Zorit Youth Center Cafeteria Project – Ukraine

Location
Novoukrainka, Kirovohrad Oblast, Ukraine

Community Description
Novoukrainka is a small city that serves as a Regional Center in the Kirovohrad Oblast, 350 kilometers south and slightly east of Kyiv, in the heartland of Ukraine. It is a farming community surrounded by rolling hills of corn, sunflower, and wheat fields. The main industries in the town are the Mueseli Factory and Bread Bakery, which utilize these regional crops and provide for most of the local employment.

During the Soviet era, the area was part of the vast sugar beet industry. However, in recent times local farmers have shifted to growing other crops. As a result, the sugar beet factory closed several years ago. Since then, the community has been plagued by high unemployment and along with the rest of the country, challenging financial times.

Many people rely heavily on their gardens and “dachas” for sustenance and supplementing their livelihood by selling produce and crafts at the local bazaar.

Zorit is the Youth Center for the Regional Center of Novoukrainka. Currently, the cafeteria is primarily used by staff because of the limitations of providing adequate clean and hot water.

Project Description
This project is to replace the existing sinks and add a water filter and hot water heater in the kitchen of the cafeteria at Zorit.

The filter will contain three elements to remove sediment, iron, and other contaminants from the water. The water heater will be an on-demand 20-liter heater. These will be purchased at the local hardware store.

The project is undertaken as a part of a plan to remodel the cafeteria and expand its use to serve children during lunch hour and after school.

There is an existing drain field that the center uses for the gray water from the kitchen. It is serviceable and will adequately provide for the needs of the new system.

Project funds will be used to purchase fixtures and materials, including two new sinks with faucets, the water filter and heater, electrical wiring for the new heater, and intake and waste piping and fittings.

Contributions from the center will include new flooring and counters and maintenance of the drain field as well as the labor to remove the old system and install the new one.

Project Impact
This project will benefit the more than 2,000 children from the seven schools located within the city that utilize the facility, plus the 68 employees who work at the center.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Lynae Slinden

Comments
This project follows the successful conclusion of the Zorit Youth Center Water Project – Ukraine, implemented by Lynae, which brought clean water into the main building.

The current project will have a widespread impact by expanding the functionality of the cafeteria to better serve the needs of the students and employees.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$500.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of Jarrett Cerise, of Oak Harbor, WA, USA, with the help of friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Lynae Slinden.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Lynae of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Lynae and/or those of other PCVs in Ukraine.




This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.