Mayor Mykola Romaniuk met with the director of the German Children's Fund Joern Ziegler
Child Fund Deutschland - German charity NGO that has already been working with Ukraine over several decades. Its main objective - social assistance to kids from low-income families, children with special needs, moral and providing psychological support, rehabilitation and socialization for such children.
Over several years of cooperation in Volyn region and in our city in particular there was a number of social programs realized. Due to the recent events taking place in our country, the fund has focused much attention on helping refugees families.
Today the director of the fund Joern Ziegler met with Mayor Mykola Romaniuk to discuss further cooperation and outline the problems that exist in work with this group of citizens. The Director of the Foundation “Child Well-Being” Tetiana Basyuk, Head of Regional Department Valerii Petrovych and heads of the structural units of the City Council also participated in the meeting.
The Mayor expressed his appreciation for the fund's assistance. “It comes from soul and heart and this is the most important thing. That is especially important for us, to support our country in such a difficult time,”- he said.
Mykola Romaniuk told about the work of the City Council with special kids, about organizing trainings for them and helping them in socializing. In particular, about creating inclusive groups in preschool education establishments, work of training-rehabilitation centers and corresponding NGOs.
The Mayor presented Joern Ziegler a special souvenir - a painting purchased at a charity auction. The painting was made by the kids with Down syndrome.
“We know about the situation of all children from the families which are in crisis. As for refugees - this issue is under constant control of the City Council. No child is left unattended,”- he said. All kids are now in kindergartens and schools, and to some extent are already adapted to the new environment.
Mykola Romaniuk shared the idea of creation a center for integration in our city. According to his words, this will be a kind of organization for communication and provision of professional help for kids from families in crisis and children with special needs. This center might also work with children from families who have sent their bread-earners to ATO. There are 139 of such children in Lutsk. The Mayor stated that there are no peers of such a center in Ukraine.
He believes that local authorities must do everything to help children with special needs to grow up and to become worthy members of our society and of the local community.
Joern Ziegler noted that they have not seen similar initiatives and such a support of the city’s mayor yet. He expressed sympathy for the Ukrainian people in difficult times, hope for future cooperation and wished successful implementation of plans and ideas.
For active social position and help in solving the problems of families who need special social support, Joern Ziegler and Tatiana Basyuk were honored with special diplomas from the Mayor Mykola Romaniuk.
