Countdown to the 50th Consecutive Donation: No. 17 – Ukraine 11/10/2006

We linked up with Tartan Kiev to help contribute to two charities in Kiev. Kiev Special School of Arts for Children with Impaired Vision, and one of the Kiev City Orphanages”

This fixture caught our imagination more than most, thanks to a large Ukrainian expat population in Scotland, and also the 20th anniversary of Chernobyl.

During the 6 months prior to the match Tartan Kiev raised almost £12,000 to add to the normal Sunshine Appeal donation, a range of activities and donations culminating with a dinner dance which was equally attended by Scots and Ukrainians.

Two children’s charities were identified….with the help of the Ukrainian Consul in Edinburgh and Alina Kisina, a Ukrainian photographer living in Edinburgh.

Alina suggested the Kiev Special School of Arts for Children with Impaired Vision, which turned out to be an inspirational place. Home to 120 children with no more than 3% vision, by working on crafts and music they provide the children with the means to make a living when they grow up. This in a country where there is no State support other than what’s necessary to barely keep the children alive, and where most disabled and uneducated children are destined to a life of poverty and misery.

The Consul suggested one of the Kiev City Orphanages, asking that we support a particular home which functions as a rehabilitation centre – homeless children brought off the streets are shaved and scrubbed, their clothes burned, and then they’re looked after for 3 months. If they have recovered sufficiently psychologically they are then placed in a permanent orphanage.  Full Story Here…

Everywhere We Go!

Countdown to the 50th Consecutive Donation: No. 16 – Lithuania 07/09/2006

Because of the changes to fixtures, the timescale to arrange anything similar to the previous donations in Lithuania was too short. It was agreed to donate to the same Children`s Home in Vilnius called Atsigrezk i Vaikus and also ask Lithuania Link (a UK based charity) if once again they could identify a use for a donation in the rural area of Zagare. With much help from Keith Shannon a Scot working in the British Embassy, liaison with the Children`s Home in Vilnius commenced, a list of items required was compiled and a date to visit was agreed. The proposal for the Lithuania Link donation was that the Youth Club in Zagare would use the funds to provide gifts and entertainment in the lead up to Christmas for the children living in the local orphanage called Naryshkin`s Palace.  Full Story Here…

Everywhere We Go!

Countdown to the 50th Consecutive Donation: No. 15 – Japan 14/05/2006

Founded in 1984, Nonohana-no-ie Children’s Home is a government-supported children’s home and has provided a secure, home-like environment for hundreds of Japanese and non-Japanese children who are the victims of child abuse, neglect and other inhumane treatment. This is also considered to be a subject which is often swept under the carpet in Japan.

The presentation itself went very well, the Children made a special effort drawing various posters and getting a Scottish theme going out there. Neil MacDonald who made the presentation was shown round the home where he met a lot of the children then was taken to the other building which house abused woman normally people who were non-Japanese who had married Japanese men and ended up being the victims of abuse.

Neil was then guest of honour at a Scottish party they had held in the Sunshine Appeal’s honour and gave him some posters they had drawn for the Scottish fans.  Full Story Here…

Everywhere we go!

Countdown to the 50th Consecutive Donation: No. 14 – Slovenia 12/10/2005

In Ljubljana, Slovenia, the donation was made to the Foundation to Help the Children (Fundacija za pomoc otrokom), which helps children with special needs throughout the country.  Olga Bahun, president of the Foundation wrote: “We are very grateful for the Tartan Army’s support and their donation – we think this is more than a nice act! We thank them deeply in the name of our volunteers, children and their families, who will catch the sunbeam from them.

Countdown to the 50th Consecutive Donation: No. 13 – Norway 07/09/2005

For kids, being in hospital can be boring and even depressing. The Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal provided funds that were used to provide entertainment for the kids in Rikshospitalet, the largest children’s hospital in Norway.

On the day TASA visited, they saw this in action for themselves with enactments of children’s stories, dance displays, a visit by Wigwam – the Norwegian band representing the country in the Eurovision Song Contest, magicians – and even the Tartan Army took to the stage!

In an atrium packed with kids and parents, an explanation of the Tartan Army and the Sunshine Appeal was provided and a cheque for kr. 12,000 presented to Dr Erik Thaulow before Darius, the piper, provided the real Scottish entertainment for the kids. Kicking off with a rendition of the theme tune to the Flintstones, Darius then provided a short medley of tunes to the audience’s delight (and a few whoops from the Norwegians!).

Afterwards, a small group of footsoldiers toured the wards to meet kids that were too immobile to make it down to the presentation. Handing out sweets and toys, we were able to chat to the kids that spoke English, whilst the hospital staff explained to those that didn’t why we were there. We also met with a teacher at the hospital who advised us that the next day they would be teaching the kids about Scotland as part of their lessons.

Before we left, we were shown the room where they’d arranged to show the game on a big screen so that all the kids well enough could join together to watch the game….and we left them with a Scotland T-shirt which they could pin to the wall as a reminder of our visit. We even promised the kids we’d sing a song for them – and told them to listen out for Doe a Deer!  Full Story Here…

Everywhere We Go!