Social investment of the President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko are focused on social protection of low-income society, namely, orphans, disabled people, and large families. The President of Ukraine signed a decree to create National Charity Council "Giving a warm love to a child". Anatoliy Zabolotny, Director of Foundation for Development of Ukraine, spoke about the ways to support the large families. Ivan Baloga, acting Chairman of Oblast State Administration, also answered questions of journalists.
 
"Foundation for Development of Ukraine allocated UAH15m for a housing programme for large families. The Foundation will operate in four regions: Donetsk Oblast, Lugansk Oblast, Crimea and Zakarpatie Oblast," Mr Zabolotny said. 
According to Mr Zabolotny, the amount of UAH 4.370m will be earmarked for Zakarpatie region during the year, twice as much as earmarked for Donetsk Oblast. Funding will start as early as April 2008.

            "It is a matter of principle for us not to limit ourselves to certain region. Our areas of activity include education, culture and health. We also provide individual help to people in difficult situations. In addition to large family programmes, we also have programmes focused on development of family-type structures for fostering children, establishment of family-time children homes, etc. Zakarpatie region has extensive expertise in this aspect which can serve as an example for other regions," Mr Zabolotny said. According to his words, today the Foundation is satisfied with cooperation with Zakarpatie region because the region was very quick in providing complete information. Such cooperation contributed to quicker agreements. Foundation, Oblast State Administration and the public will supervise targeted use and distribution of the funds. The funds will be distributed among large families on the principles of social justice and specific needs of the large families. A special Commission consisting of representatives of the Foundation, Oblast State Administration and the public will determine whether to purchase, construct or repair houses/apartments for large families. It means only trustworthy and respected people will make supervision and decisions.

The programme covers families bringing up from 10 children as of 1 January 2008. In general, there are 17 such families in the region. Vera Gotra, her husband and eleven children live in a two-room apartment in Onokivtsy, Uzhgorod District. Yulia Gerich, mother of 16 children, says she and her husband can not complete their country estate. "Our Commission has selected 17 families bringing up from 10 children in Zakarpatie Oblast. We will improve their housing conditions or purchase houses/apartments in the settlements they live," Ivan Baloga emphasized. Of course, much more is needed. Anyway, it is just a start of major efforts. "We will do our best to implement the initiative of the President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko to the fullest extent," Ivan Baloga stressed.

The parties signed a Memorandum for cooperation between Foundation for Development of Ukraine and Zakarpatie Oblast State Administration in the presence of journalists.

By the way, the major part of large families bringing up more than 10 children lives in Rakhiv, Tyachiv and Volovets Districts.