Christmas gifts to 40 children with special needs in Kryvyi Rih

On 14th December, our team arrived in Kryvyi Rih: a big city in central Ukraine. Here, we brought Christmas gifts to a group of 40 children and young adults with special needs. We have been supporting them for two years and have become good friends. They are always waiting for us, and we bring not just humanitarian aid but love and emotional support.

We would like to thank all our British donors and especially “Fingers Crossed Ltd”, a company from Barcelona. Only thanks to you we are able to help and support these wonderful children and young adults.

This time we provided gift sets with:

• chocolates for the children (665 g boxes of Ukrainian chocolates)
• washing supplies for the family: a 3.75 litre bottles of washing concentrate, and 650 ml bottles of children’s shampoo.

We purchased supplies in Kryvyi Rih (a copy of the invoice is provided below). The local Ukrainian charity “Schira Sprava” (Good Deed) did a fantastic job, they helped us to buy the items and prepare the gift bags for every child. We are using transparent gift bags, so everyone can see what’s inside.

This time Schira Sprava came up with a fantastic idea, they invited Santa and Mrs Santa: actors dressed up in bright red costumes. They entertained the kids with interactive songs, dances and everyone had lots of fun.

Disabled children suffer more than others

It’s hard to rank who suffers more. But one thing is certain, life for disabled children is dreadful. First, their childhood is completely ruined. They have lost access to physiotherapy and other treatment which they desperately need, because there are no doctors and facilities have closed.

But the worst thing is, when the air raid sirens start howling and the drones start blowing up houses, they cannot run to the shelter together with everyone else. Shelters aren’t designed for wheelchair users. Or for children with mental disabilities.

Sunflower tries to be there, to support them. Of course, our humanitarian aid is important. But perhaps the emotional support, the very fact that we are coming all the way from Scotland matters even more.

We’d like to thank everyone in Scotland who is supporting our work, and allowing us to go to Kryvyi Rih. Together, we will continue giving these children our love and hope.