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Ukraine is embroiled in a horrifying humanitarian crisis. More than 900,000 refugees - the vast majority of whom are women are children - are expected to flee to Italy.
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Latest Update
I have just returned from visiting our programs in Italy where we had the opportunity to meet with some of the refugee families who have already arrived - 50 so far – some as young as three years old. Each family has a private room with outdoor access, along with bathrooms with shower facilities and washing machines – tools that are critical to combatting hygiene poverty and the associated decrease in mental health. Several rooms have been converted into classrooms or shared workspaces.
On a previous trip, I had accompanied our program staff to the airport, where we picked up three women who were just arriving from Ukraine. At that time, they were weary from their days-long trip, and terrified of what was ahead, in a country where they knew no one and didn’t speak the language.I saw those three women again on this most recent trip, and the change was remarkable - they were happy and smiling, and had dressed up for the occasion.
That said, their circumstances remain exceedingly challenging. The women spoke of the need to access Italian language courses and vocational training so they could begin to earn money to support themselves and their children, as well as their families back in Ukraine who were unable to work.
While Italian public schools have developed specialized programs to help onboard and upskill Ukrainian refugees, for those too young to enter school, their mothers worry both about their socialization as well as their safety and well-being; mothers cannot seek education or work for themselves without adequate childcare.
Outside of Italy, through our ongoing partnership with the Gravissimum Educationis Foundation, we have sent emergency funding directly to the Don Bosco Missions, which operate in Kiev and throughout Ukraine to provide housing and education to school-aged children. We have also provided aid to the Ukrainian Catholic University of Lviv, which through the Stand with Ukraine program offers significant social and humanitarian support to university students, their families, and the entire population. Again, it's because of donations like yours that we have been able to continue these fruitful partnerships and life-saving efforts.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
June 17, 2022
Gabriele Delmonaco
President/Executive Director
I have just returned from visiting our programs in Italy where we had the opportunity to meet with some of the refugee families who have already arrived - 50 so far – some as young as three years old. Each family has a private room with outdoor access, along with bathrooms with shower facilities and washing machines – tools that are critical to combatting hygiene poverty and the associated decrease in mental health. Several rooms have been converted into classrooms or shared workspaces.
On a previous trip, I had accompanied our program staff to the airport, where we picked up three women who were just arriving from Ukraine. At that time, they were weary from their days-long trip, and terrified of what was ahead, in a country where they knew no one and didn’t speak the language.I saw those three women again on this most recent trip, and the change was remarkable - they were happy and smiling, and had dressed up for the occasion.
That said, their circumstances remain exceedingly challenging. The women spoke of the need to access Italian language courses and vocational training so they could begin to earn money to support themselves and their children, as well as their families back in Ukraine who were unable to work.
While Italian public schools have developed specialized programs to help onboard and upskill Ukrainian refugees, for those too young to enter school, their mothers worry both about their socialization as well as their safety and well-being; mothers cannot seek education or work for themselves without adequate childcare.
Outside of Italy, through our ongoing partnership with the Gravissimum Educationis Foundation, we have sent emergency funding directly to the Don Bosco Missions, which operate in Kiev and throughout Ukraine to provide housing and education to school-aged children. We have also provided aid to the Ukrainian Catholic University of Lviv, which through the Stand with Ukraine program offers significant social and humanitarian support to university students, their families, and the entire population. Again, it's because of donations like yours that we have been able to continue these fruitful partnerships and life-saving efforts.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
June 17, 2022
Gabriele Delmonaco
President/Executive Director
Gabriele Delmonaco speaks with Fox News Live's Trace Gallagher about our work to support Ukrainian refugees, 3/27/22
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Through our programs in Rome and Civitavecchia, as well as complementary sites in Naples, we are prepared to accept and support families of Ukrainian refugees. We have the infrastructure, capacity and expertise to provide these refugees with transportation, housing, food, clothing, education, medical care, mental health counseling and more.
The cost to provide comprehensive care for one refugee for one year through our program is $16,500. Please, make a gift of any size to help us care for these victims of war. The more funding we are able to secure, the more children and families we will be able to support. |
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