The mission of the Kitchener Rotary Ukrainian Initiative Committee is to support Ukrainians fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking refuge in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. The majority of those arriving are women and children. While making tremendous efforts to integrate into Canadian society, they remain deeply connected to their Ukrainian heritage. Language and literature are vital aspects of this culture, and native language books are in high demand among the Ukrainian community.
In response to this need, we used funds raised through a series of dedicated fundraisers to purchase a collection of over 80 books by Ukrainian authors. These books, written in Ukrainian, are intended for both children and adults.
Recently, Kitchener Rotary donated this book collection to the library of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Oksana Tereshchenko, Chair of the Ukrainian Initiative Committee, represented Kitchener Rotary at the handover ceremony. The collection has generated great interest among children and their parents. We believe that reading these books in their native language will not only support educational growth but also provide emotional healing for community members who have been affected by traumatic experiences.
