Sponsor update from Marina Gorka
13/02/2008
Update from December 2007
Dear Sponsor,
As the Christmas is approaching we hope for a joyful holiday season and a happy and eventful new year wishing the same to You and Your beloved ones!
Assessing the year 2007 in economic and social terms, we have to admit it was a rather difficult period for our country and its population. As a result of expensive energy supplies from Russia, there was a considerable hike in prices for basic food items, consumer goods and services. According to different sources, the price increase during the period of 2002 through 2007 amounted to 230 percent nationwide. Starting 2008, the Government is going to abolish low-rate public transportation fare for school and college students.
Having encountered difficulties, a number of families disintegrate, cease taking care of children, neglect or give up on them altogether. At present, there are 32,500 orphaned and abandoned children in Belarus. Official authorities undertake to reduce those numbers by providing assistance to the families, who are in need or at the edge of falling apart. As a result, many change their mind and attitude: last year, about 800 children, previously taken away from their parents, were returned to the biological families. Children, who have become orphans, are sent for adoption in the first place or, to the extent possible, accommodated at the family-type children homes, including SOS-villages. Nearly 40 percent of them, however, still get into state institutions of children’s care: children’s homes, boarding schools for orphans etc...
Dear Sponsor,
Supporting our SOS-projects, You provide for orphaned kids’ a good accommodation place, family-like conditions, thus giving them a chance to more easily overcome the hardships of life and become full-fledged members of our society. Great many thanks for Your kindness!
During the second half of the year 2007, six new children were admitted at the SOS-village Marina Gorka raising he overall number of kids at the village to 88.
Upon his arrival at the SOS-village, Artem, who is now one year and six months old, was following everything with fearful eyes and showed an apprehensive attitude. Hardly one month into his new existence, had he turned a jolly little fellow, always smiling and happy, uttering his first words and thoroughly enjoying the adults’ company.
63 boys and girls go to school, 25 are pre-school age. We are especially proud of Georgey, who successfully passed the admission exams and was enrolled in one cadet school. Always meticulously dressed and well organised, Georgey is an example for younger kids. ‘I want to be a soldier too’, exclaims the little Vadim as soon as he sees Georgey in his dressy uniform.
We had a hot and dry summer this year. All kids were given an excellent opportunity for rest and recreation. They enjoyed sunbathing and swimming during their stay at different recreation facilities, sanatoria and spa waters in Belarus as well as elsewhere. Some undertook a river raft journey; others spent time at the sea. Witnessing a living dolphin was such a huge event for most children - they would tell about it everybody, who’d ask them about summer vacation. And those who went rafting on Berezina river are never going to forget the taste of fish soup cooked on an open camp fire, getting together and singing in the evenings at that same fire. ‘We arranged for a contest: who’d direct the raft and stay at the helm the longest. I was the best!’ boasted Andrey of his raft managing and river navigating abilities.
Three-month summer vacation included not only rest and recreation. Labor activities were also part of it. In June, children were busy cleaning up and organising SOS-village premises, weeding out flower beds, and working at the shop under the watchful eye of the SOS-village caretaker. Elder kids got temporarily employed with local companies in order to earn and put aside some pocket money. Denis not only received the ‘wage’ as promised, but also a bonus for the job well done. Asked about how he’ll spend that much money, the youth responded that he would like “to buy a decent present for his sister’s birthday”. The company management was satisfied by such a dependable employee and decided to hire Denis next summer as well.
On September 1, the new school year set in. From among 10 school beginners, 9 successfully passed a series of tests and were admitted to the local gymnasium (an advanced form of primary school) a cause enough to be proud of our SOS-kids!
After school, the children hurry back home. Here, at the SOS-village, they can pursue a number of hobbies like clay modeling, dancing, aerobics etc. 22 kids attend the local arts school, where they not only learn how to play music instruments and to paint, but are given acting lessons too.
This year, for the first time, a soccer team was formed at the SOS-village. There is even one girl among little soccer players. Everybody knows, the team’s defending line is practically impenetrable, when Lisa is part of it. Bravo, Lisa!
SOS-families’ routine is not about success only. Problems, difficulties, and conflicts are an integral part of it. For the purpose of conflict resolution, individual and collective counseling by psychologists and psycho-therapists is arranged for and conducted on the regular basis. The practice of psychological therapy activities involving specific families as a whole is also continued at the SOS-village.
The most meaningful event in terms of historical and cultural education of children was the trip to the folk crafts museum Dudutki situated not far from Minsk. The children learned about the life of a Belarusian village in the 19th century through introduction to folk traditions and popular crafts as they were practiced at the time. Everybody received an opportunity not only to witness a blacksmith forging different utensils, or a baker producing bread, or a craftsman fabricating earthenware, but also to take part in all those activities.
It is late fall already, and Christmas is not far away. It is about time to get ready for the holiday season by preparing Carnival attire and presents for our loved ones. At the turn of the year, one wants to believe in magic and miracles.
Early Abandonment Prevention Project
Over the course of the last four months, 116 families with 277 children were provided help and assistance of different kind: psychological counseling and therapy, legal assistance, logaoedics and social personnel services, foodstuff and consumer packages distribution. Families benefiting from the project are residents of Maryina Gorka and the surrounding community. There is one thing they have in common: for different reasons, these families are in need. Through the Early Abandonment Project, however, we try and find ways out of the most difficult situations.
Four mothers received an expert’s assistance on parenting in order to mitigate the most acute communication problems within their families. 15 children got enrolled in two counseling/career orientation sessions ‘How I see my future’ and ‘What is real me’, which led them to discover new possibilities and not quite ordinary ways of resolving problems regarding both their personal attitude and the climate in the family as a whole.
Children from dysfunctional families are often neglected; they suffer from the pedagogical incompetence of their parents and, as a result, staying behind in their learning. That’s why eight such children experiencing severe problems at school were provided so called correctional training to improve their memorizing and attention focusing skills as well as upgrade their knowledge on the surrounding world. Six families received legal help in matters of housing. 28 children were sent to summer camps where, thanks to our project, they were able to improve their health and physical condition.
Families in crisis usually have neither means nor desire to celebrate their members’ birthdays. On the contrary, co-workers involved in the project do not forget about it. At one of the birthday celebrations their imagination went as far as to bring a cow to the party! The animal, as if a really invited guest, was grazing peacefully beside the kids who were having a good time. It looked like even a cow, if treated accordingly, could appreciate the kindness.
May kindness and harmony surround You too in the year to come!
Yours sincerely,
Sevryuk, O.
Director
SOS-CV Maryina Gorka
Relevant Countries: Belarus.