Archdiocese of Olomouc, Ukraine – Learn about social entrepreneurship, get inspired and learn how to give a better help to Ukraine in the future. Caritas of Berezhany arrived to Caritas of the Archdiocese of Olomouc on March 10th. Within two days they also visited Caritas of Uherský Brod and Caritas of Zábřeh. Visitors from Caritas of Berezhany are supporting soldiers marked by the war in the east of the country in their charity canteen, coffee shop, and relaxation room.

Caritas of Berezhany has been helping others for 5 years, with 4 volunteers involved. These days, it focuses on the soldiers and their families who were affected by the armed conflict in the east of the country. There are 265 soldiers living in Berezhany, 65 of which are currently in the east. „People are returning home from the war completely different and we are trying to prepare their families for that. We also try to work with them. In our charity canteen, coffee shop, and relaxation room, we are helping not only the soldiers but also their children and wives,“ – said former military chaplain Mykhailo Buhaj, who leads Caritas of Berezhany. According to him, suicide of the military in Ukraine is not something rare, recently our guests from Berezhany personally experienced the suicide of a child. The war in the east has influence even on the smallest. There are conflicts in families, some soldiers have problems with alcohol, then families are breaking up….

Our visitors from Caritas of Berezhany are finding out in other Ukrainian Caritas how to better help others. They came to Czech Republic for new experience to, for example, to Uherský Brod, where they visited charity canteen, or to the rental of compensatory aids in Zábřeh. Also, they visited sheltered workshop in Palonin. Workers of this workshop are creating Easter Cannes there. Our guests from Caritas of Berezhany will use the new experience especially in the area of social entrepreneurship.

Karolína Opatřilová, Archdiocese of Olomouc

Photo: Khrystyna Novodvorska, Archdiocese of Olomouc