Our Society is called "Philanthropic Society of Assistance to Disabled People and People with Insufficiency of Intellect “ARK" which consists of about 50 members in the town of Boyarka located near Kiev, Ukraine.

  Our focus is to help families cope with the enormous challenge of caring for the mentally disabled and to help those effected by these diseases through intensive physical and mental development in the special Rehabilitation Centre.

  There several categories of the mentally disabled for which we provide care: a child or adult with mental disorders or disease, Autism and Cerebral Palsy.

  The Society “ARK” unites parents, relatives of the mentally challenged and those people who need and can help.

  Persons affected by these diseases can't live without outside assistance. Their suffering comes not from their physical condition, but from their lack of mental development & stimulation, reduced ability to function in our society and self esteem.

  As a matter of fact Ukraine Society banishes the weak minded, provides special shelters for them and then forgets about their existence. We don't want to give our children to so-called shelters where those affected are kept alive physically without treatment for their disease.

  We have successfully worked with horses which we rented from the Horse Club.

  Several parents of our disabled children are making patchwork quilts. Currently we sponsor bazaars and exhibitions where their products are sold to help pay for their expenses. Over the past three years, we have held over 15 exhibitions in Kiev and Boyarka. Some were only local crafters and others included exhibitors from all over Ukraine.

  We plan to have an international exhibition in Kiev, September 2007.

  As a result, we have attracted attention of some local politicians and press. There have been articles published about our Society in numerous Ukrainian and English magazines. Several news publications have written about “ARK” in Kiev, Ukraine. There has even been local TV coverage showcasing our events.

  We held the first successful quilting master class course with plans for many more!

  We believe that all mentally disabled people can benefit from rehabilitation to some degree and as a result we are attracting different specialists to work with our members.

  The purpose of the Society “ARK” is to give meaningful lives to people who weren't given developed intellect by nature and who sometimes can't talk but whose hearts are in need of love and understanding.

  It is our intention to build a "Rehabilitation Center" where the weak-minded could live and be productive. They will be given physical rehabilitation, mental and social development so they may lead meaningful lives. We hope to make the Centre partially self sufficient financially.

  Almost all mentally disabled people can be engaged in some type of work: painting and sculpting, gardening, weaving and quilting.

  We'd like to provide a center where our mentally challenged people can work for themselves not only to earn money but to lead meaningful life through work-therapy.

  Many studies have shown that the involvement with animals has proved successful in unlocking a mental disabled person’s inability to communicate and provide a sense of well being. Our plans include using horses and other domestic animals for this purpose.

  Physical rehabilitation facilities are planned that include a swimming pool, a gymnasium and grounds for outdoor sporting events.

  We need to share experiences with other similar Philanthropic Societies.

  We need to spread information about our goal and activities, so our Organization and cause can not possibly be ignored by our politicians and society. This will help us tremendously to lot to achieve our goals and to lobby interests in all government establishments to the benefit of our members. Currently, the Ukraine government provides no more than 70 dollars per month for a mentally disabled citizen and 2 dollars per month to the mother to look after the child. As you can see, this doesn’t even begin to cover living expenses let alone those of a special needs person.

  Our Members need support and giving. The parents of our members cannot contribute to our organization as they must work to provide for the expenses of a mentally disabled child.

  So we need your financial help very badly. We trust you can see the enormous benefit our association provides to those who need it so much. Your donations help us provide a meaningful life to those who otherwise are cast aside by our society.

  Quilting is something new for Ukraine. As result we can offer unique products and the ability to learn those skills to attract society’s attention to problems of disabled people in Ukraine. Our quilting exhibitions are well attended so we believe we have a niche to really push our cause forward! As a further benefit our members take part in building “ARK”.

  We would like to establish The Ukrainian Quilting and Craft Association to take part in international exhibitions. It is our desire to open a retail shop where we would sell works of members of “ARK” to benefit our charity. As mentioned earlier, our first master quilting class was a big success. We plan more for the future.

  We very excited about our latest project. The first quilting magazine in Ukraine! We hope to generate big interest in this wonderful craft and to provide continuous news to all about progress of “ARK”.