Welcome to our inaugural AGM, and thank you to Chaplins for hosting the event.

Since changing our name from Convoy of Hope to Take Hope (Yorkshire) in 2007, and subsequently registering with the Charity Commission, we have set high standards as a dedicated group of volunteer Trustees. We are meeting the various challenges in our work in Western Ukraine with our social projects that are becoming ever more demanding. This work is also very rewarding, in our efforts to improve the lot of many families and individuals in the Vinogradiv area, both old and young, able bodied and physically handicapped.

We can now report that 40 new beds have been made, delivered and installed at the Orphanage! The Director Sergei, staff and children at Perechrysta are delighted with the quality of the beds that should last several years. It is reported that the children's spirits have been uplifed since the arrival of the beds. The Trustees are looking forward to their next visit to the Orphanage to see the difference the new beds have made. The remaining 60 beds are in the process of being made by a local carpenter and should be delivered in the very near future.

On Friday 12 February 2010, the headmaster of Whetley School, Bob Curran , arranaged for a non-uniform day at the school to be dedicated to Take Hope. We have now been informed that the children raised an amazing £250, only a week after an appeal for the Haiti earthquake victims. Trustees of Take Hope will visit the school on Thursday 1st April to take part in their Maundy Thursday Special Assembly to thank them for their support and very generous donations!

Eight members of the Rotary Club, along with three guests recently visited Ukraine to see some of the work being done by the charity and I was asked to do a short report  on what we felt about the trip. So here it is!   Firstly, we were all surprised by how beautiful some areas in Ukraine were and how modern the city of Uzhgorod was. Most of the people we met were friendly and welcoming and we all enjoyed the visit very much.

Once we started to visit the projects supported by Take Hope, I think we were all shocked and saddened by the standard of hygiene and lack of equipment in the hospital and the orphanages we visited. They were obviously very short of cleaning materials for all areas but especially the bathrooms. The orphanages, but especially the bedrooms, were so bare with hardly any pictures, books or personal items on view; in fact most children didn't have any things of their own.  We were so sad to see the beds the children were sleeping in, we would have thrown them out years ago. Most of the furniture was extremely old and dropping to pieces. Everywhere was so dark and dismal; not at all like our children or grandchildren's bedrooms.

We were amazed to see laundry facilities in the Perechrysta orphanage. I don't know how the women managed to wash anything, and how there hasn't been a serious accident I've no idea. They desperately need new equipment there.

We visited a Caritas soup kitchen. Again, by our standards here in the UK the room was pretty awful but everyday two ladies are able to prepare 180 portions of soup and bread for people in need, 300 portions are prepared on Saturdays so they can have day off.  Such hard work and dedication make us feel so humble.

St. Theresa's Therapy centre for disabled babies and children was full of light with plenty of educational toys and equipment around but just when we thought we had found something good we were told they could be losing their funding.. So sad when this sort of help and support for families with a disabled child is so desperately needed.

 I'm sure we all felt very distressed at the things we saw and all wanted to do more to help. We did take over some craft items, pens, books, toothbrushes, soap etc but all the babies and children desperately need good warm clothing, shoes, bedding, toiletries and toys. Hopefully over the coming months we will continue to help when we can.

I wouldn't want anyone to think we didn't enjoy our visit to Ukraine because we did, but it is very hard to see people with so little when we have so much. 

Here in the UK most children have so much and they have so little but still smile and appear to be happy.