Press Release

OFID Director-General attends opening ceremony of children’s home in Kiev, Ukraine

10/2010 May 7, 2010, Kiev, Ukraine
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The Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Mr. Suleiman J. Al-Herbish, travelled to Kiev, Ukraine to attend the opening ceremony of a children’s home in the Kiev district of Bortnitschi. An initiative of Caritas-Spes, Ukraine, and carried out in cooperation with Austrian NGO Kleine Herzen (“Little Hearts”), the facility will provide orphans with the chance to live in a stable, comfortable environment. The newly-completed home was funded with the assistance of a US$100,000 OFID grant.

Guests of honor at the ceremony included His Eminence Bishop Stanislaw Shyrokoradiuk; Father Viktor Simon, Secretary-General of Caritas-Spes; and Ms. Pascale Vayer, Chairwoman of Kleine Herzen. The Bishop expressed his “pride and happiness” at being able to inaugurate the children’s home, which “will improve the lives of so many children.” Ms. Vayer conveyed her gratitude to the sponsors, “especially the ones who are here today, and for all of the support and trust we have received, and the pride for what we have succeeded together - despite major setbacks.”

Mr. Al-Herbish commended the “resilience and hard work” of all who had helped “make the children’s home a reality.” He also expressed OFID’s pride in supporting the initiative, and noted that the home would help “create a sense of security and belonging” among the children and “help build their self-reliance.” The Director-General went on to highlight OFID’s activities and explain the mandate of the institution. On conclusion, Mr. Al-Herbish expressed his desire for OFID to become involved in similar projects with Ukraine in the future.

Accompanying Mr. Al-Herbish was Dr. Mohammed Al Saadi, a Saudi businessman, who generously donated US$10,000 for the children’s home.

Also present at the opening ceremony was H.E. Dr. Markus Wuketich, Ambassador of Austria in Kiev, representatives of Raiffeisen Bank Aval and Coca-Cola Hellenic Ukraine, in their capacity as co-financiers of the children’s home, as well as other Ukrainian authorities.

Caritas-Spes, which has been active in Ukraine since 1999, has established eight family homes for around 70 orphans. The organization also supports physically and mentally handicapped individuals and impoverished families, and distributes clothing and medicine among the poor, among other activities. Working in partnership with Caritas-Spes, Kleine Herzen was established in 2006 and aims to “give children a chance” in deprived communities in Eastern Europe, particularly those of the former Soviet Union.