The gift of Christmas for homeless children in Ukraine

Published: 22.12.05 (Updated: 21.06.12)

In the spirit of Christmas, this year again, Omega's employees are extending a helping hand to the homeless children of Ukraine, instead of reaching into their own Christmas stockings.

In 2003 while traveling in Ukraine, Annbjørg Lunde (wife of Chairman, Sigmund Lunde) was introduced to an inspiring person, Olena Barchuk, and her plight to improve the lives of disadvantaged children on the streets of Ukraine.

'When I visited, Olena had a system where she found children in need and had the chance to look after them for a period of nine months. In one of the centres there were around 500 children, often 50 in one big room,' recalls Annbjørg.

'She hated having to hand them back to what she said was a bad system and told me about her wish to build a home where they could live for their whole childhood, not just nine months.'

That year, Omega's employees made Olena's wish come true by choosing not to receive Christmas gifts from their employer and instead agreeing that that money go toward the building of a centre for homeless children.

'Earlier, we at Omega would give each employee a gift, but it was not something any of us needed,' explains Lars Dalen. 'Employee's reaction (to giving up the gift for the Ukrainian project) was positive - they were happy to be able to help.' Following Omega's employee's selfless choice, Omega entered into a three-year joint venture (administrated by THK Stiftelsen - a foundation supporting humanitarian work in Eastern Europe) with Olena's mother and child centre in Korosten, Ukraine. The venture involved establishing a home for approximately 40 children outside the city, offering them a new life off the streets of Korosten.

Children in the city of Korosten, in north-central Ukraine, have grown up in the shadow of what is considered the world's worst atomic accident.

The city and the region was hard hit, when on the 26th of April 1986 in nearby Chernobyl (Tsjernobyl), a reactor in an atomic power plant exploded. The city of Korosten and its inhabitants were only approximately 80km from the blast. Unfavourable winds and the flat landscape that surrounds Korosten meant that the radio active clouds reached the city in a short amount of time.

Korosten continues to be badly affected by this tragedy. The city now consists of a small industrial centre, a railway junction, and an engineering centre. The previously fertile farming land is now useless. Those who are lucky enough to have work are employed in factories that specialize in chemical industry equipment, food-processing, and clothing.

Today's children in Korosten did not live through the Chernobyl disaster, but have felt the social and economic effects of the radioactive blast every day of their lives. Many of them live life on the street, often due to the loss of family members and always through desperation.

'Many children don't go to school. Alcoholism and drugs are a big problem amongst parents, but there are also children of eight years sniffing glue. When Olena takes them in, many require first aid,' says Annbjørg.

Annbjørg recalls the story of a three year old girl she met at the centre.
'She looked happy, but Olena told me they had found her locked in an apartment with her alcoholic mother who did not care for her. She was closed in a room and probably given a little food and nothing else. When Olena found her, she could not speak, but with care she now does her best to sing along with the other children.'

Olena is, quite literally, the heart of the project, salvaging children off the street and providing them with opportunities that form the foundations of a good future. She works as a teacher and then in her free time lives at the centre, acting as a mother and care giver to the children. In her position, Olena gets to see first-hand how the donations from Omega help the children of Korosten.

Omega was lucky enough to have a visit from Olena in October this year and, as Annbjørg explains, you can't help but be impressed by her dedication to the cause.

'Olena is a strong woman with a big heart, but also big authority - and you need that! We believe in the project because of her. We know that when we give money to her vision, it will come true. She was so happy to thank Omega her eyes were filling with tears. She is very satisfied with our help.'

The building is now nearing completion and the hope of Omega, Olena and everyone involved is that it will be completed before summer 2006, at which time it will fill with previously homeless children that, in the spirit of Christmas, now have a real chance at life.

Thanks go to all Omega employees for their generosity, from Omega's Management team and Olena Barchuk in Korosten, Ukraine.