Caritas Transcarpathia

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Franciscan Mission
Foundation for Transcarpathia

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Kindergartens:

After the fall of the Soviet Union most of the kindergartens were closed. More and more children grew up in the streets. Between 1997 and 2007 Roman Catholic Church established 9 kindergartens in Transcarpathia. Today the situation is better but even now 70% of children can't go to kindergartens because of the lack of them. Besides moral upbringing that the children get in our kindergartens it is also a good possibility for parents to have a job alongside with it. In most cases the children come from poor families and the Caritas pays particular attention first of all to these families and tries to help them.

1. The kindergarten named after "St. Catherina"in Fanchika (near Vinogradovo).

The foundation of this kindergarten was organized thanks to p.Tihamer OFM (missioner priest from Hungary). The house was bought with the help of Austrian and French organizations. The kindergarten was opened in September 2003 with 25 children. From 2003 and 2008 its functioning was sponsored by many foreign organizations. From the beginning of 2007 the state began to support wages of workers which is 55 % of all costs. More and more children want to go to this kindergarten so the number of them rose in 2007 for 40 and in 2008 for 62 children. There was a need to extend the place too. For this purpose the Roman Catholic Church gave a part of its parish building. And in the next year the Protestant Church also gave a part of its parish building. (This parishes stands near the kindergarten). 14 workers work here. Costs: 2,85 EUR/child/day.

2. The kindergarten named after "St. Francis" in Korolevo (near Vinogradovo).

The foundation of this kindergarten was organized thanks to p.Paul OFM (missioner priest from Hungary). The kindergarten was established in 1998 in a part of the Roman Catholic parish building (they got it back from the state in 1996) with 25 children. From 1998 to 2008 its functioning was sponsored by many foreign organizations. From the beginning of 2007 the state began to support wages of workers which is 60 % of all costs. More and more children want to go to this kindergarten so the number of them rose in 2007 for 40 children. This year windows and doors were changed. 14 workers work here. Costs: 3,37 EUR/child/day.

3. The kindergarten named after "St. Joseph" in Vinogradovo.

The foundation of this kindergarten was organized thanks to p.Tihamer OFM (missioner priest from Hungary). The kindergarten was established in 1998. A house particularly for this purpose was given from the state and now the owner of it is Caritas in Vinogradovo. From 1998 to 2008 its functioning was sponsored by many foreign organizations. From the beginning of 2007 the state began to support wages of workers which is 60 % of all costs. Now the number of children is 50 but more and more children want to go to this kindergarten so from the 2009 year we will open another group. 12 workers work here. Costs: 2,60 EUR/child/day.

4. The kindergarten named after "St. Elizabeth" in Bustino

The foundation of this kindergarten was organized thanks to Mikuljak Laslo director of Caritas in Tjachiv. A house for this purpose was bought from the state and now the owner of it is Roman Catholic Parish in Bustino. It was established in 2001. From that time until now it is functioning from foreign donations. Here are 42 children. 13 workers work here. 3,78 EUR/child/day. The state support is 0%.

5. The kindergarten named after "St. Anna" in Solotvino.

The foundation of this kindergarten was organized thanks to p.Domonkos (missioner priest from Hungary). Kindergarten was established in 2002 in a part of the Roman Catholic parish building. From that time until now it is functioning from foreign donations. Here are 45 children. 14 workers work here. 2,85 EUR/child/day. The state support is 0%.

6. The kindergarten named after "Romzha Theodore"in Velikij Bychkiv (near Rachiv).

Velykyj Bychkiv is situated in Rahiv region with the population of 10000 people. In 1996 the Caritas, which consisted of 14 members, was founded here. Its activity derives from the needs of the defenceless classes of society. In the after-flood period Caritas took an active part in giving help to the people who had suffered from the disaster. Speaking about the activity of the organization in details, we can also mention taking care of the sick and old people, as well as the orphans. Having received consignments of humanitarian help, we divide them between those who need it. Our activity is rather many-sided as people have different problems. The foundation of the kindergarten was organized thanks to p.Domonkos (missioner priest from Hungary). In 2000 Caritas opened a kindergarten with Hungarian as well as Ukrainian languages of teaching. Although there were 4 state kindergartens, because of the lack of funds these establishments didn't work, except one, which was open for only 2 months in a year. Caritas decided to undertake this case, being aware of the fact that this program would be supported by some Hungarian funds, besides the town-council had promised to finance the salaries of the staff. The representatives of the local government have given the Caritas a house, in which a kindergarten (now closed) once worked. It became the property of the Caritas. With the help of foreign sponsors the kindergarten had been rebuilt. As a result 9 workplaces were created in the region, where the level of unemployment is rather high. This is the 8-th year the kindergarten is working. Today children are studying here. The kindergarten provides good conditions, the children eat 3 times a day. Unfortunately in April 2005 the local government stopped paying salaries without any reason. As a result workers during 3 months did not get wages. We had to reinforce the financial assistance from foreign sources, but we hope it's only a temporary solution. We try to settle and develop a good relationship with the local government. But, in case we continue to face misunderstandings from part of the local bodies, we will point out larger amounts from social donations and also increase the contributions of parents. Costs: 2,9 EUR/child/day. The state support is 0%.

7. The kindergarten named after"Paduai St. Anotny" in Kobileckaja Poljana (near Rachiv).

The foundation of this kindergarten was organized thanks to p.Domonkos (missioner priest from Hungary). The house for this purpose was given from the state and now the owner of it is Caritas in Kobileckaja Poljana. The kindergarten was established in 2001. By the agreement the town-council promised to finance the salaries of the staff and all other things was the task of Caritas (food, overhead, renovations etc). This final things were financed by foreign donations. Unfortunately in April 2005 the local government stopped paying salaries without any reason. As a result workers during 5 months did not get wages (In most cases these workers were the only ones in their families who had work). It was a very difficult time. Help came from Franciscan Mission Fund (Hungary) and after years they now finance the salaries but it is an uncertain situation and we depend only on God's will. Now the number of children is 25. 9 workers work here. Costs: 4,52 EUR/child/day. The state support is 0 %.

8. The kindergarten in Akli (near Vinogradovo).

The foundation of this kindergarten was organized thanks to p. Paul OFM (missioner priest from Hungary). The kindergarten was established in 1997. The owner of the building is the state and we can't pay for the overheads. From 1997 to 2008 its functioning was sponsored by many foreign organizations. From the beginning of 2002 the state began to support wages of workers which is 60 % of all costs. Now the number of children is 15. 7 workers work here. Costs:. 2,46 EUR/child/day.

9. The kindergarten in Jasigna.

The foundation of this kindergarten was organized thanks to Franz Ignats, director of Caritas in Jasigna. The kindergarten was established in 2007. A house was built with the help of foreign organizations and now the owner is Roman Catholic Parish in Jasigna (a school also works in this house). The state supports wages, overhead and food too. Caritas must care about renovations. Because Jasigna is located on wide area director of Caritas carries most of the children on line house-kindergarten-house by microbus each day (32 km/day). There are 44 children here. 9 workers work here.

The Roman Catholic Church in Transcarpathia have got the following establishments and programs:

Children's homes of family type

1. Children's home of family type named after "St. Gabriel" in Velikij Bereznij. Here are 7 children. State supports are 75 %.

2. Children's home of family type named after "Queen of Peace" in Velikij Bereznij. Here are 10 children. State supports are 75 %. This home isn't stand immediately direction of Caritas but the foundation and the functioning go on under the sanction of bishop Antal Majnek.

3. Children's home of family type named after "Nary St. Philip" in Mukachevo. Here are 11 children, 3 of them are own. The state has been supporting the expenses of children in 75 % since beginning of 2006.

4. Children's home of family type named after "St. Francis" in Hust. Here are 12 children, 2 of them are own. The state has been supporting the expenses of children in 75% since 2006.

5. Children's homes of family type named after Family Lelekats in Rativtsi (near Uzhgorod). Here are 7 orphans. State supports are 75 %.

6. Children's homes of family type named Family Juhasz in Rativtsi (near Uzhgorod). Here are 8 orphans and 2 own children. State supports are 75 %.

7. Children's home of family type named after "St. Elizabeth" in Serednje. Here are 3 orphans. State supports are 75 %.

Secondary educational establishments

8. Catholic Lyceum named after "St. Steven" in Munkach - here are 50 young people from the whole Transcarpathian district. State supports are 16 %. Here are being built a gymnasium, a dining-hall and special classrooms.

Kindergartens

9. The kindergarten named after "St. Catherina"in Fanchika. Here are 62 children. 12 workers work here. 2,85 EUR/child/day The state support is 55 %.

10. The kindergarten named after "St. Francis" in Korolevo. Here are 40 children. 14 workers work here. 3,37 EUR/child/day. The state supports are 60 %.

11. The kindergarten named after "St. Joseph" in Vinogradovo. Here are 50 children. 12 workers work here. 2,60 EUR/child/day. The state supports are 60%.

12. The kindergarten named after "St. Elizabeth" in Bustino. Here are 42 children. 13 workers work here. 3,78 EUR/child/day. The state support is 0%.

13. The kindergarten named after "St. Anna" in Solotvino. Here are 45 children. 14 workers work here. 2,85 EUR/child/day. The state support is 0%.

14. The kindergarten named after "Romzha Theodore"in Velikij Bochkov. 10 workers work here. Here are 30 children. 2,9 EUR/child/day The state support is 0%.

15. The kindergarten named after"Paduai St. Anotny" in Kobileckaja Poljana. Here are 24 children. 9 workers work here. 4,52 EUR/child/day. The state support is 0 %.

16. The kindergarten in Akli. Here are 15 children. 7 workers work here. 2,46 EUR/child/day. The state supports are 60%.

17. The kindergarten in Jasigna. Here are 44 children. 9 workers work here. The state supports are 80%.

Catholic students' hostels

18. Catholic college named after "St. Gerald" for students of the National University in Uzhgorod. The numbers of the students are 56. The state support is 0%.

19. Catholic college named after "St. George" for students of the National University in Uzhgorod. The numbers of the students are 22 (only for boys). The state support is 0%.

20. Catholic college for students of the lyceum in Mukachevo. The numbers of the students are 22 (only for boys). The state support is 0%.

21. Catholic college for students of the lyceum in Mukachevo. The numbers of the students are 23 (only for girls). The state support is 0%.

22. Catholic college for students in Berehovo. The numbers of the students are 20 (only for girls). The state support is 0%.

Work with phisically and mentally handicapped people

23. Rehabilitative house named after "St. Theresa" in Vinogradovo. There are200 children yearly. The state supports are 20%.

24. "Faith and light" organization provide from the invalid children in Hust and Tjachiv. It's not stand under the immediate direction of the Caritas. The state support is 0%.

25. Rehabilitative centre in Hust. The building will be finished soon. The state support is 0%.

Kitchens free of charge (Kitchens for the poor )

26. Kitchen with free dinner in Uzhgorod. There are 80 dinners every week on three occasions. 1,06 EUR/person/lunch. The state support is 0%.

27. Kitchen with free dinner in Munkach. There are 80 dinners every day. 0,41 EUR/person/lunch. There are washed and sewed the dresses of poor people. The state support is 0%.

28. Kitchen with free dinner in Vinogradovo. There are 180 dinners every day. 0,77 EUR/person/lunch. the state support is 0%.

29. Kitchen with free dinner in Thachiv. There are 102 dinners every day (except summer time). 1,61 EUR/person/lunch. The state support is 0%.

30. Kitchen with free dinner in Svaljava. There are 16 dinners every day, the state support is 0%.

31. Kitchen with free dinner in Kobileckaja Poljana. There are 15 dinners every day (the cooking from the kindergarten's kitchen for the hunger children). 0,62 EUR/person/lunch. The state support is 0%.

32. Kitchen with free dinner in Viskovo. There are 60 dinners every day. 1,15 EUR/person/lunch. The state support is 0%.

Work with the Gipsies

33. School for gipsies in Viskovo. The state supports are 25%.

34. Pastorate between the gypsies - we teach religion for children and adults in Beregujfalu, Koncovo, Galoch, Homok and Minaj. Humanitarian aid. The state support is 0 %.

Fuel programmes

35. Program for provide the poor family with fuels in Munkach for 12 families.The state support is 0%.

36. Program for provide the poor family with fuels in Hust for 19 families. The state support is 0%.

37. Program for provide the poor family with fuels in Visk for 80 families. The state support is 0%.

38. Program for provide the poor family with fuels in Tyachiv for 52 families. The state support is 0%.

Food-supply programmes for Christmas and Easter

39. Charitable Christmas and Easter programs for poor families in Vinogradovo. The state support is 0%.

40. Charitable Christmas and Easter programs for poor families in Hust for 125 families. The state support is 0%.

41. Charitable Christmas and Easter programs for poor families in Tyachiv for 175 families. The state support is 0%.

42. Charitable Christmas and Easter programs for poor families in Uzhgorod for 140 families. The state support is 0%.

43. Charitable Christmas and Easter programs for poor families in Visk for 40 families. The state support is 0%.

Help to the elderly people

44.Old people's home in Pavsino. The state support is 0%.

Help to the addicted people

45. Help for those people who use drugs. We had invited the members of the Cenacolo community to found a house of community in Ukraine. We had approved a home for them and we are looking for them. For this time we send these boys, who use drugs, to another houses of the Cenacolo (Polland or other countries).

46. We are going to plan a new project in 2009 to help for those people who use drugs and alcohol.

Help to the sick people

47. Program aimed to support (give financial aid) the operations of the children coming from poor families. It started in November 2006. Since that time we supported 18 operations.

48.Helping medical program for the poor people in Mukachevo. The curing is free in the military hospital, and they operate those people who came with a recommendation of the Caritas. For these supplies the hospital get a medical humanitarian helps from the Caritas.

Help to some schools

49. Caritas named after "Nepomuki St. John" in Jaszinya. The Caritas provide from the teaching of the poor children.

50. Not a regular help for the following schools: Munkach, Fornos, Barkasovo, Hust, Rahiv, Jaszinya.

Other

51. Food program for 165 poor families in Tjachiv, Okruhla and Bustino. The state support is 0%.

52. Complex for summer camps in Okruhla. The Caritas give a constant help to the complete renovation and the building of the complex. The state support is 0%.

53. Caritas named after "St. Augustine" is provide from the poor people. The state support is 0%.

54. Helping for the state's home for orphans in Perehresztja. The numbers of children are 107. It hasn't got a regular help from the Caritas. The state supports are 80 %.

55. Scholarship program for talanted Transcarpathian catholic students who are badly off and who study in Ukrainian higher educational establishments.Our announcement appears half-yearly. Last time we supported 33 students.

56. We are taking part in two EU projects in a Ukraine-Romania program in which Caritas Satu Mare is the main transacting member of the application. The one-year programmes are connected with phisically handicapped people and the cooperation between kindergartens.

57. We have started the rebuilding of a house being in bad condition which is situated in Mukachevo, Vatutyina street. We are planning to build here store rooms, rooms where we can distribute clothes, surgery room, office rooms, rooms for the guests.

58. Complex for summer camps in Bustino. The Caritas give a constant help to the complete renovation and the building of the complex. The state support is 0%.

59.Social Centrum in Uzhgorod (orphans, students' hostel, poor children )

The following organizations and programs (which concern to these points) are standing under the directly direction of the local Caritas: 1,4,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19, 23, 24,25,26,27,29,31,32,33, 35,36,37,38,39,40,41,43,49,51,52,53,56

The following organizations and programs (which concern to these points): 3,5,6,8, 20,21, 45,46,47,48,50,54,55,56,57 are standing under the directly direction of the Diocesan Caritas.

Those organizations and programs which are standing under the directly direction of the parish, these are the following: 7,22,28,30,34,42,44

Mukachevo, 2008. December

Collected by Ferenc Feher,
director of Saint Martin Caritas Transcarpathia

General Information about Caritas Transcarpathia

    Founded in the year 1993, Caritas Transcarpathia is today a very important network of nongovernmental organizations in Transcarpathia county that care for people with social needs. Caritas is an organization of the Roman-Catholic church and is based on the long Christian tradition of charity and caring for people who need help. This of course does not mean that only members of the Catholic church are helped by Caritas. The organization offers its help and assistance to all people in need, regardless of religion or nationality.

    The beginnings of Caritas work in Transcarpathia date back to the times following the fall of the Soviet Union. Ukraine as an independent state lost most of the previous commercial connections, the factories were closed, unemployment highly increased. A lot of humanitarian aid from western countries arrived in Ukraine and organizations were needed to distribute this aid. Soon it became obvious that this was not the way of solving the social problems of the country. It is not enough just to provide people with some material help. So Caritas began to develop social projects which could help people to live their lives with more dignity and as self-reliantly as possible.

    Caritas tries to find solutions for the most burning social problems. This means that Caritas works with different groups of persons (addicted people, elderly people, people with health-problems, mentally and physically disabled persons, street-children, families with social problems). During the last few years Caritas has realized several social projects. Of course this was only possible due to the help and cooperation of foreign partners. Not only the financial support was important for Caritas, but without the exchange of experience with organizations in western Europe, Caritas would not have been able to create all of the projects it currently runs.

    Today Caritas Transcarpathia is learning to stand on its own feet, but this process is rather slow because of the bad economical situation of Ukraine and the general poverty. In this temporary period we are in need of help from foreign supporters.

The Diocesan "St. Martin" Caritas (central office) and review its activity and function

The "St. Martin Caritas" is a charitable foundation in the Transcarpathia County. It was founded by the Transkarpatien Roman Catholic Apostolic Regency in the year 1999. In order to beside the central co-ordination of the programs to accommodate the local Caritas activities which were founded by the Roman Catholic parishes. The purpose of the Diocesan Caritas to alleviate the necessity of the body and the soul. For this reason the "St. Martin Caritas" to help the local caritas works as follows:

- help to find the money that necessary to the programs.
- help to stream the information.
- help the effective structure with strategy plans and co-ordination works
- manage a representative work and build connections
- arrange projects which stand outside of the range of the local caritas

- In specific cases render help to get over difficulties to the range of possibility.

12 local caritas working in Transcarpathia which are make working free kitchens, kindergartens, children's homes, and rehabilitative centers. In addition have five parishes which are belong to 6 charitable establishments.

The central co-ordination programs are the follows:

- In the first days of the flood in 1998 and 2001 the flood victims got a bread and mineral water than urgent relief, later they got 500 food packets every day. 23 new houses were finished during the reconstruction program.
- We carried out a program in opposition to spread tuberculosis in the mountainory district of Okormezo during the 2001-2002 years.
- The Catholic Lyceum was founded in 2001 in Munkach.
- The Nary St. Philip children s home was opened in 2002 in Munkach.
- The "Providence House" children's complex has been beginning to build in Rat since 1993 (district of Uzhgorod). The first house which makes for the orphans was opened in November. It's one part of the children's complex.
- We have been working on a program which makes for help of the poor gypsy people and trend for the education since 2005.
- We have been occupying with the help of the addicted people since 2006.
- We have been helping the operation of the poor children since 2006.