September 2006 CWUHA Journey to Ukraine

Ten vehicles loaded with Humanitarian Aid, and love, began the long journey to Kiev and Chernihiv in Ukraine.

Chernihiv is only a few Kilometres from Chernobyl the scene of the worse nuclear disaster in history, not many charities venture here.

The drivers were once again from all walks of life. Royal Mail and BT employees shared the same goal as solicitors, businessmen, house wives and even the odd tax inspector.

Their goal was to try and help people less fortunate than themselves.

Royal Mail and BT, a special thanks to you, supplied all of the vehicles, fuel cards and employee special leave!

Assistance given by the Department of Transport in London helped to make the crossing into Ukraine smooth and relatively cost free, a real “Brucey Bonus” compared to all our previous experiences at this border.

Even the custom clearance in Kiev and Chernihiv went like clockwork. Maybe this was partly due to lobbying that the organisers had achieved with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the fact that we had an audience with the British Ambassador in Kiev, who knows?

As usual all the aid at both places had to be stored in bonded warehouses awaiting detailed custom inspection after our departure. We can only hope that the newfound cooperation from the Ukraine authorities will be extended to EveryChild our partners in Ukraine who will supervise the distribution of the Aid.

Some of the Aid is intended for mother and baby units in Kiev and Chernihiv. The rest will be distributed around very poor villages, which will enable the families to stay together, and the children to avoid the “hell hole” orphanages.

The drivers were then shown around the Mother & Baby units which previous convoys had supplied with, furniture, beds, electrical goods and some finance. The grass was in desperate need of cutting at the Chernihiv unit, no money was available for luxuries like lawnmowers. So we went out and bought them one.. We visited a Chernihiv HIV clinic for mothers and babies operated on a very small shoestring by local people

Pictured: Karen McSorley cuddling an HIV positive baby

The building that the clinic operated from was dilapidated and lacked heating as the antiquated boiler had finally given up the ghost. This meant that the clinic could not open in the winter.

We bought them a boiler from the funds that we carry with us. These funds are donated by caring people and are intended for just these eventualities. Now they can offer year round warmth, as well as loving attention, to the needy babies.

The volunteers who work in this clinic are the real “ angels”. With your help we intend to return to this clinic so that we can help with the planned restoration work.

All in all, this convoy was considered to be “THE BEST CONVOY EVER” in the aid we carried, the personnel, organisation and leadership, but mainly with the superb help from all the branches. Cheers to you, from all who benefited.