This month we continue staging a puppet show. Now we dramatize the tale “Koza Dereza". Many thanks to the student volunteers who help us in organizing walks, attendance of the swimming pool, conducting group sessions.

 Successfully continued free massage courses for parents.

 Thanks to the company “Polytechnica” for building a fence at our   playground.

 This month finally was realized our dream! We have organized three trips to the stable yard. Children enjoyed to talk to  horses, fed them, watched the process of care for the animals, and made friends with a horse named Lily.

 Hippotherapy has a significant improvement not only on mental  and intellectual development of our children, but, most importantly, children have much better health: strengthening the immune system, considerable improvement in the growth of bones, strengthen of  the muscular tissues, improvement of motor skills. Besides these positive effects children feel more  independent, confident, organize competition with each other, show the interest and the desire to engage themselves in the process of interaction with the animal, which is a huge driving force in their rehabilitation and recovery.

 In October continues to conduct individual and group sessions on  personal development, massage, music therapy and sport events.  During group and individual sessions we had workshops on the topic " Horses" (modeling, applique, puppet theater, art,  sports). At one of the sessions  we, together with our children, had a  project "Ah, fall!" We made a wallpaper dedicated  to our fall excursions and walks.

 Incredible joy to our  team happened this fall! We bought musical instruments for kids: maracas, glockenspiel, rattles,  tambourines, harps, spoons, triangles. Now the kids have a unique opportunity not only to develop their ear for music, but  to actively participate in musical activities,  learn the rhythm and have fun during music classes.

Continue active physical development of our kids: swimming and riding bikes every week.

One of our innovations  this month was the group session in which we get acquainted with a book. The children enjoy flipping through the book, study the illustrations, trying to find familiar letters.

 

        2. The Program "Healthy Lifestyle"

In October we continue our work in the schools of  Zaporizhzhya conducting trainings  on improving the psychological climate among kids. The children look forward to each new session. Sessions are held in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Now we can say that teens  are more interesting to learn something new about each other, learn to work in teams and help each other during the training sessions. The possibility to be in a new group during each session gives kids the opportunity better to express themselves, to know better their classmates, and to learn to resolve conflicts that arise.

 

        The Project "Stop HIV/AIDS"

Continue lectures on prevention of HIV/AIDS among schoolchildren in the city of Zaporizhzhya. Conducted more than 30 classes in different schools. The guys really like the classes. Even those who at the beginning of the lessons said, "Well, we all already know this!" during classes were actively involved in the work and at the end  recognized that they still had gaps in their knowledge on the topic.

Especially want to mention the great interest of  teachers. Compared with the previous year, their activity during our presentations has increased significantly, the teachers found the  information very important.

Here are some quotes from teachers:

"You know, it was so interesting! It turns out that I did not know many things about HIV/AIDS!"

"Your lesson was so interesting, that I didn't notice how time passed by."

"...Thank you very much! This is a very important and necessary information. I am glad that I attended the lesson."

 

3. The Program "Volunteers"

Continues active work with volunteers. Guys are always ready to respond to requests to help the "Kangaroo" program. Some of the students showed interest in other activities of our Centre. For example, two volunteers are involved in conducting classes in schools on HIV/AIDS. After additional training they could independently conduct lessons. We are also  pleased with the help of volunteers in the collection of books and toys for our children. Several volunteers expressed a great wish to join us in our work at the detention centre for  sports events. The children together with the students  participated in different out-door activities. Thank you all for your precious help!

 

       4. The Program "We are Just like You!"

"Hurrah, the bus has arrived!", with these words we were greeted at the detention centre early in the morning at one of the brightest days of fall. According to the words  of one of  the teachers, the children were very happy with our arrival. We see, with what interest and willingness guys participate in any event. So, this time Sergey  (a leader of the  volunteer program) organized for children variety of competitions and showed how to put tents.

At the end of the competition everybody had borsch which  volunteers and students prepared at the fire. In the fresh air and after these plays, the food seemed for guys to be   particularly delicious. And guitar songs further improved the mood.

During the event participants, teachers and volunteers communicated with each other, laughed together and cheering for the team. And at the end everyone was happy for the winners, who received diplomas.

                        

 

       5. Counselling

In September we had 2 consultations  on child-parent relations, and  self-development.

 

        6. Collaboration With Foreign Specialists

 The last five years Mennonite organizations in Zaporizhzhya Region,   Ukraine meet annually to share their faith, experiences,  achievements   and problems. Approximately 10 organizations work in this Region  helping all categories of people. Every year one of these organizations  host other organizations. This year it was the Mennonite Central  Committee who arranged the meeting.

 At the meeting were present the representatives of the Mennonite  Centre from Molochansk and Zaporizhzhya, Mennonite  Family  Centre, “

Florence Centre”, “New Hope”, Mennonite Central Committee, The Association of Mennonite Churches. 

Very impressive were the stories of all representatives of these organizations.

In October a representative of our organization was invited by Mennonite Central Commette  on an exchange program to Bosnia. The program included participation in two-day summit in Sarajevo and visits to various organisations working in the field of social assistance.