By Tanya Sykes | Project Communications Officer
This is a story about a kind and polite little boy who deseprately needs a new Mommy and Daddy. Today, we can make this happen with your help.
Meet Misha*, a 4-year-old boy found on the streets of Kyiv one night, early October 2013. He was neglected by his mother who had recently returned from prison for the fourth time and experienced problems with drugs and alcohol. Misha’s Grandmother, who had been looking after the boy all this time, died unexpectedly in September 2013, just one month after Misha’s fourth birthday. That’s how he appeared on the streets of a residential suburban area of the Ukrainian capital that October night, cold, abandoned and all alone against the whole wide world.
Thanks to the work of the “Vital Emergency Fostering for Children in Ukraine” project and your generous donations, instead of staying in a shelter until further indefinite placement in the institutional care, Misha has found a loving home with the short-term and emergency foster carers: Natalia and Anatoliy. On the first days of his stay in a new home, Misha managed to surprise his foster parents by completely ignoring a big box with toys. “It seems that nothing interested Misha: neither toys nor playing with other children outside. Instead, he has spent ages writing letters to imaginary friends, making collages and drawings.” - says Natalia, his temporary “Mommy”. Creativity has most probably saved Misha from the trauma of separation with a significant family member who his late Grandma was. Misha does not remember his father; he does not like talking about his Mom or her partner. Because of the way the childcare system works in Ukraine, his 12-year-old stepbrother has been placed in the orphanage and has only few chances to be reintegrated with Misha again.
Two months later, the social services have confirmed inability of Misha’s biological mother to look after the boy in the future. The project workers are now in the process of looking for a permanent care solution for a boy: an adoptive or a lon-term foster family. “Misha is a very kind and polite little boy, who is very curious about each new day in this world. The only thing is, he just desperately needs a new Mommy and Daddy.” – says his short-term foster carer Natalia.
We know for sure how to make it happen. All we need is your help. Today is a Bonus Day on globalgiving.com. This means that every donation made will be 30% matched by the pledge. It also means that your help to children in need will go even further to ensure that this life-saving work is there 24/7.
So please donate whatever you can today, Wednesday, February 12 starting at 9:00 AM EST / 1:00 PM GMT at www.goto.gg/13047 until the matching funds lasts. Hurry up and please tell everyone you know about this cause, too.
We thank you for your generosity. On behalf of Misha and every child in need.
* The names have been changed to protect a child's confidentiality.
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