Oksana Kunanec-Swarnyk

During the Christmas season and at the beginning of a new year, all of us involved in project Nadyia-Dzherelo for disabled children in Ukraine remember with deep gratitude our generous benefactors and sponsors in the west. Sincere thanks to you all for your goodwill and support. Through the years Dzherelo Centre has been supported by the Children of Chornobyl Canadian Fund in Toronto.

Since 1993, Dzherelo Childrens Rehabilitation Centre has been offering services to children with cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions in Lviv region. The mission of the Centre is to give these children an opportunity to attain their full potential in physical function and independence, and intellectual and social integration by, using verified methods of education and rehabilitation, training caregivers and educating families and the community.

Before Dzherelo Centre began, children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities were largely invisible in Ukraine, despite the fact that there are 2,000 to 3,000 of these children in Lviv region alone. Few of these children were allowed many still are not allowed to go to school. Medical care did not offer, nor encourage, or even consider, functional rehabilitation and specialty programs for the children and their parents. These children therefore did not have the possibility to achieve their potential and become integral members of society.

The parents of these children would not settle for this and so in 1993, the Nadyia Association of parents with children with cerebral palsy along with three individuals besides myself Myroslav Nykolayev, Zenia Kushpeta, Mykola Swarnyk officially registered and founded Dzherelo Rehabilitation Centre and School. The Centre attracts visitors from all over Ukraine. Parents and professionals that have heard about the centre, want see what is being done there and to learn and so that perhaps they can start something for their children in their own region. As a leading organization in this field, Dzherelo is influencing the government in policy making and the establishment of programs for children with special needs. Dzherelo Centre has become a model centre, with national and international recognition, and an essential resource for children with special needs, their parents and professionals.

Dzherelo Centre is committed to the treatment, education, consultation and counseling of children with cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions, and their families. The process includes early referral, assessment, and implementation of an individualized treatment plan by an integrated team of specialized professionals. The aim of the Centre is to facilitate optimal functioning and integration into society.

Programs and services are provided to children and young adults from the ages from birth to 25 years of age by a team of doctors, physical, occupational and speech therapists, teachers, psychologists, social workers, students and volunteers. Approximately one hundred children take part in daily programs of the center on an ongoing basis.

Simultaneously, since 1994, a new building for the center has been in the process of being built. In October, 2002, this year, the new building opened its doors with the blessing of the newly finished chapel and commencement of the Early Intervention Program and the Rehabilitation Youth Club. The blessing ceremony and the beginning of these programs is a great source of inspiration to all and promises to benefit more and more children with special needs by offering the services they so desperately need.

Now, with part of the New Building open and providing services and its construction, well on the way to completion, and the Old Building continuing to provide services, we are faced with an acute lack of funding to carry on activities. Operational expenses are rising due to additional programs and services. A concerted effort is being made to obtain financial support from the city budget, and we are confident that some support will be obtained. There is a great possibility that the Centre will be forced to limit services and programs in January 2003. However, we are determined and will not stop in our efforts to help these children.

On behalf of parents of the children that require assistance to learn, to walk, to talk and whose only wish is to be able to play and enjoy life, as all children, we appeal to you for you support. For nine years the Dzherelo Centre in Lviv has provided programs for children with special needs with support from many generous people. Thank you for your support through the Children Of Chornobyl Canadian Fund. Please help us to continue with our work. We assure you that every penny will be well spent on the children and their needs.

Support the Dzherelo Centre by sending donations to: CCCF, 2118-A Bloor St W, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 1M8.

Web site: www.chornobyl.ca