Paraskoveyevka

15/08-29/08 2004

Paraskoveyevka, the little village situated somewhere in southeastern Ukraine was invaded by a group of foreigners and occupied by them from the middle till the end of August 2004. The target of volunteers (like called themselves these strange people of different nationalities:-) ) was Paraskoveyevka Special Boarding School for mentally disabled children.

There are about 200 children in the boarding school aged 8-16 years old, among them 15 orphans. Most of them coming from families with very poor background and alcohol problems. Some of them don’t have any mental disability, but difficulties with learning, and slow physiological and psychical development.

In the school they get basic skills of writing, reading and calculating. Additionally to this, they learn professions of carpenter or tailor. School administration would like to equip classes for social-domestic education of children, in order to make them acquainted with domestic objects and house atmosphere, cooking and ironing clothes, and other household activities.

During the last years, the boarding school did not get enough funding, so most renovation and support of the boarding school territory was done with the efforts of staff and the children. Involvement of volunteers to help the boarding school staff was a big and appreciated help.

Our group consisted of 16 people that represented five European countries: Belgium, France, Switzerland, Poland and of course, Ukraine :-)

We spent two crazy weeks working together and we will always remember that:

putting wallpaper is not as easy as it seems

you have to be careful while using blue paint when you do not want to look like a smurf!

even if the same substance is used for impregnation of windows it doesn’t mean that you cannot use it for removing paint’s stains from your body…

blue paint is the favorite one for covering windows, so it is better not to paint the cupboard on this color in case when you have only one can of it :-)

After work we organized unforgettable national evenings. It was precious opportunity to try Ukrainian kvas, Polish beer with syrup, French sausages, Swiss chocolate and Belgian fries. Ohhh, we gained lot of new skills, like joggling, we have also the quick course how to recognize French perfumes.

Nobody could complain about the lack of fun in the local disco which was REALLY a great intercultural experience. Especially that the locals wanted to integrate with foreigners so much that any language border existed. (And even if sometimes existed, nobody cared.)

And finally, we participated in a few excursions to Artemovsk - the nearest city, to the local salt mine, to the National Park "Svyaty Gory" and to the place called "Blue Lakes" - where we could see one big green lake and any blue nearby, but anyway we enjoyed it.

It was remarkable time for us ... and I dare say also for the habitants of Paraskoveyevka :-)

Till the next year!!!!!

Marta Guzniczak