Fund-raiser in Moses Lake to help children in Ukraine

Members of ML family return in August to Ukraine

MOSES LAKE — Over and over again Natalya Skala watches a DVD of the children housed at the World Light Foundation, a nonprofit children's center in Ukraine.

Some children, all of them abandoned and or sick with HIV/AIDS, smile confidently on the DVD while younger ones give a shy glance at the camera.

They say their names, age and year in school.

"I just need to see them," Skala said.

For the mother of seven whose family came to the U.S. from Ukraine more than 15 years ago, the children on the screen are like her own. They are the cause for which she has fought continuously for both by phone from Moses Lake and in person on various trips to Ukraine.

On Aug. 14 Skala won't have to watch a DVD of the children to be close to them, but will be traveling to her native Ukraine for three weeks to see them. Skala's 22-year-old daughter Natazscya De Skala is accompanying her on the trip, staying on in the country to help at the Center and continue with medical studies.

The focus of the upcoming trip will be to meet with authorities from the Department of Health, assist Center staff in how to work with government authorities, as that has been particularly challenging at times, and spending time with the 19 children housed at the Center which opened in 2004.

Skala and her daughter know people are not comfortable with questioning authority, such as those who have come into the Center to inspect its activities.

On at least two occasions, one involving a social worker and the other a county prosecutor, the Center was questioned about where its AIDS room was located for infected children. The children were also questioned about if they had AIDS and if they were taught to pray at the Center.

"The mentality is full of ignorance," De Skala said of the people's knowledge regarding AIDS.

Previously under the control of the former Soviet Union, the Ukraine still shows visible signs of the aftermath from the Communist government.

But the Skalas believe old mentalities may be slowly changing.

More people around the country of Ukraine, including the capital of Kiev, are hearing about the Center and what goes on there, De Skala said.

The Skalas say news of the Center has spread with press both in the Ukraine and U.S. that have helped explain who the Center serves and why.

In April the government gave a larger building to the Center to house its students. That was after the government offered $100,000 for it and after a year of phone calls to the Ukraine, Skala received word the government agreed to give the building to the Center.

"I say 'Thank you Jesus, it's supposed to happen,'" Skala said.

Eventually, Skala would like to take educators from the U.S. to teach students and volunteers to help with repair work on the new building.

Similarly, De Skala has medical students at school who have voiced an interest in possibly coming to help.

On Aug. 13 a beneficiary concert and auction is being held at Intimate Gardens to fund-raise money for the Center.

Tickets cost $10 each or $17 per couple and can be purchased at the UPS store and area churches. Hors d' oeuvres will be served. Festivities begin at 7 p.m.