Child Protection Ukraine Project #13047

Vital Emergency Fostering for Children in Ukraine

by Partnership for Every Child

Project Report | Apr 3, 2015
Little happy story before Easter

By Olga Sergeeva | Project Communications Officer

Happy family after the reunion

Dear Friends, spring greetings from Ukraine!

Easter is approaching in a few days and we want to share some really exciting news with you. As you probably know, currently Ukrainian people suffer from military conflict in Eastern regions and we have difficulties and issues connecting with that process. Our present day story is about short-term foster carers who providet care and moral support for two girls and helpes to rescue them from life threatening experience.

«You cannot imagine how scary it is there for all, especially for children, – commented about events in Luhansk region professional journalists Maksym and Oksana*, «there is no sense for our family to return back».

Two Russian-speaking chatterboxes – 12-year old Sasha and 9-year old Katya along with their father Maksym and mother Oksana moved from the “war zone in Luhansk region” to “peaceful” Kharkiv in autumn last year. The family rented an apartment, the children went to school and their parents got wrapped into dangerous journalism: «as there shall be someone, who will provide real truth about events in Luhansk region». However, life changes things: it has become dangerous for Sasha and Katya to stay in Kharkiv in the beginning of February 2015 due to professional activities of their parents, as the family received numerous threats. Afterwards came the worrying overnight move to a place where the children would feel safe.

Thus, Sasha and Katya temporarily “went for a visit” to a short-term fostering family under the parents’ consent to Natalia and Anatoliy in Kyiv. «Your parents are genuine heroes, as they returned to work in order to save lives of others”, – said Nataliya to the children, – “and you are small heroes too, as you can keep secrets».

Seventeen days have turned Sasha’s and Katya’s visit into meaningful walks, amusement and interesting ways of conceiving Kyiv. «The children are very interesting, curious and it may seem sometimes that they “got more mature” from that “unpeaceful life”, since they have always been concerned whether their mother and father would come back, whether they were fine» (an abstract from the dairy of short-term foster parent Natalia). «I have been impressed by an open dialogue with older Sasha, in particular, who seemed to be very heart-pounding and chatterbox Katyusha and... trusting “secret” conversations about everything, everything, everything.»

There were tears and emotional rollercoaster and anger – “and that’s is normal” – as psychologist testified, who managed to hold several meetings with girls. «We adults do not comprehend what is going through such a small child's soul in the daily expection of a phone call and command: "packing your cloth and go home tomorrow, everything is good, the danger has gone."»

Hurray! There is the long-awaited Dad on the verge of foster carer’s apartments... then shared dinner and several hours on the road. And the girls’ call and a sincere «Thank you so much, Natasha, we already miss you much and could we call you again?»

Our team thank you all for supporting this project so that the children in our care are able to “get back” to their common family life after being knocked down by the difficulties sometimes caused by the most incredible reasons. We are looking forward to sharing our further updates with you and grateful to you all again for the happy ending and support.

May all the choicest blessings of the world be showered upon you and fill your life with delight. Happy Easter!

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

Family patronage results (March, 2015)

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Oct 23, 2014
Fostering superheroes: the saga continues

By Tanya Sykes | Project Communications Officer

Vita post-hospital in July & before school in Sept

They cannot save the whole world, but they can surely make the one they live in better. Since 2010 the Gursky family – our real-life fostering superheroes – have provided care and support for 10 children. All of them were in need of urgent protection due to domestic or parental issues which prevented them from living at home for a certain period of time. Their saga continued: by the end of June 2014 with the help of your generous donations Tetyana and Taras Gursky have managed to save 18-month-old Matviy from going into an orphanage, and at the beginning of July 2014 they were helping another child, 12-year-old Vita*.

On June 12^th Vita was delivered to the Burn Unit of the Kyiv Regional Clinical Hospital with electric shock after falling down from the train carriage wagon. "The last picture on Vita’s phone was a self-taken photo of her standing on the stairs of a waggon with the danger arrow clearly seen on the background. She must have climbed further on top of the waggon for another photo and most probably got caught in wires where electric voltage was over 20,000 V” – Mrs Gurska recalls that tragic day. The girl suffered a fracture of the frontal skull bone, brain contusion, lung injury and numberless electrothermal burns of the head, neck, trunk, right arm and leg (48% of the girl’s body surface). “The doctors did not guarantee any positive outcomes at all” – Tetyana adds. But after a skull surgery and restorative skin treatment in a month’s time Vita was placed in foster care with the Gursky.

“This would not have happened had the girl be looked after and not be neglected”, – says project worker Larysa.“Vita was living with her father and aunt who barely made ends due to disability and temporary jobs with insufficient earnings. Three adult brothers have left home ages ago, and not much is known about Vita’s mother. The girl and her relatives withhold most of the information about her. Vita was told to be seen on her own or with a bunch of boys, hanging around abandoned construction sites, industrial areas or engine sheds.”

When Vita met the Gursky for the first time she was all covered in bandages “stuck to her open wounds and scars”. On top of providing a safe and secure loving home, the Gursky took immediately to ensuring the girl was on a quick mend and speedy recovery: applying ointments, changing bandages, treating the wounds and skin grafts. Positive atmosphere, emotional support and rehabilitation were needed for Vita to return back to normal life and to restore her relations with the family. “The child seemed to suffer from the situation that prevailed in the family; she was living in a hope to change everything for the better and to eventually see her Mom”, - Tetyana Gurska says. In September Vita started local Jewish community school that supported the girl immensely. Vita’s healthy glowing look wouldn’t even give the accident away but for the short hair that remained after the June surgery. On October 18^th Vita overcame a three-month threshold of staying in foster care with the Gursky. While case workers are looking into improving Vita’s Dad employment opportunities, tracing Vita’s Mom – unfortunately caught in the middle of a full-scale war actions in the East of Ukraine where she lives – remains impossible.

“I keep saying to Vita: not all the time everything in life goes according to the plan, but we have to stay strong and to accept the reality as it is. No matter how many times you get knocked down, keep getting back up”, - Taras Gursky sums up. On behalf of Vita and the looked-after children like her we thank you all for supporting this project so that the children in our care can “get back” after being knocked down by the difficulties, abuse and neglect, get the best start in life and have a chance to reach their full potential. Please don't let your generosity end - help us raise awareness by simply spreading the word and sharing this report through your network. Wherever there is a human being, there is always an opportunity for a kindness.

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Jul 16, 2014
Exciting news, and here is why

By Vasylyna Dybaylo | Project Leader

18-month-old Matviy with his mother Maria

Dear friends,

We hope this update finds you well. June has been an exciting month, and here is why. In just under two weeks, our emergency foster carers from Bila Tserkva (Ukraine) – the Gursky family – have managed to save an 18-month-old boy called Matviy from going into an orphanage, getting traumatised by abrupt and sudden separation from his mother, feeling neglected and abandoned… This couldn’t have happened without your kind and continued support.

To 18-year-old Maria, Matviy’s biological mother, experience of growing up in an institutional care is not something new. She spent her childhood and adolescent years in an orphanage herself, and remembers well how to share a teacher (or their “pretend Mommy” as they used to call her) with another 30 children. When she fell pregnant with Matviy – alone, without permanent work or accommodation, having only recently graduated from the High School – instead of giving up she decided to become the best Mom in the world for her little son. The moment Maria heard from the doctors that she needed an urgent medical operation, her heart sank. “What about my little boy? Who will look after him?” were her first thoughts. This is when the Gursky family have offered their support to take care of Matviy in their loving friendly home, while Maria was having her medical treatment and recovery after the operation.

As little as $28 will cover a salary for a foster carer to look after children like Matviy who are in need of urgent protection. Today, on July 16th, 2014, starting from 9 a.m. EDT your donation to this project can bring 50% more – it’s a Bonus Day on GlobalGiving. It means that every $10 will go even further: not only helping to ensure caring families like the Gursky work, but also enabling parents in difficult life situations like Maria. And most importantly, children will remain in a family environment, essential for their growth and development, 24/7.

It takes less than 5 minutes to donate – just visit goto.gg/13047. There is $130,000 in matching funds available, so hurry because matching funds will likely soon run out. Please spread the word to your friends, family and co-workers too. Together, we can make the most of this fantastic offer and help to every child in need.

With gratitude,

Vasylyna Dybaylo

Director of Partnership for Every Child

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