About NASHI.
Our Mission. Our Children. Our Home
Our Mission.
The Maple Leaf House.
Maple Leaf House
The original Maple Leaf House building was an abandoned kindergarten that had been vacant for many years. A local general contractor was hired along with skilled local workers. Overgrowth and excess trees were cleared and interior demolition began. This was a long process that involved taking the structure down to bare brick and completely rebuilding the plumbing and wiring for the building. New flooring had to be poured and some interior structure replaced. The facility has dual heat sources with a boiler system that can utilize either natural gas or wood.
A Little Help From Canada
Several volunteer trips went to the project to provide labour. Here, some volunteers are removing old plaster and tile from the core interior brick walls. In order to build the rooms required, we raised the flat roof to create a 3rd floor with dormers. A local brick factory was re-opened to provide materials.
The Finished Home
Construction took several years and progressed as funding through donations and NASHI events became available. The result is a 13,000 square foot home with kitchen and dining areas, offices, laundry facilities, classrooms, common areas for socializing and play, bedrooms for 20 girls and 5 full bathrooms. There are two walls in the dining area decorated with maple leaf plaques showcasing the names of those who contributed to that initial construction and supported NASHI throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to our most frequently asked questions. If you have any other questions or need some clarification, please use our Contact page to drop us a line and let us know.
Is NASHI an official charity in Canada?
Yes. NASHI is a registered charity in Canada #853912194RR0001. You can find us on the CRA website. As a registered charity, we provide official receipts for income tax purposes to any individual or business that donates to NASHI. In kind receipts can also be issued, providing the donation meets CRA standards and has a documented value.
Who operates the Maple Leaf House in Ukraine if NASHI is in Canada?
The Maple Leaf House is operated by a registered charity in Ukraine called Klenovi Lyst (Maple Leaf). NASHI is one of the directors of that charity and provides all funding for the operation of the house. The needs of the House are determined by the staff there and are not dictated from Canada. There are 3 full time staff and 4 part time staff who run the house. All salaries and house expenses are paid by NASHI.
- Director – Full Time
- Assistant Director – Full Time
- Maintenance – Full Time
- 3 House Mothers – Part Time
- 1 Cook – Part Time
Is NASHI a Ukrainian Organization?
No, although we do have many of Ukrainian descent in our organization. When NASHI was first formed, our members had numerous helpful contacts in Ukraine which was a major source country for tafficked persons. Those contacts (lawyers, construction contractors, clergy, dirvers) made a project in Ukraine much easier to get off the ground than anywhere else. Projects like ours are needed in many places around the world.
Is NASHI faith based?
No. NASHI members and board consist of many different faiths as well as none, working towards a common mission of saving lives. NASHI welcomes anyone who is working against Trafficking, regardless of faith, race, colour, or any other definition you can think of. While we do not promote any particluar faith, we also do not restrict our girls from observing one. This is not part of our mandate. NASHI has and will continue to work with, and accept funding from many different churches, as long as no faith-based conditions are imposed. So far that has not been an issue with our donors.
Is the Maple Leaf House the same as an orphanage?
No, not even close! The orphanage system in Ukraine is an old Soviet design created to care for children orphaned by war. It was intended to raise good Soviet workers and provided no real loving care. Orphanages there care for an average of 150 children per facility. They usually share a room with 20 other residents. All bathrooms are communal and meals are quite simple. One of our first girls arrived from an orphanage and at age 10 had never seen a fork and did not know how to use it. Orphanages are warehouses for children. NASHI’s Maple Leaf House is a home. Girls share a room and bathroom with one other girl, usually her sister. They attend school in the village and have school friends who are welcome to visit. Our play area is a welcoming place for neighboring kids. The House is operated as much as a regular home as possible. The girls have simple chores and help each other with school work. They all consider themselves “Sisters”. Also, the cost of all continuing education beyond regular school is also covered by NASHI. Our first girl entered University in fall 2021.
You say Your Girls. What about the boys?
This situation is difficult for us. When we first started the project, we were looking at providing a short term residence and life skills training, for 15 and 16 year old girls ageing out of orphanages. Boys, at that time, had a viable option of the military for work and also skills training. Things have obviously changed since then. In addition, traffickers started going after girls as young as 5 years old. We had to change our model to accommodate a longer term residence in the House, and a longer commitment to education. We have done so, but at this time do not have the capacity for boys at the House, or the funding to create a second house for them.