Representatives of Cincinnati’s sister city Kharkiv, Ukraine, call it a “resilient place” and are determined to rebuild and restore it to greatness. They spoke on WVXU’s Cincinnati Edition and at City Hall Tuesday, six months after their country was invaded by Russia.
Kharkiv Red Cross Executive Director Tatiana Zima and Kharkiv Red Cross President and Ukraine Red Cross Board Member Konstantin Bashkirov came to Cincinnati to thank the city for the $117,000 it raised, which assisted thousands of people who live in Kharkiv. It helped them buy food, medicine and needed supplies.
With winter coming, residents could use warm clothing, construction materials for repairs and small heaters.
Trauma centers are the next step
Zima and Bashkirov say children and adults have been traumatized and need rehabilitation. This week, they are visiting with mental health professionals in Greater Cincinnati to learn how to establish trauma centers.
“I think they are thinking to start in small towns to find a place where particularly children can come, and professionals can come," says Cincinnati Kharkiv Sister City Partnership Vice President Susan Neaman.
She says the use of art, music and books can go a long way in the healing process.
Bashkirov tried to describe the mindset of his fellow countrymen. “So, it is one thing if you are dealing with people who lost their homes, their near and dear," he says. "It’s another thing if you talk to the military. They have different sentiments.”
Tuesday, the Red Cross team met with a clinical psychologist and Friday will talk with Ft. Thomas, Ky., mental health professionals at the VA.
