Godmothers for families in Transcarpathia

In the wake of Mother's Day, the role of mothers is particularly highlighted. Based on the experience of the past years, how has the Godmother programme helped the everyday life of the families in Transcarpathia?

Mothers have less to worry about, at least financially, because although three thousand five hundred forints a month may not seem like a lot, it helps them.

What feedback have you received from mothers who have participated in the programme?

In 2022, when the war escalated, they were still saying that there was no actual armed conflict in Transcarpathia, that the families were at home, thanks to God, doing their job, and even helping the IDPs who had come to the Western areas of Ukraine where they live. A year later, it is reported that many of the children of the fifty families supported have become schoolchildren. The 2024 letters, however, were in a more sombre mood: in addition to the expressions of gratitude, they complained that they could not go out, but that it was also difficult at home, where the electricity was often cut off for days. We received more testimonies about how the war is making their lives miserable, and how they are unable to study properly in schools because of the air raids. Some women mentioned that their husbands, young men, are no longer with the family, since they left the country. The letters are touching, so it's even more gratifying that since the programme started in 2017, we have received donations amounting to over 40,000 USD, but we often also collect special offerings.

Every month, a family receives three thousand five hundred forints from the Hungarian Reformed Women's Association. Do you support them in other ways?

When the children started school, we sent school supplies. Other times we sent hygiene products and toiletries, always what they needed, in addition to the financial support. A few years ago, we were able to organise a weekend trip to a family park in Hungary. It was the first time the families met each other in person.

When the programme started, it was important to provide spiritual support as well as material support. How can this dual objective be achieved?

We pray a lot for them. We have had several occasions in recent years when we have prayed specifically for the families participating in our programme. The Women's Association has a prayer network for Transcarpathia. And at the annual meeting of the association in Debrecen, we will receive a personal report from the delegation from Transcarpathia.

How has the number of people involved in the programme changed since its start? Have you been able to attract new church members and communities to support the initiative?

Eight years is a long time, many have left since the start, but new people are always coming, just like the membership of the Women's Association itself. Individuals and congregations alike donate, and many times it is just a single individual contribution, even from a non-member, because they heard about our initiative and were touched by it.

What are your plans? Would you like to expand the programme or find new ways to help families in Transcarpathia?

It would be time to increase the amount of monthly support, but we still need to discuss this with the families, with the board of trustees, which distributes the donations. There is a question of widening the range of beneficiaries, but we can only decide on this together with our brothers and sisters in Transcarpathia.