Chernihiv Region Charity
“Aratta”

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March, 17, 2008.
Aratta’s members about “Aratta”

Have been talking with the collaborators of Chernihiv Region Charity Organization “Aratta” we understood, that this organization takes a very important place in the lives of its members. The path, which was passed by “Aratta” from its very start till today, was really long and difficult. People, who were in the organization from its birth and those, who came later tell about “Aratta” offering additional details.

Davidenko Tatiana - hairdresser:

- Your achievements in the organization through the period of your work?

I give happiness to people and this makes me happy as well.

- What role does the organization play in the region and in the city?

I’m sure that its role is huge. This organization is much needed. Charity into a person’s soul is very important, and it’s really good if such an organization exists, but when we can see the results of the work, it means a great success.

- How can you imagine the future of “Aratta” and what role would you like to play in it?

I think that relations will develop and the organization will find more sponsors, because their help is very important for the whole society. We have only few organizations, which protect old men and children. What about me, I’ll try to bring luck to all members of organization.

- What do you think about sponsors and partners of organization?

They are very responsive, kind and interesting people. I like them very much and, of course, I feel a great gratitude to them and to Victoria, who created such a charity organization as “Aratta”.

- What does it mean for you 10 years in “Aratta”?

For me it’s a contact with good and kindhearted people.

- Can you imagine your life without this organization?

No, I really cannot imagine my life without it.

- What did “Aratta” give to you for your individual growth?

Maybe I recur, but first of all it is communication with colleagues and sponsors. Due to it I learn the world around me. And the awareness of being able to make good things gives me the feeling of my importance.

- What problems does “Aratta” have?

I think the main problem is money. There are many projects which could be accomplished in the organization if financing is available

Petruhno Nadezhda - assistant of the accountant:

- Your achievements in organization through the period of working?

I can work with the 1-C book-keeping programme.

-What role does the organization play in the region and in the city?

This organization provides a lot of help and support to needy people, it is very important for them.

- How can you imagine the future of “Aratta” and what role would you like to play in it?

I think that this organization will develop and attract attention of the society.

- What is your opinion about the main help of “Aratta”?

In humanitarian aid: presents, toys, clothes, etc.

- What do you think about sponsors and partners of organization?

Of course, they are great people! We would like to see more of such people.

- Can you imagine your life without this organization?

Maybe I can imagine, but children, whom we are taking care about, can’t.

Veter Galina – Manager of the Training centre:

- Your achievements in organization through the period of work?

At first we had only 5 clubs now there are 17 in the organization and, of course, it’s a great achievement. Also people begin to show more trust to the organization, the amount of children in the clubs has risen from 50 to 240. Where else could I realize myself? I am a person of advanced years.

- How can you imagine the future of “Aratta” and what role would you like to play in it?

It is connected with the whole city. We are interested in everybody’s happiness, wealth and health.

- What is your opinion the main help of “Aratta”?

The main help of “Aratta” is in humanitarian aid for needy families, in helping them and in teaching them to earn money. We are sure that the main thing is not to feed with fish but to teach how to fish.

- What do you think about sponsors and partners of organization?

Of course, I think they are great, but sponsorship is not endless and that’s why we should find new ways of development, such as applying for grants with projects for instance, etc.

- What does it mean for you 10 years in “Aratta”?

This organization helped me very much. Now it’s my family, my friends and my collective.

- How do you prepare to the jubilee?

I make the reports, because I’m responsible for events, for holidays and for everything that is connected with the clubs.

Phillips Lara - secretary:

- Your achievements in organization through the period of working?

I’m still learning. Now I know how to work with computer and office equipment, but don`t stop on it. I’ve spread my world outlook, I`ve learned a lot about foreign countries and their traditions, and I’ve made a conclusion that the nationality doesn`t matter because there are good and bad people everywhere.

- What role does the organization play in the region and in the city?

Organization plays a big role, because almost all schools, kindergartens, educational institutions and hospitals receive different kinds of help. At first, it was juridical help, but now it`s also psychological and humanitarian. 100 organizations, which are serviced by us every year, but don’t forget about individual families. We give help to nearly 400 families every year.

- How can you imagine the future of “Aratta” and what role would you like to play in it?

I think the organization will develop and maybe the subdivision of organization which attends to projects will grow stronger, because this is one of the sources of our income. Also we would like to have more people who would be interested in attraction of new sponsors. I will still help people, because I am really eager to do it.

- What is your opinion of the main help of “Aratta”?

This help is different, and it can be individual for everyone, because in different stages of life people face with different problems: solitude, poorness, little possibilities for self-realization, for studies to work at computer, etc., and “Aratta” can give them help in these definite moments of life.

- What do you think about sponsors and partners of organization?

A lot of people came, but not all of them did help us. Everyone has his own motives. Some of them gave us their help just once, others just took an interest, but those, whom our activity touched deeply, are still giving us their help and support until now. They liked to communicate with our people; they also liked our hospitality, our city, our country.

- What does it mean for you 10 years in “Aratta”?

It’s a lot for me: during the period I worked here, there were a lot of changes inside of me, I saw that life is more interesting. I can tell that I like to work here and everyday I’m in a hurry to come here, it may be because I see the results of our work and it makes stimulus for new starts. Also, humanitarian and financial help is very important for me. And, mainly, thanks to «Aratta», I’ve got acquainted with my husband.

- Can you imagine your life without this organization?

I can imagine but I am not in a hurry to develop this imagination

- What problems does “Aratta” have?

Instability of Ukrainian economy.

- What do you give to this organization?

I give my desire, knowledge, time and skills.

- How would you like to see your role preparing to 10th year jubilee?

You know I remember the way we were celebrating our 5 years jubilee, «it was great» as it was in the restaurant «Desna»! I would like to have the same at this time. As the building we are in and we always celebrate all our holydays in it is too small, of course, we want something new and all together.

Tsirulnikova Nelya - office-manager

- Your achievements in the organization through the period of work?

During this period I found peace of mind, satisfaction from meeting with people and sympathy. I am responsible for the whole work with needy people, and it changes my outlook of the world.

- What role does the organization play in the region and in the city?

The organization plays a big role for needy people and families with many children. As you know, we have three branches of “Aratta” and aspire to broaden.

- How can you imagine the future of “Aratta” and what role would you like to play in it?

As I told, we want to broaden and help people from different districts. I will do my usual work.

- What is your opinion of the main help of “Aratta”?

We don’t leave people with their problems alone. There are a lot of them in our life today. And also we work with children and help them to develop their potential, it’s very expensive in the city clubs, and we have no cost just symbolic donations.

- What do you think about sponsors and partners of organization?

I repeat the words of people, who have already received help: “Thanks a lot to the people, who take care of us, because our government doesn’t think about us at all.” I think the help is really important.

- What does it mean for you 10 years in “Aratta”?

Our organization has helped me greatly. It has become more serious. It’s very pleasant for me, that a lot of people have heard about “Aratta”.

- Can you imagine your life without this organization?

No.

- What problems does “Aratta” have?

The main problem is that we don’t have a common building of the Community centre and the warehouse.

- What do you give to this organization?

I give my experience to people, who need it, try to image something new and useful in helping people.

- How would you like to see your role preparing to 10th year ubilee?

Now, we have not prepared anything yet, but we are going to make a booklet, because ten years is an important date. We will invite the representation of local authorities. I am sure our party will be really great.

Borovik Olga - chief accountant:

- What role does the organization play in the region and in the city?

Our aims are to involve children in activities distinct from those found on the street and help them to develop their talents, to introduce them to a healthy way of life. That’s why I think that the role of the organization is very important.

- What do you think is the main kind of help that “Aratta” provides?

The main help of “Aratta” is to offer humanitarian aid to needy families, in teaching them to earn money. We think it is better not to feed people with fish but to teach them how to catch fish

- What does it mean for you 10 years in “Aratta”?

I saw how our organization began to work and now it is a great part of my soul. Ten years slipped by very quickly but we did a lot. There are many veteran workers, who came from the very start and are still in the organization. Our children and even grandchildren grew up here and visited all clubs from the very beginning.

- Can you imagine your life without this organization?

No, because “Aratta” gives me material and moral support.

- What problems does “Aratta” have?

The main problem is the lack of privately owned infrastructure. We have a warehouse and we rent a building for our office, but we must expend monetary resources to pay for rent which negatively impacts our budget, which is dependent on our sponsors.

- What do you give to this organization?

It’s difficult for me to answer. I think other people see my work better than me.

- How would you like to see your role preparing to 10th year jubilee?

We are preparing financial report for ten years from 1998 till 2008. People say that transparent book-keeping is vital to the credibility of the organization, and I want to add that we have never had any problems with it.

Butko Svetlana – administrator:

- Your achievements in organization through the working period?

It’s very important for me to help needy people, families with many children. It makes me feel, that I am useful for the society and the society is very useful for me.

- What does it mean for you 10 years in “Aratta”?

First of all, we’ve matured greatly. In 1998 it was just “Chernihiv Center for Children and Youth “Aratta”, in 2004 it became Chernihiv Region Charity. And now we have three branches of “Aratta”, which are working in t.Shchors, t.Gorodnya and Makoshino village in Mena region. “British Humanitarian Aid” plays an important role in the life of our organization.

- Can you imagine your life without this organization?

No. I think my life would be very dull and boring because I am not young.

The colleagues of the warehouse express their gratitude to the charity “Aratta”, to the workers and to all the members of the Board, in particular, to Viktoria Filatova and to the foreign sponsors and Maecenas. They wish them to have prosperity in the undertaking, to find compromise to the problems. Unfortunately, not everybody could tell about their attitude to the organization, because they were busy delivering humanitarian aid, but some of them found time for it.

Strok Valentina - book-keeper calculator:  She works in the organization for 5 years.

“Aratta” has played a big role in my life and in the life of my family, in particular in my child’s life, who is ill DCP. The organization provided important help in the treatment of my son. Also “Aratta” assisted my son in traveling to Denmark, with humanitarian aid (e.g., clothes and shoes) which was a big problem. I felt real help of the organization for my son, and now I have very big enthusiasm to work here. I try to be useful for the people who need help.

To Inna Shapoval mind, who is a commandant in the warehouse, the activity of the organization from a small stream turned into a storm flow. She also does her best in charity, and she introduced her son into “Aratta”. And now he works in Theatrical studio “DYVOSAD” with young handicapped people and healthy youth.

Store-keepers Vera Stelmah and Tatiana Barabanova whose duty is giving humanitarian aid to people and to organizations, which feel the necessity, express their gratitude to the organization “Aratta”, to the sponsors, who give hope to people. “Aratta” is the second family for them and they can’t imagine their lives without it.