Rockford to welcome youth from Ukraine for time of respite, recuperation
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The city plans to again host a group of youth from its sister city of Brovary, Ukraine, for a time of recuperation and respite from the ongoing war with Russia.
The city last hosted a group of children and chaperones from Brovary in July 2022, about five months after Russia had invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the now decadelong Russo-Ukrainian War.
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Two years later, Brovary Mayor Ihor Sapozhko again asked for support from Rockford. In August, 10 children and two chaperones will travel to Rockford. Each child has lost a father to death or disappearance during the war.
The city, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, the YMCA of Rock River Valley and the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau are asking for help to raise money to support Rockford’s sister city. You can donate to the Brovary Relief Fund HERE.
“It is a sobering privilege to again stand beside local partners in an effort to support our sister city. We trust that the same spirit that stirred so many to give in those first months of the Ukrainian conflict will again spur generosity in the Rockford region and beyond,” Dan Ross, president of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, said in a news release. “We look forward to extending a warm and peaceful welcome to these young visitors.”
In 2022, donors from the Rockford area also contributed tens of thousands of dollars worth of medical supplies to be delivered to Brovary hospitals. Thousands of meals were also packaged and distributed to people in need in Brovary.
“During 2022, we hosted teens from Brovary and the Rockford community really stepped up and helped us provide a fantastic trip for these children,” Mayor Tom McNamara said. “I’m hoping we can do that again. These children need rest and solace from the trauma they are facing at home.”
The relationship between the city of Rockford and Brovary began in 1995 when a soccer team from Kyiv visited Rockford and suggested a sister city with its suburb of roughly 85,900 people.
A Rockford group later traveled to build the first of two playgrounds for Brovary’s children.
How to help
To donate online with the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, visit cfnil.org/burf.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
