The Bishop Budka Charitable Society

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The Bishop Budka Charitable Society is an organization based in Edmonton, Alberta that provides economic, cultural, and environmental assistance to countries in need, such as Brazil and Ukraine.

The aims of the Bishop Budka Charitable Society are:

• to carry out projects and programs of national and international assistance, development and emergency relief;
• to foster an awareness of our global community through education, individual and personal involvement;
• to promote, encourage and assist national and international aid and development;
• to collect, raise and distribute monies to support the aid and development programs of the society.

The Society was named After Bishop Nikita Budka, a major figure in Canadian Ukrainian history. In 1912, Bishop Budka became the first Ukrainian Catholic Bishop in Canada. He worked in Canada for many years, helping Canadian Ukrainians defend their traditions and create communities which are still strong today. Bishop Budka's struggles and successes are the inspiration for the society's international development work.

Working in Brazil

Though based in Canada, the Bishop Budka Charitable Society's primary development work has been done thousands of kilometres away in Brazil.

The Bishop Budka Charitable Society first became aware of the problems facing Brazilians through the large Ukrainian population in Brazil. The late nineteenth century and post World War I years were periods of mass migration from Ukraine. Many chose Brazil as their new home. There are now approximately 500 000 people of Ukrainian descent living
in Brazil. After having met a Brazilian priest visiting Canada, the
Society recognized that it could play a role in assisting the people of Brazil.

The agriculture industry employs approximately 30 % of the Brazilian population. Although Brazilian agriculture is able to support its population, the industry is riddled with systemic problems. Poor infrastructure in the transport and sale of crops has caused many individual farmers to abandon their land and move to the cities.

Many Brazilians who have remained in the agriculture industry have been living in poverty. They have been unable to refine products adequately, and could not sell their products at a fair price. Most farmers bartered their raw goods for household staples, being unable to sell their crops for cash. Many recognized the need for change, but had not been able
to organize themselves to address these issues.

The Tropical Forest Institute of Self-Sustaining Growth recognized the need for farming reforms in Brazil. The Institute, working in conjunction with the Bishop Budka Charitable Society, has developed programs to help organize farmers and reduce some of the barriers that keep farmers in poverty.

Educational Assistance

The Ukrainian communities in Brazil recognized a need to help preserve their culture and their connections with Ukrainians as a Second Language program has been instituted in the Brazilian educational system. The Bishop Budka Charitable Society partially funded the development of curriculum and resources.

The Society, sponsored two educational consultants from Edmonton to conduct a teacher training course in Brazil. The Bishop Budka Charitable Society helped to bring a Brazilian teacher to Canada to develop Ukrainian as a Second Language materials. In 1997, additional resources were sent to Brazil, and the Society continues to promote Ukrainian language education in Brazil.

The Bishop Budka Charitable Society
11717-97 Street
Edmonton AB
T5G 1Y3
Tel. (780) 471-4477
Fax (780) 477-0617
Email: bishopbudka@yahoo.com
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