Our journey is long, but we are far from where we began …

Dana and I were in Duluth this week. We visited the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin. All 15 crane species in the world are here. There are only 700 Whooping cranes left in the world! It’s a fantastic place. We are on our way to meet friends in Minnesota. Where we will go on a canoeing trip for a week, so we will be out of cell coverage. I’ll update you next week.

Many exciting things are happening at the Dębniki Community Center and the Psychotherapy/ Women’s Center. Many countries in Europe are on vacation in August. So, needless to say, the leadership teams of KDU and Let’s Help Together Foundation have had a much-needed break with their families. But the community and women’s center are open, thanks to the incredible staff and volunteers.

Here’s the latest update on their incredible work:

Dębniki Community Center:

• Fundacja Kocham Dębniki has something in common with a three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Scilla Elworthy! Several members of our Ukrainian community received the Scilla Elworthy Integra Foundation Scholarship. Thanks to the initiative, the center has new programs for the next two months. The recipients of the scholarship joined in the work at the community center! They lead art classes, DIY classes for women, music workshops, and theatre classes for teens and kids. About 30 people – adults, teenagers, and children are learning English.
• The “Speaking Club” meets weekly to help practice communication skills. They talk about motivation, problem-solving, beauty (inside and out), and more. Children are learning English at the daycare center. This helps them learn the language and have positive emotions and valuable experiences! Check out the video of a kindergarten class practicing a rhythmic movement with the teacher https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vgsw62Wu1aI.
• A “Women’s Circle” class is starting next week. Ukrainian women are starting a new life for their families. Still, they also need time to engage with other women going through the same kind of trauma. What a fantastic way to help inspire and encourage each other.

Psychotherapy Center/ Women’s Center:

• The Psychotherapy Center has been open for just over a month. Eighty people have been in therapy sessions. There are 46 applications in process, and eight people are on the reserve list. For the first month, there were 169 hours of sessions. And on Fridays, there’s group therapy for teenagers, attended by 13-15 teens. These are the number of people signed up for therapy and do not include the amount of aid provided to those in need.
• “Flight” summer school for teens has been in session for six weeks. Last week they went on a field trip to learn the history of Kraków. There was much excitement and laughter to go around as they were learning about their adopted city.

• Yoga classes are starting next week at the Women’s Center. There will be three classes every week.
• Who would have thought that women would be studying again at 30, 40, and 50+? But, at this point in their lives, it’s a necessity to learn Polish. The classes are well attended, and the women learn to communicate in their new country.

As I think about our new Ukrainian friends, they have come a long way on their journey to a new life. They have left their husbands, brothers, and sons and moved their children, parents, and extended family to a new country. They had no place to live, work, or even understand the language. Yet, their strength and resolve to move forward are astounding. They still have a long way to go, but they are far from where they began. Won’t you help them on their journey?

“Relieve the crisis. Thoughtfully. With discipline and heart. Now.”

With your support of the Ukraine Relief Initiative, we have helped them start their journey; let’s help them continue it. Thank you for your love and support. Please continue to share their message and donate if you are able. Together we can do so much. Thank you, my friends. Be positive and stay safe.

Freedom is possible!

 

Much love,
Cindy and Dana

 

HOW TO MAKE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UKRAINIAN RELIEF INITIATIVE
All contributions are fully tax-deductible through HCC, our registered 501(c)(3) passthrough charity.

TO CONTRIBUTE BY CHECK:
Make your check payable to **Hispanic Community Council** – (VERY IMPORTANT: not to Ukraine Relief Initiative) and send it to the following address:

HCC – URI
c/o John Kersey
208 Liberty Street
Warren, PA 16365

Please indicate “Ukrainian Relief Initiative” in the check memo and include a note with your contact info (address, phone, email).

TO CONTRIBUTE ELECTRONICALLY BY PAYPAL:
Use this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WMYJHS9UVMWY2. PayPal goes through the “Hispanic Community Council,” our 501(c)3 passthrough organization.
In the memo, please include your name, address, phone #, and email so we can process your tax receipt.