Hello Friends! I hope your summers going well! Unfortunately, for the teens who graduated from Green Forest Internat (Kharkiv) in May, THEY LIVE IN A COUNTRY AT WAR, and they must go out into it - to live on their own. Compared to Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaphorizhia, Kherson, and other oblasts, our Kharkiv area is relatively quiet now, but its always uncertain day to day. The city of Kharkiv has had turmoil and some violence, as yet not as bad as the areas to the south. (MAP ATTACHED) Our orphanage kids and recent grads are in Camp Aist (Stork), as is usual for their summer months. The days are long past when our older internat kids could go with their classmates for summer trips to the Black Sea. We know that so far they are still safe. Natasha (our friend and contact) reports that our current, successful vocational students have not been involved in any street violence. Natasha has sent us the names and information for 7 new grads who need our help to attend voc ed classes in the fall. I asked, and shes assured us that she has pared down her list to these deserving teens who have nobody else to turn to. Heres part of Natashas letter introducing the new kids: I send you the names and photos of children who have graduated from the school in 2014. The names are not all of our graduates, as some have a sponsor, a female patron of Kharkiv. And these 7 children have no one. (meaning, these 7 beautiful teens Natasha presents to us). Our sponsorship cost is still $50 per month. 1/2 sponsorship is $25. Our sponsorship program has successfully been in place for 6 previous years! Our donation year runs from June 2014 through May 2015. Ill send the total summer money to Natasha at the first of September so that students can buy all they need to begin school. For instance, they must buy basic cell phones so she can keep in touch with them while they live at their schools. They need toiletries, some supplementary foods, warm things for the fall etc.. They start out with very little of their own - almost no possessions. Natasha supervises and advises them. Each student will, of course, meet with Natasha to receive their support every time we send money, and they sign her book to show receipt of your support. Natasha asks about their progress and she encourages and counsels them. Some students study for 2 years in Kharkiv and some for three years in agriculture school. I am always careful to inquire of Natasha about whether or not the Kharkiv bank is operating normally. When she says yes (though there have been some bank restrictions), OBS sends her the money soon as we can - within hours. She emails me when she has obtained it. I AM CAREFUL AS I KNOW HOW TO BE, with donors SUPPORT MONEY. Some of you can help these 7 kids, I believe. Some of you have devotedly helped in the past or are now treasured sponsors. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Even if you can agree to help for a short time, or can give a one-time donation to start a student in school, I will be so glad to hear from you! Thanks for taking your time to read this. PLEASE - Our kids really need your help this fall! They want to stay in school and have a chance for a future. We must try to support them for however long that its possible. Only 3 are sponsored so far. For privacy reasons, I cannot post these teens photos with names and personal info about them here. Contact me, please. Questions, anytime - with no obligation. Gratefully, Natalie [email protected]
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 01:35:00 +0000