Peremoha is the Ukrainian word for Victory.
The Peremoha Mini-Grants program was launched in the summer of 2022 in response to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers could apply together with a Ukrainian partner they had worked with in some way during their service. Funding priorities for the program included humanitarian aid to Ukrainian communities, and projects in alignment with sectors previously implemented by Peace Corps Ukraine: community development, youth development, education, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. We are proud to share with you the stories of the Alliance's Peremoha grantees.
RPCV: P Jay Werner Peterson, Community Development 2005-2007
Ukrainian Partner: Dr. Ira Roshkovych, Vice Director at Regional Center of Complex Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities and volunteer Vice Director of Path of Life and Head, Early Childhood Intervention Department
Region: Uzhhorod, Zakarpatska Oblast
P Jay, known as Gaia in Ukraine, worked at the ‘Path to Life Social and Medical Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children’ during her time as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 2005-2007. During that time, this center provided a wide range of services to children with disabilities and their parents. Gaia worked with them as a management consultant and fundraiser for the organization. She partnered with Dr. Ira, an expert in early childhood development and a brilliant linguist, fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, Hungarian, and English. Gaia has returned to Uzhhorod several times over the years, including for the Center’s 20th Anniversary in 2019.
When the war began, Path to Life set up a hub for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with children by converting 10 rooms (including classrooms and administration space) to accommodate up to 50 people. In addition to providing housing, the Center opened their doors to any IDP children in town who required the services of the Center's specialists during the day. This gives the children’s parents the opportunity to relax a little psychologically and look for employment while helping their children.
Their efforts to support homeless Ukrainians fleeing from the war have created additional staff needs, increased utility bills, and the need to purchase a larger refrigerator for the new temporary residents. Because the costs of housing internally displaced children/persons with disabilities are not reimbursed in Ukraine, no funding is provided to the charitable organizations such as the Path to Life Center. The Center is forced to attract extra-budgetary funds from various donor international organizations to pay staff salaries and utilities services.
During the project implementation period, as of October 19, 2022, 25 children/persons with disabilities were living in the Center and 6 children were attending the "Day Care" service. Thanks to the funds of the Peremoha Grant, the living conditions of the displaced persons were improved, the electricity stayed on throughout the winter, the staff members working overtime to care for the IDPs were paid, and a large refrigerator to account for more people was purchased.
As of May 19, 2023, 22 IDPs live in the center and 8 IDP children with disabilities attend the Center's Day Care service on a daily basis.
The RPCV Alliance for Ukraine is able to make grants thanks to proceeds raised by sales of the Babusya's Kitchen Cookbook and your additional donations. Please give today!