Courage to Hope

Description

Never mind that domestic violence is twice as prevalent in Ukraine as it is in the US. Never mind that there are 6 times as many deaths due to domestic violence in Ukraine per capita than in the US. Never mind the fact that the biggest shelter in the country only has $90k/yr to support a shelter, classes, legal fees, food and staff.

Take away all that and why would we help?

Because Ukraine isn't Africa or the Middle East where our assistance isn't as easily implemented and it isn't Europe where there is governmental infrastructure to support shelters. Ukraine is developed enough to accept assistance, but it is not economically progressive enough to provide it itself. There are shelters, but they aren't funded. There are programs, but they can't run. There are people, but they can't be supported.

Let us help Ukrainians help their people. Not through the government. US AID tried; the money never got to the shelters. Not on our own; other organizations have built shelters, and they soon were abandoned. We don't want to go from the top down or the bottom up--we are working directly with the women and children in the shelters to provide programs directed, developed and devised by the people of Ukraine for the people of Ukraine.