about us :: how we were set up

The history of the Fund began long before the official registration.

At the beginning of perestroyka a new word appeared in our lexicon: "BOMZH". That word means "a man without permanent place of residence". They are degraded, dirty people; nobody cares of them. Some passers-by will avert their eyes, other will look with censure.

Those who decided to organize this Fund were full of mercy and compassion to those people who had lost sense in life, who had been deceived and rejected, who had lost any hope for the better.

In December 1998 the Stephania charity cafe for poor was opened on the territory of the Vulcan factory under the aegis of the Social partnership Fund. It is working now and it is the only one in its way in Kiev and even in Ukraine.

There are some public, state and commercial organizations that cooperate with the Fund trying to help in realization of this humane action.

It was very hard at the beginning. We went to stations, basements and attics looking for homeless people in order to invite them to get a free lunch. Many of those poor looked terrible: body covered with sores, dirty clothes, almost everybody was either alcoholic or drug addicts.

But we accepted everyone. We worked without days off. God gave us special faith, love and patience. Thought that someone of these miserable people can return to their normal life couldn't occur in mind of an ordinary man.

Thanks to the Fund's financial support two new centers for servicing additional 140 lonely pensioners and disabled people were opened in Kiev in 1998.

Later physiotherapy rooms began to work at these centers. Also sewing workshops, hairdresser's, outgiving stations of clothes and shoes are working free of charge for poor people.

In March 1999, the Stephania cafe fed up 20 273 persons, including 1 047 children. And it was a reason why in June 1999 a children's cafe with a special menu was opened.

In March 2000, 28 154 visitors came to eat here and out of them there were 7 533 children.

In October 2000, a dispensary was opened at the Stephania cafe. 4 683 visitors asked for help during this time.

In March 2001, 52 473 persons were fed up, among them there were 1 773 children and out of them 1 074 kids under 7.

In June 2001, a rehabilitation center for alcohol and drug addicts was opened by the Social partnership Fund together with the Word of Faith Christian church.