Ukrainian Children’s Books Fund

Giving Challenge

$20,000

As the war in Ukraine continues there is a huge need to provide books for Ukrainian refugee children who have fled to Slovakia and other countries.

How this works:

Our connection with book distributors, provides a network for distribution of the Ukrainian books.  Twenty-two local bookstores across all of Slovakia have been made into collection points where anyone can come to pick up Ukrainian children's books. Schools, libraries, civic associations, asylum centers, and churches are participating as they help the Ukrainian youth who are now living with them.  The books are bought mainly from a friendly publishing house based in Lviv, Ukraine. These books are of extremely high quality and artistic value. They deserve our support. 

Buying books from Ukraine also helps the Ukrainian economy, especially publishing houses, which have almost stopped selling.

Very few Ukrainian families have the resources to buy books in Slovakia, so the books are offered for free. We also ask them to pass the books on once they´re finished reading them.

One book costs about US$6.

With your help, we can provide more than 3000 books.

Amount needed:  US$20,000.

Your generosity will provide books for Ukrainian refugee children who have come across the border into Slovakia.

“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
Psalms 82:3-4 ESV

More about Ukrainian Children’s Books Project

An endless stream of frightened children and exhausted women are fleeing Ukraine to save their lives. They come to countries where there is more of the unknown than one seems to be able to bear - where will we sleep, what money to live from, what will happen to those who we left behind?  Many Ukrainians are living as guests of Slovaks who have spare rooms. Others find their new homes on mats on the floors in school gymnasiums, churches, or community centers. 

A Slovak publishing house and bookstore, Artforum, considered how they could be of help in this situation. It was clear that there were very few books in the small backpacks on the children's backs. And in a country that possibly will become their home, not only is there another language but there is also a completely different alphabet.

The evening ritual of reading with children is or was for many of us the most beautiful moment of the day — the focused attention of parents and children, curious questions, and stories that transfer us to different realities and imaginary worlds where good always wins over evil. 

It is painful to think that these children through no choice of their own, have lost these moments of security and intimacy with those most important in their lives. It is necessary to act.

The Ukrainian publishing house Stary lev https://starylev.com.ua/ has chosen a varied selection of books and prepared them for transport to Slovakia. After the first, very adventurous transport of books across the border, the second and third rounds came. So far, we have managed to bring 6,000 books to Ukrainian children in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. However, for the hundreds of thousands who now are living here, this is still only a drop in the ocean.

We understand that books are something that children miss very much, something that gives them a piece of home away from home, a piece of security. Books immerse children in another, safer world.  So far, the interest in books has been huge. Far greater than our capacity to help. 

We would love to continue providing books, but we need your help to do so. Therefore, we have legally secured the non-profit organization Art-Forum for Literature. The money raised will be used to cover the costs associated with the purchase of books and their distribution.

Publishing companies are among the intentionally bombed targets in Ukraine.  But Stary Lev is still operational and wanting to publish.  We are grateful for this partnership and hope to be able to fund this project quickly.