A SAFE-house for Ukrainian street children, which has opened in the outskirts of Kiev, is to feature in a new guidebook about the city. The house, which will eventually offer foster care for up to ten street children, is to open its doors tomorrow (Saturday) with a ceremony attended by the British Ambassador.

The idea for the house came from Kendal grandmother Pat Wright who founded the charity New Beginnings, after hearing about the plight of Ukraine's street children.

Despite the charity's success, Mrs Wright was surprised to be contacted by an American writer Andrew Evans who wrote expressing his interest and support for the project.

She said: "I got a call from Washington from a writer of travel books who said that they would dedicate a small section of the book to giving something back to Kiev."

She said that Mr Evans is an experienced writer "who is fluent in Russian" and had written other guidebooks about the Ukraine for publishers Bradt travel. In his letter to Mrs Wright the American writer said that the safe house will be included in the "giving something back" section of the new guide book - showing ways that travellers can contribute to the places they have just visited.

He said that he had known many street children and wanted to eradicate the problem. Mrs Wright said: "It is nice that we are going to have a section in the book. Everyone who goes to the Ukraine sees the street children and beggars."

She added that the section of the guidebook will enable people to support the work of the charity financially as well as giving up their own time, although most people would find it easier to give financially.

Mrs Wright said: "These are very difficult children but the Ukrainian foster carers are superb and care for the children until they are big enough and old enough to look after themselves."