www.mwb.org.nz

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During Soviet times, all education in Ukraine was free. Following the collapse of the former system, new free-market based rules came into place. Now students in most educational institutions must pay tuition fees.

Finding the means to pay tuition fees represents a major problem for students who come from poor families. It is estimated that around 25% of the Ukrainian population live below the poverty line, which the authorities describe as “living under difficult life circumstances.”

In its attempt to lessen the financial burden for this category of people, Mission Without Borders offers free vocational training courses at its Training Centre in Sarny, Western Ukraine. These courses, ranging from agriculture and English classes to

tailoring and computer courses, aim to provide young people from poor families the chance to acquire skills that could land them paying jobs in the future.

The cooking course was launched at the Sarny Training Centre in 2006. Since then, twelve groups of around thirty girls have completed their studies and many of them have found jobs. The Centre in Sarny closely cooperates with the local Agricultural College. The course lasts for six months, after which comes an exam that consists of two parts, theory and practical. The practical part requires students to prepare and present various dishes. Teachers from the Agricultural College participate in evaluating the students’ skills and then award State-approved diplomas to those who pass the exam.

MISSIONWITHOUTBORDERS

22 MWB in FOCUS | JUNE 2013

Twenty-six year old Tetyana

Melnyk is an example of a student who successfully graduated from the cooking course. She comes from a needy family and is thankful for the opportunity to enrol at the free vocational-educational course. Tetyana, along with her mother and four younger siblings, lives in a small flat in Sarny. Her father died in 2006 and left the family without financial security.

Since then, the Mission and the local church have provided various forms of assistance to the struggling family.

In 2007, Tetyana enrolled in our six-month cooking course, and completed it with honours.

Soon after graduation, the young woman received an invitation

from the local pizzeria to start working there.

“I was so excited to get my first job. Making pizzas and then receiving a wage

made me so happy. Of course, I’ve always shared my wages with my mum, sisters and brother,” she happily told us.

Last year, a new and bigger pizzeria opened in Sarny. Tetyana’s title is now “Chef” and she can now earn enough money for herself and to help her family.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity I had to get my cooking diploma through Mission Without Borders’ free vocational course. Now, I have a good job and I have hope for the future,” Tetyana shares.

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Summer campS finiShing Soon

We have reports from several of our field offices that their camps have gone well, with good weather crowning successful camps. Children and teenagers have been given the opportunity of a special holiday break and the chance to hear the Gospel. We will await further reports in due course.

priSon care update: hope for the forgotten oneSLast month, many of our supporters heard of a new initiative to take packs of personal hygiene items, clothing and shoes to people shut away from society and often forgotten: imprisoned criminals. Prisons in Eastern Europe are depressing, and many prisoners have no contact from family or friends “on the outside”. With a gift of just $20, we can make up and deliver a pack to a prisoner that will bring them hope – the heart-warming knowledge that someone is thinking of them and cares.

The response to date has been very encouraging and generous, and we know that there are many Kiwis who care about this neglected group. If you would like to support this outreach, you still can – contact details are on the bottom of page 4 of this newsletter.

This is the time of year when groups and regions hold their annual meetings and knitted goods and other gifts are packed and delivered ready for shipping from Auckland and Lyttelton to Holland and then Romania, Moldova and other countries we work in. Dates and packing details have been sent to all knitting coordinators around the country. A big THANK YOU to all who have so generously given their time, talents, money and love towards this project and the children and families who will benefit. You are amazing!

Wet and wild fun – summer camp,Durres, Albania in July

Deliveries to families in Romania 2012

operation cover up

44 Helping to Change Lives in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine

Direct Credit Payments: Our bank account is 06-0185-0122206-12 If you would like us to issue a receipt for tax rebate purposes, please include or email us your name, supporter number (if you have one) and a reference code: PC: Prison Care SM: StreetMercy WMN: Where most needed For Bibles, please use account 06-0185-0122206-25 but please note that gifts for Bibles do not qualify for tax rebates.

MISSIONWITHOUTBORDERS (NZ)PO Box 56264, Dominion Road, Auckland 1446 Phone 09 309 6969 Email nzadmin@mwbi.org Website www.mwb.org.nz Reg. Charity No. CC37218

Do you know of anyone who woulD like to become a sponsor?$40 per month will help

• Educate and teach life and work skills

• Provide practical help – clothing, shoes, hygiene items, glasses, books and school stationery

• Bring a message of hope and that they matter

• Help them towards self-sufficiency

Needing sponsors now: Top: Adine, Moldova; Bottom: Shevchuk family, Ukraine. You can see more children and families needing sponsors on our web site: www.mwb.org.nz

2014 calendar on Sale now!$9.95 plus post and handling of $2.00 (for up to 4 – free for more). Please use the Order Form on our website or the one that accompanied this newsletter.

All profits from the sale of these calendars will go to support our work in Eastern Europe.

MWB’s 2014 Calendar includes New Zealand Public holidays, School terms, 2014 calendar and information about Mission Without Borders.