. I learned from a neighbor that I could get some bread here. My husband is very ill and we receive minimal pensions. My son is at war, and my grandchildren live in another city. There is no one to help us. Sometimes I earn extra money by cleaning at several stores. But this income is not constant, but rather volatile. I am very grateful for your help.”
The work at the humanitarian aid distribution center in Kamianske was as usual in full swing during the last week. The team of volunteers from the Step with Hope charitable foundation distributed bread and seeds. The massage room and the hairdresser were actively working. Free lunches were crowded with people and, of course, the provision of comprehensive, group psycho-social assistance for adults and children was organized.
“I, Liudmyla Fominichna Popova, am 65 years old. I am a resident of Popasna, Luhansk region. In March 2022, when the “Grads” (multiple rocket launchers) started hitting and causing explosions behind our house, my husband and I decided to leave our hometown. Now I am renting an apartment in Kamianske by myself as my husband died of a heart attack in an emergency room six months ago. I am very grateful to the sponsors for their support with bread because it is a significant help for IDPs.”
Programs of the Psycho-social direction of the foundation’s activities
Stress management group
We live in conditions of tension and worry which contributes to the accumulation of constant stress.
But there is a way out! Stress can be overcome with the help of simple techniques. And just this week at the Stress Management Group, we learned how to help our nervous system calm down through:
🔸 breathing exercises;
🔸 talking through one’s feelings;
🔸 concentrating on pleasant things and events;
🔸 creativity;
🔸 taking care of oneself and each other.
We are thankful to everyone who participated! 🙏🏻
Soon a new group is going to be organized. Please, follow the announcements and fill out the form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScglH2RV194SusBnkn8MUSJxgEUA-zFq7FnDHBng491q-0LLw/viewform
Soulful Gatherings
At the “Soulful gatherings” meeting we discussed the topic of “Basic emotional needs for mental health”. A lot can be said, but remember the main thing:
“Do not devalue your feelings, desires, and needs. You are a worthy and unique person who deserves decent rest, love, acceptance, and some personal space!”
Take care and remember that we are waiting for you every Thursday at 14:00!
Anti-stress English
Learning English is worth our attention for many reasons. For instance, it can help expand your social circle, open doors to professional opportunities, facilitate comfortable travel, and keep your brain active. It also opens up endless perspectives that allow us to enjoy life in a wider range of fields.
So, inspired by these motives, we continue to study English at our meetings under the Anti-Stress English program.
We invite everyone to join us!
Healing Your Soul Wounds Group
Meetings of the “Healing Your Soul Wounds” program continue at the ICF Step with Hope. Last week we learned how to help people going through a difficult period after a loss. We learned to express our pain to heal our hearts. As for last Wednesday, May 1, we analyzed a very crucial topic, which is the key to healing, and answered the following questions:
🔸 What is true forgiveness?
🔸 What is its impact on our emotional health?
🔸 What is not considered forgiveness?
We will be glad to see you:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpMxVUTfdrM3vVdu80mIzebfi0r4xEUtO3XLoNQ3ggsx7K6A/viewform
Positive Ukrainian
If you have decided to switch to your native language, welcome to our Positive Ukrainian Club.
Here you will have a great time in a friendly atmosphere with like-minded people, and, in addition to that, start a new (Ukrainian-speaking) life!
Everyone is welcome to join us!
ART therapy
Art therapy is a method of psychotherapy that helps people overcome internal conflicts, anxiety, and fears through creativity. This week we have been working on stress reduction by creating beautiful flowers.
We are grateful to our dear Tetiana Synenko, who organizes such meetings. She is an internally displaced person herself, but she does not lose hope and optimism, taking an active life position. Day after day she helps others see the good in life and experience positive emotions.
We invite you to join our creative meetings!
Family meeting “Over a Cup of Tea”
This week a family meeting for families with small children was held in Kamianske. Our volunteers Yulia Ivanova and Anna Chekhova were the host of the program. We were visited by a wonderful family: mother Natalia with her beautiful daughters Dasha and Olenka. In a cozy atmosphere, we had the opportunity to know each other better and have heart-to-heart conversations. It’s no secret that every family is writing a new story of their lives at this time. It is never easy for anyone, especially for displaced families with kids. But we are learning to move on, smiling and enjoying the new day.
We believe that our concern for each other and God’s boundless love will help us all live a full life!
An inspiring meeting in Novomoskovsk
In Novomoskovsk, a meeting for volunteers and IDPs was held on “How to build quality relationships” with Pavlo Bilan as its speaker.
This topic will never lose its relevance, especially during the war. Because now more than ever we need to be able to support and inspire each other.
Meetings with the chaplain
These meetings are talking about life crises over a cup of tea. In times of war, everything may seem hopeless and meaningless. But the main war is going on within our hearts. We learned from chaplain Ruslan Sedletsky how not to give in to panic and win the battle in our minds.
