The Mennonite Centre in Ukraine and its parent board in Canada
1. In Canada - Friends of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine
Chairman of the eight member board - Ben Stobbe, Victoria, BC
Ben Stobbe, far right, introducing visitors to the Centre in
Ukraine Ben returning a songbook printed a century
ago next door to the Centre
Ben has been associated with
the Friends of the Mennonite Centre for eight years. He
is currently the Board chair and has previously served as
vice-chair. He has made several trips to Ukraine as a
volunteer North American Director and as Board chair..
Ben enjoys the challenge of making this relatively small organization into an influential agent of change by improving the lives of Ukrainians who currently live in the former Mennonite secttlements of Southern Ukraine. He is also pleased to see how the Mennonite Centre continues to bring awareness to Ukrainians of the past Mennonite presence in the area. Cell phone in Canada: 250-704-6026 E-mail: benlindastobbe@yahoo.ca
Treasurer
of the Board of Directors - George Dyck, Vineland,ON
George Dyck on board the Dnieper Princess cruise ship in Ukraine
George Dyck on board the Dnieper Princess cruise ship in Ukraine
George has been associated
with the Friends of the Mennonite Centre for nearly all of
its eleven years. He has organized the varenicki
fundraising supper in Vineland for many years and has served
the Board as chair, vice-chair, secretary, and currently as
treasurer. He has made numerous trips to Southern
Ukraine, visiting remote former Mennonite villages, being a
resource person for the Mennonite Heritage Cruise, and
reviewing programs and finances at the Mennonite Centre in
Molochansk. Currently he is also the editor of the Friends
of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine Newsletter. E-mail:
gtdyck@talkwireless.ca
2. In Ukraine - Dema Bratchenko
Director of the Mennonite Centre in Halbstadt/Molochansk
Director of the Mennonite Centre in Halbstadt/Molochansk
Dema serving his own
traditional Plov at a Centre
event
Dema is also the
producer of Mennonite Centre Videos on YouTube
Dema Bratchenko grew up in a small village on the
outskirts of Kyiv. He studied English at Kyiv Wesleyan
Bible College. He has also completed an undergraduate
degree in tax law at the University of Kyiv and is a
specialist in information technologies.
Dema and his wife Oksana have three children, Katya, Dmitri, and Anya.
Manager phone +380935547477
manager@mennonites.in.ua
NA Directors phone +380972789318
Olga Rubel - Coordinator of Programs in
Zaporozhye, Ukraine
Olga Rubel
Olga Rubel
Olga Rubel was born and
raised in Zaporozhye. She attended schools
specializing in English and furthered her English studies
at the Zaporozhye University. Her interests include sports
and music. She was a professional volleyball player
for the "Orbita" team in the A-league of the former Soviet
Union. Her father and mother sang in an amateur choir,
they encouraged her interest in music. Olga plays piano
and guitar and frequently sings at special events. Her
husband Anatoly is an engineer working for the city of
Zaporozhye.
In the early 1990s Olga translated for many teachers at the Bible College in Zaporozhye who helped mature her spiritual life. She has been an interpreter for 19 years and has translated approximately 20 books. Olga has a keen interest in working with schools and medical clinics in the former Mennonite villages surrounding Zaporozhye.
Olga and Anatoly have two sons. Andrew is attending university in Kyiv and is a high-jumper and a member of the national track and field team. Alex is taking theological studies at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania.
mobile - +380664422743
email - rubelolga@gmail.com
In the early 1990s Olga translated for many teachers at the Bible College in Zaporozhye who helped mature her spiritual life. She has been an interpreter for 19 years and has translated approximately 20 books. Olga has a keen interest in working with schools and medical clinics in the former Mennonite villages surrounding Zaporozhye.
Olga and Anatoly have two sons. Andrew is attending university in Kyiv and is a high-jumper and a member of the national track and field team. Alex is taking theological studies at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania.
mobile - +380664422743
email - rubelolga@gmail.com
3. Transitioning between Canada and Ukraine
- Volunteer Directors who spend terms of 2 to 3 months
annually
Volunteer Directors are retired professionals. They serve without pay but are given airfare and a living allowance. They serve a very important role in modelling volunteerism.
The concept has been lauded by the Embassy of Canada in Kyiv as an effective strategy for successful Non Governmental Agencies.
It allows for a range of experienced retired persons to give significant help to needy communities and societies, crossing many boundaries and barriers.
The Mennonite Centre is most fortunate to have an outstanding rotation of volunteers with exemplary gender balance
Mary and Alvin Suderman, Winnipeg, MB
Alvin and Mary delivering groceries to a very needy family- the boy has no arms
Dave and Hildie Regehr, Gretna, MB
Volunteer Directors are retired professionals. They serve without pay but are given airfare and a living allowance. They serve a very important role in modelling volunteerism.
The concept has been lauded by the Embassy of Canada in Kyiv as an effective strategy for successful Non Governmental Agencies.
It allows for a range of experienced retired persons to give significant help to needy communities and societies, crossing many boundaries and barriers.
The Mennonite Centre is most fortunate to have an outstanding rotation of volunteers with exemplary gender balance
Mary and Alvin Suderman, Winnipeg, MB
Alvin and Mary delivering groceries to a very needy family- the boy has no arms
Alvin and Mary
Suderman served their first term as North American
Directors in Ukraine in Spring, 2011. Alvin
retired as a manager for the government of Manitoba
and Mary took an extended leave from nursing to
volunteer in Ukraine. While in Ukraine Alvin
initiated and followed up programs and projects that
were funded by the Friends of the Mennonite Centre in
Ukraine. Mary’s skill as a nurse was helpful in
reviewing medical proposals. They really enjoyed
getting to know the staff and appreciate the
opportunity to meet and help the villagers.
You a can read about their experiences at www.alvinandmaryinukraine.blogspot.com
You a can read about their experiences at www.alvinandmaryinukraine.blogspot.com
Dave and Hildie Regehr, Gretna, MB
Dave and Hildie Regehr
have served as North American Directors in Ukraine for
five terms. Dave retired after 35 years at Mennonite
Collegiate Institute Gretna
Manitoba, Hildie ran a business. Dave and Hildie
were attracted to serve in Ukraine in the same area
where their parents lived and his grandfather was a
school teacher. Dave and Hildie have a keen
interest in music and really appreciate the wide-open
fertile landscape of southern Ukraine. They love to go
in Spring and see the transformation of the barren
winter countryside into a land of flowers and new
crops. They have established close bonds with
the village schools in the area.
You can read of their Ukraine experiences at www.regehrsinukraine.blogspot.ca
Hildegarde, centre and Rudy, right, visiting a Ukrainian school Music school band with new instruments courtesy the Baergs and Canadian donors
You can read of their Ukraine experiences at www.regehrsinukraine.blogspot.ca
Hildegarde
and Rudy Baerg, Abbotsford, BC
Hildegarde, centre and Rudy, right, visiting a Ukrainian school Music school band with new instruments courtesy the Baergs and Canadian donors
Rudy and
Hildegarde Baerg have served as North American
Directors at the Mennonite Centre and are planning
to return to Ukraine for their sixth term in fall
2012. After retiring, Rudy as Director of
Music Programs at Columbia Bible College and
Hildegarde as Community Health Services Manager,
volunteered with MCC Ten Thousand Villages in
Atlantic Canada. Rudy also served as the
music resource person for the Mennonite Heritage
Cruises in Ukraine. Among other things Rudy
enjoys supporting music groups, choral and band,
in Ukraine and Hildegarde delights connecting with
young mothers in the Mom’s Group. They
appreciate working together with the staff ,
facilitating projects of the Mennonite Centre.
You can read of their Ukraine experiences at www.baergsinUkraine.blogspot.ca
You can read of their Ukraine experiences at www.baergsinUkraine.blogspot.ca
Linda and
Ben Stobbe, Victoria, BC
Ben and Linda
Stobbe have served six terms as North American
Directors at the Mennonite Centre. After
retiring as Director of Adult Custody in the
British Columbia Corrections Branch, Ben was
approached to develop a short-term (up to
three months) service opportunity for North
Americans to come and help at the Mennonite
Centre. To accommodate Linda’s piano teaching
schedule, they have primarily served in the
summer months.
Ben and Linda have enjoyed meeting and interviewing potential university students for the Mennonite Centre student financial support program. Ben has also enjoyed meeting Social Services staff and Community Youth Justice staff. Linda enjoys working with piano students at local music schools and has met with victims of breast cancer. They have found satisfaction in helping to develop a leadership team at the Mennonite Centre.
You can read of their Ukraine experiences at www.lindaandben.blogspot.ca
If you are interested to qualify as a Volunteer Director, please contact Ben Stobbe Cell phone in Canada: 250-704-6026 E-mail: benlindastobbe@yahoo.ca
Ben and Linda have enjoyed meeting and interviewing potential university students for the Mennonite Centre student financial support program. Ben has also enjoyed meeting Social Services staff and Community Youth Justice staff. Linda enjoys working with piano students at local music schools and has met with victims of breast cancer. They have found satisfaction in helping to develop a leadership team at the Mennonite Centre.
You can read of their Ukraine experiences at www.lindaandben.blogspot.ca
If you are interested to qualify as a Volunteer Director, please contact Ben Stobbe Cell phone in Canada: 250-704-6026 E-mail: benlindastobbe@yahoo.ca
To
repeat
See blogs by Dave and Hildie Regehr - Spring 2012
See blogs by Rudy and Hildegarde Baerg - Autumn 2011
See blogs by Ben and Linda Stobbe - Summer 2011
See blogs by Alvin and Mary Suderman - Spring 2011
See blogs by Dave and Hildie Regehr - Spring 2012
See blogs by Rudy and Hildegarde Baerg - Autumn 2011
See blogs by Ben and Linda Stobbe - Summer 2011
See blogs by Alvin and Mary Suderman - Spring 2011
see also
the latest Spring 2012 Newsletter