Thanks to EveryChild Ukraine and their supporters this year about 500 orphans and children deprived of parental care, will receive a “Book about me" - a personal scrap-book/photo album for children under 6 years old who live in baby homes. Albums will tell in correct way about their childhood, their first words, memories of their relatives and caregivers.

First books were given to the long-term partner – Kyiv Oblast Specialized baby Home in Bila Tserkva accompanied with training for the staff and care-givers on how to use “Book about me” effectively.

“We believe that putting together a personal scrapbook can motivate children to discover their individuality and encourage them to learn about their roots,”– says Vasylyna Dybaylo, EveryChild Ukraine Country Director.

“For a child who has nothing it makes such a difference to receive a Book about me - an unusual album where one can record everything interesting, that happens to a child. Besides writing one may fill in photos, paintings and other stuff that reminds about important events in child’s life. The album will have information about relatives of the child, friends, first words and expressions, a lot of poems and drawings”, - she adds.

EveryChild Ukraine will teach and help staff or future parents and relatives to fill these albums. The first seminar in Bila Tserkva was recorded on camera and will be used to produce a DVD to accompany “Book about me” to other baby homes. It is envisaged that these books will help not only children but future adoptive parents and guardians to understand child better and learn many interesting things about his or her character.

Half of the funds for “Book about Me” were gathered through the on-line campaign “Book about Me – let’s make it together”. News on the progress of fundraising was communicated to all supporters through social networks - twitter and facebook. One of the great things about the project is that EveryChild Ukraine’s supporters could write down their own message to a child and place it into the book. Thus participating in Book about me initiative made them feel as close as possible to the work they are supporting. 

EveryChild Ukraine would like to express its gratitude to our partners and suporters who joined our on-line campaign "Book about me - let's make it together" and donated 23 000 UAH for publishing.

Thanks to their activity we were able to make book with lovely child-friendly design.

Special thanks to "Orphans' Future" Fund, personnel of Credit Agricole Bank in Ukraine, British Council, Clifford Chance, and International Renaissance Foundation.

A photoreport from Bila Tserkva is available here: