A year in Dnepropetrovsk
An American volunteer in UkraineArchive for Sabina
DGU kickoff event in Zaporozhe
December 17, 2008. 11 am. “Cultural Palace,” Zaporozhe.
The morning began with a press conference, to which the major television channels, newspapers, and young volunteers of Zaporozhe were invited. I was very excited by the turnout– nearly 40 young people were there, which is quite astonishing, considering how little is known about voluntarism here in Ukraine. The conference lasted a little over an hour, after all was said and done. Inessa, the energetic director of JCC Zaporozhe, who organized most of this event, was our emcee for the morning. We opened with speeches. Anatoli, director of Chessed Zaporozhe, and Amir spoke, among others. Then it was time to unveil the site itself.
Above (left to right): Inessa, me, Sabina
Save Yourself
Thursday, November 20, 2008
I am travelling the 1.5 hours to Zaporozhe, the evening before I am to leave for America, in order to witness firsthand a JCC charity fundraiser. The event, a freestyle competition, is called “Сохрани себя,” or “Save Yourself.” Entrance was 10 грн (grivnas), and all proceeds go to the family of Anton, a 22-year-old diagnosed with leukemia.
Zaporozhe and Donetsk
The story: over the past week and a half, I went on two excursions, to Zaporozhe and to Donetsk.
When: I went to Zaporozhe last Thursday. Amir and I left at 3 pm and got back at 9 pm. Amir, Karima (another JDC employee) and I left this Monday at 2 pm, Karina and I arrived in Donetsk at 7 pm, Amir continued to Ludonsk for the night, and we all left Donetsk the next day at 3 pm and arrived in Dnepropetrovsk at 7:30 pm.
The location: Zaporozhe is about one hour south of Dnepropetrovsk, and Donetsk is about four and a half hours west.
