Vital Emergency Fostering for Children in Ukraine

The Indian summer is upon us here in Ukraine and we hope you enjoy the warm autumn days as well. As this most exciting part of the autumn approaches, we are super-eager to tell you about all of the latest success stories of the Emergency Fostering project. And here comes one of the most amazing ones! It is about a case when foster care did not just help to save a family for a child, but reunited it emotionally and strengthened it.

As Nadia gave birth at the age of 13, she and even her own mother were not prepared to accept a baby-girl into the family. First of all, there was no physical possibility for them to take care of a newborn, since the grandmother of the latter would have to work days, in order to support children and Nadia had school classes to attend. What is more, neither the young mother, nor the young granny were emotionally ready to comprehend and realize their new responsibilities and challenges they had to face.

Being desperate, Nadia and her mom had even considered giving up the baby, but, luckily, medical staff of the maternity clinic told them about the possibility of placing both girls in a foster family.

“She was sure very young and could not immediately accept her new social role, the role of a mother. However, in the foster family Nadia was away from all the factors that constantly stressed her back home: anxiousness about not being ready to take care of a little baby, fear of going back to school and having her colleagues find out about her early motherhood and so on. Now Nadia was in a friendly, safe and comfortable environment, where she started to learn what it is like to be a mom and became connected to her child”, – the project manager Larysa, commented on the case.

When Nadia and the baby returned home, everything came together. It was decided that Nadia’s grandparents would take care of their grand-granddaughter for the first years giving the 13-year-old the ability to go back to school and receive proper education. The couple lives in another town, which provides Nadia with an opportunity to avoid unnecessary talks and prejudices about her. However, they still live close enough, so Nadia is also able to visit her child.

The good of the outcome truly concerns everyone in Nadia’s family.

Firstly, Nadia’s grandparents are thrilled about having a baby in their house. “She is a little angel, our sunshine! I do not know what we would do without having her around”, – shared Nadia’s grandmother while talking about her grand-granddaughter.

Secondly, Nadia became a real parent to her small daughter, while being able to continue studying and getting full use of her potential.

Finally, Nadia’s mother had time to figure out her life as well. In the end, she found a job where she could work fewer hours, in order to pay more attention to her child and grandchild. But most importantly, the beautiful baby-girl did not become an orphan. Instead, even before being able to walk and talk, she has revitalized emotional connections and love relations in her family. Once Nadia and her mother had some time without their regular problems oppressing them, both realized what a bless it is to have a little baby in their lives.

And this miracle of birth – the rebirth of a caring and truly united family – was possible thanks to your constant support to the project.  

• It takes less than $10 to provide accommodation and food for children like Nadia and her baby for 1 day.
• And only $200 can keep children like Nadia and her baby in urgent need of our support safe in a safe and secure family for 1 month.

We thank you for your generosity on behalf of Nadia, her little daughter and every child in need.

* The names have been changed to protect a child's confidentiality.

There is a story behind everything. How a picture got on a wall. How a scar got on a face. Sometimes they are simple, and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking. But behind all stories is always the mother's story, because is where the beginning. Today we want to tell you the story of a young mother Lilia. She is only 15 years old. She has never had the family to take over. We find her in the very critical circumstances of her life, when she was 7 months pregnant, but most of all she wanted to change her life and to give her future child better life. "I want to be placed in emergency fostering family as soon as possible when I met them and understood that this is where I will feel save and cared fore. I wante to go there even today" - Lilia told to social workers at the first meeting. For now Lilia is staying in Bazylchuk foster family since March and her new life is already started. The most excited news are that on June 1, in International Children Day, Lilia gave birth to her son! 

Lilia lived with her mother, who was actually 4 times deprived for parental rights before and with mother’s inmate. She was throw upon her own resources, that’s why she used to miss a school, party hard and live in the street. In February, 2015 her mother died and Lilia stayed in flat with mother’s inmate, who is alcohol addicted and offended her. Lilia’s four adult sisters wanted to receive their part of the mother’s flat. She was at loss, lonely and pregnant. By initiative of Kyiv City Service for Children and Partnership for Every Child Lilia was placed to Bazylchuk foster family. Because of foster carers help, attention and open hearts Lilia passed the rehabilitation programme, started to go to school regularly and finished the parenting training programme. "She is very rational, hard-headed and motivated girl", - Natalia Bazylchuk said.

On June 1 Lilia gave birth to a baby boy. How happy she is! Her eyes are bright, she is optimistic and believe in better future for her and her little angel. In Bazylchuk foster carers family the young mother feels safe and protected. She learns what does the real support means and how to build her life. "When I came back from the maternity clinic Natalia and Anatolii gave me a key of their flat. It was so touching and exiciting. I have never had my own key of any place. They really trust me and it makes me feel strong", - said Lilia.

Now we are doing our best to find the new family for Lilia and her son, to protect her housing rights. The story of little boy has already began. And we sure that with your support it will be the happy one. You can donate 28$ and it is really make the difference in not only Lilia’s life but in her son life. That’s impossible to save everyone. But foster carers give a change to change everything in children lives they cares about. Thank you all for your support and please don't let your generosity end. Help us raise awareness by simply spreading the word and sharing this report through your network, tell your friends about the project. Together we can make this world a better place.

* The name has been changed to protect a child's confidentiality.