Activities of the Benefit Society
As members of a charitable group, we are very grateful for any kind of
help which God has granted us so far, as well as for all prayers for our
ongoing work despite occasional setbacks.
We are well aware that our assistance can only be, so to speak, a drop in
the bucket. But we can certainly show signs of love, for God and neighbor,
to people who will come to realize, time after time, that there are individuals
in the world who think about them and want to help them, although they are
usually total strangers.
It is always refreshing to experience the gratitude of others. And many
continue to be in need of our help and prayers. Click
here for detailed information about our
projects, in chronological order.
Transportation
We assist with transportation several times a year to a varying extent.
We transport a number of items. You can read the details in our annual report.
Border formalities at the Ukrainian frontier sometimes result in difficulties.
In addition we are keenly aware of the constantly rising prices of fuel
in Germany and in the transit countries of Austria and Hungary as well as
in Ukraine.
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| A transport vehicle makes a stop en route
in Hungary. (l-r. C.Ehrler, U.Jahn, P.Szeghljánik) |
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| Getting ready to depart from Lengenfeld. (l-r
P.Szeghljánik, H.Schramm) |
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| A donation being given to the head physician
of the hospital in Vári. |
Christmas Package Drive
The annual Christmas Package Drive has developed into an important focus
of our work for the children in Transcarpathia. About 3000 children receive
a little surprise for Christmas. The children live in several villages as
well as at a state-run orphanage for children with learning disabilities
or who have been abandoned by their parents. For most of them it is the
only Christmas present they receive at all. These packages contain mainly
chocolate and other candy, oranges or tangerines, pencils and school supplies,
toothpaste and brushes, shampoo, socks, gloves or a scarf. For several years
the person in charge of this project, known as "Christmas Joy", was the
then Minister-President of the Free State of Saxony (Germany), Professor
Kurt Biedenkopf. At the present time the Christmas package drive is support
by the Dresden opera singer and entertainer Gunther Emmerlich together with
Björn Kircheisen of Johanngeorgenstadt in the Ore Mountains, whose awards
include several junior world championships, vice world champion 2005 and an Olympic medal in Nordic
combination events in Turin 2006. Donations are collected abroad,
enabling gifts to be purchased by our partners on location in Ukraine.
Please refer to the reports on the Christmas
Parcel Projects and also the annual reports.
Assistance in medical and social matters
In the past we provided support, for example, to the small 50-bed hospital
in Vári. A shortage of funds has led to a gradual reduction in the number
of beds, and furthermore has resulted in the decrepit condition of the institution.
The rooms are clean, but for many years could not be renovated. During the
winter months, the heat in the rooms can be turned up only once a day. The
only EKG-machine is the head physician's personal property, and in order
to operate this, it is necessary to "borrow" the battery from his car, a
Soviet-built Moskvitch. Patients' meals are cooked on an electric hot plate,
which belongs to one of the staff and is likewise not in good working order.
The head physician has basically no medication on hand. If the patient or
patient's family is able to pay for any necessary medicine, it is obtained
at a pharmacy and the doctor can administer it. We have assisted by providing
a car-battery, a hot plate, bed linens, smocks for doctors and nurses, towels,
bandages and medications, potty-chairs and walking devices. Similarly we
have given support to the diaconal home-care group in Mátyfalva.
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Picture 1: Ambulance for hospital in Vári
Picture 2: Hospital kitchen in Vári
Picture 3: Patient room in Vári |
The Benefit Society also gives emergency financial assistance. For examples
of projects, see General Overview (e.g. Julianna K. or A Heart for Adam).
Our partners are also very grateful for used eyeglasses which are no longer
needed.
Help during the Flood
Due to the disastrous weather in Noveber 1998, 120 localities were flooded.
In the village of Vári alone, which was one of the villages most severely
affected, over 300 houses were destroyed and about 1000 people lost their
homes. On two occasions we brought some urgently needed things to the area
of the catastrophe by providing transport assistance. Detailed information
and photos of the flood disaster of March 2001 can be seen
here. Additionally you can look
at the 2001 annual report.
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Picture 1: During the flood in the village
of Feketeardó
Picture 2: Destruction in Feketeardó |
Working with children and teens
The Benefit Society promotes contacts between young people in the Reformed
Church in the area of Transcarpathia (the youth group KRISZ was established
in 2002) and the Saxon Young People's Association "Christian Endeavor Union",
and also provides assistance to them. A partnership exists between these
groups, which is being continually expanded and developed. Of special interest
every year are the so-called "Youth Camps", which feature simple recreational
activities, and in which every summer between 2000 and 2500 young people
participate. Additionally the Benefit Society has taken part in the support
of Children's Bible Week in Mátyfalva and made handcraft material available
for the children. Refer also to the "Christian Endeavor Union"-photos and
annual reports.
 
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Picture 1: This ping-pong table was given
by a donor.
Picture 2: Youth camp with children from Germany and Subcarpathia
---June 2000 |
Support for Education
We have given support to students by financing their education under a sponsorship
program. Read about this in the annual report of 2000 and 2003.
Working with Alcoholics
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| l-r: The leader of the work with alcoholics,
Pastor Pocsai and his wife, also H. Schramm and P. Szeghljánik.
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We have established and supported contacts between the church group on alcoholism
in the Reformed Church and a corresponding Blue Cross organization in Mecklenburg,
Germany.
Economic Development/Everyday Life
This is a very difficult area to work in, and we are continually confronted
with numerous obstacles and failures. Basically we are delighted to establish
contacts whenever small or medium-sized companies wish to invest in the
area or go into production on a wage-and-labor basis. The low level of wages
definitely implies promise for the future. Many companies, some of which
are quite well known, are already functioning in Transcarpathia, such as
Ikea, HIPP-Infant Nutrition, United Colors of Benetton, Le-go and other
operations of the textile industry, as well as companies in the areas of
ski equipment, automobile supplying or shoemaking. The establishment of
a cheese factory, which we tried to contribute to, never came to fruition
for various reasons. The cultivation of curative herbs, specifically the
planting of chamomile, did not result in the success we had hoped for. Recently
we purchased a portable press for sunflower oil, which began operations
in 2003. Read about this in the annual report of 2003 and the semi-annual
report of 2004. |