History

Our first encounter with street children was in 1994 in Irkutsk, Syberia. Our memories include childlike faces, children dressed in rags, smelling badly, with cigarette butts in the corner of their mouths. And they were always on guard for the aggressive militia and drunken passer-byers.

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In Spring 2000, we spent a week in Kiev, the capital of the Ukraine, where we encountered many street children as well. For us it felt like a still picture from years before. We decided to move to Kiev and try to help those homeless and hopeless children. Together with a couple of friends in Switzerland we established "Verein Kiev Kids" which supports our work in Ukraine.

 

We started to work on the streets, in sewage system drains and in parks, where the Kids found their shelter. We soon realized that a willing heart and a bowl of soup, though welcomed, did not really bring any help. The children were left in their misery and their circumstances did not change. Realizing that something more must be done, the idea of a children's centre was birthed in our hearts.

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In March 2002, we opened a private children's centre "SUNSHINE" in the suburbs of Kiev, where we offer a home to twelve former street children.

 

In November 2003 we registered the Ukraine International Charity Fund "SUNSHINE Children's Centre"

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In September 2005 we opened the "Life Skills Training" apartment and in December 2006 we added a Foster House.