David at work when the Hope Now office was in Vic's home
You made a difference! It was summer of 1994, and I had just completed my first year of studies at Bath University. I forget what I studied. And that was the problem. So, Vic Jackopson, who had known me since I was very young, offered me a job during my summer holidays. It didn't sound like much fun, but a trip to Ukraine tipped the scales and I agreed.
Little did I know exactly how that first trip, 15 years ago, would completely change my life. I think Vic has the ability to see potential in people when at first it may not be visible to most people. And not only that, but he provides opportunities for people to fulfill their potential. That's how it was with me.
A trip to Prison 62, in Cherkassy, changed my life as I saw the awful conditions there, and yet the Christian prisoners were so 'alive' and their faith was visible on their faces. From that point on, I fell in love with Ukraine.
As I continued my university studies, I took advantage of the long breaks to keep working for Vic and traveling to Ukraine. Our first summer camp was in 1995, followed by another in 1996. Summer 1997 and I graduated from university and started working full-time for Hope Now in their UK office.
During my fairly frequent trips to Ukraine, I got to know Katya, and after we'd fallen in love, were stuck in a very long-distance relationship. For things to progress either Katya had to come to the UK or I had to go to Ukraine. Without hesitation, I moved to Ukraine in December 1998. The work of Hope Now in Ukraine had developed to a stage where they needed a UK presence 'on-the-ground'. Alpha House had been purchased and renovations were in progress. Frequent visitors meant logistics and finances had to be organized, so I was given the responsibility of assisting the Ukrainian Hope Now team.
In August 1999, Katya and I were married in Cherkassy, and after two years of seeing Hope Now Ukraine develop into a functional organization, Katya and I saw new doors of opportunity opening for us.
I got to meet and work with many great people at Hope Now. Margaret Ferguson in the warehouses when we did humanitarian aid, Ian Thomson providing friendship and support in the UK office, Mike Perreau advising and encouraging, Adrian Bruce, whose love for South Africa overtook his love for Ukraine. All of them contributed much to my role in Hope Now and in the years since then.
And so, since 2001, we have been working with young people in Cherkassy, teaching them English, creating business opportunities to give them jobs, encouraging them in their Faith, motivating them to get involved in mission, and empowering them as leaders to make a difference in this broken world. It has been a roller-coaster ride, with thrills and spills and challenges and blessings. Katya and I have two children, Timothy is nearly 5, and Daniela will be 3 in the summer. Although we travel to the UK a couple of times a year, we definitely come 'home' to Cherkassy. I probably feel more Ukrainian than British!
So here I am - living, working, and loving Ukraine as a result of something that started with Hope Now in 1994. By giving me that opportunity, Vic and Sue initiated the whole process. It has made a big difference. I am truly grateful.
You have no doubt seen the news that Viktor Yanukovych was victorious
over Yulia Tymoshenko in the Ukrainian presidential election in Feb.
The former president, Viktor Yushchenko was battered in the first round
with only 5% of the popular vote.
Greetings to you dear brothers and sisters, and peace be to you. God has blessed me with a ministry in a Christian church called
"Calvary". I am an administrator of the church. As a part of my job, I
often visit city administrators, governor's committees and meet with
secular people.
Dear Hope Now, Thank you very much for hosting the Fresh Start Summer Program at
Kompas Park. Your generosity enabled us to organize many summer
activities for 75 orphans, in a continuation of your Fresh Start for
Children Education Program.
