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FROM THE FIELD

People need your help and you give it to them, it is part of Ukrainian nature.
14 May 2008 13:21:00 GMT
 Source: Everychild Ukraine
Oksana Shved

Website: Website: http://www.everychild.org.ua

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Inna and Daryna
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Inna and Daryna
EveryChild Ukraine

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It's just seven in the morning, as I start another challenging day. Like most of Ukrainian women that work I begin my day with a cup of a strong coffee, without milk and sugar, it helps me to wake up and concentrate. I love this time of the day as it's the only time you can think about your plans, sort out things and relax a little bit before a deep breath and start of a new working day. But sometimes it all goes in its own day, when I pick up the phone and hear about the emergency.

An emergency at our local level is a situation which poses immediate risk to health and life for anyone of 35 thousands of inhabitants of Ivankiv, which is situated 50 km close to Chernobyl - city famous because the most known man-made catastrophe. Of course, when one can compare the effect of Chernobyl emergency and our local ones it can sound not seriously, but for me every suicide attempt, each abandonment case, every fact of abuse requires urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, just like during this worst nuclear power plant accident of 1986.

Meanwhile my hair becomes a pony tail and I take off to the street, as at nine o'clock I have to be in the social center. It takes me 10 minutes walking to get there - living next to the center is very convenient as you don't have to spend time and money for public transportation and when your salary is around 70 USD a month, each banknote counts.

In our social center it is always busy and noisy, when you first come here, it seems that you are at some train station. Usually we have five visitors a day, as a director I have to be familiar with most of the hard cases. It's very difficult psychologically, as I can't stop pass our visitor's stories through my heart. Here our social workers spend their days helping people with complicated social, financial, health psychological problems. They assist families in need and people who are the victims of abuse. They provide counselling, advice, and direction for people who would otherwise have no way of bettering their situations. While seeing people who are confused, scared, and beset by problems all day long may sound disheartening, I am uplifted by my job and that truly feel that I am doing work of value. I am proud that during last year prevented 4 children abandonment cases.

My "human schedule" as I call it starts later, when I drive 20 kilometres to my first client, actually there are two of them, 20 years old Inna and her three year old girl - Daryna. Our new car "Tavria" provided by EveryChild was a serious stimulus for me, rural 45-years old women, to take driving courses. Now only sometimes a driver accompanies me, I prefer to practice in driving myself, the car is comfortable and I am confident in my security. As usual I monitor our clients in care because making the transition from day-to-day survival to self-sufficiency does not happen overnight.

The name "Daryna" in Ukrainian means "a gift", I sometimes wonder how a name can reflect people's personal history. When Inna gave birth to her girl, she had no place to go and was forced to think about the abandonment of a child. Spending her childhood with mother who had problems with alcohol, suffering from abuse, she didn't want her girl to repeat the cycle of her own. Inna felt isolated and depressed. She thought she had no options but to endure the abusive situation on her own. After all, with no money, where would she go, what could she do? Like most rural inhabitants she thought that internat will provide a best temporary solution for Daryna, at least she will have accommodation, food and clothing.

We learnt about Inna's case from her gynecologist, who phoned to our center. It took us several days to find her family members and examine their living conditions. It goes without saying that we couldn't let Inna come with a baby to this terrible, gloomy and depressive house. Inna had a strong attachment to her baby, we had to catch time by the forelock to prevent child separation. One mistake, one opportunity missed, one day wasted could spoil all our efforts. Urgently we approached Mother and Baby Unit in Fastiv and asked for help. Assistance was provided immediately, Inna and her little "gift" got a personal clear room, kitchen and all necessary things a child needs during the first year of his life. But most importantly, they were together and unlike thousands of Ukrainian so called "social orphans" Daryna will never ask a question that makes ones blood run cold: "Where is my Mum?"

Inna, a painfully shy young woman with a sweet smile, in the red coat meets me with a carriage. My primary task is to make a visual assessment, and I do it with pleasure - the three years old girl is clean, active, well-dressed and with a fancy haircut. I accompany two ladies to their room, it's not difficult to guess where is it - only one balcony in the house is full with baby's clothes that are drying after washing. The apartment is very clean, I must confess that you don't expect it from a lonely mother with a tiny kid, who like most children of her age above all likes to make mess. I remember this room before we repaired it, now it has a new life: tiny legs run about its old wooden floor, pink walls become covered with Daryna's drawings, family photos and flowers comfortably occupied the window-sin. As I step closer to kitchen, my nose feels the smell of boiled buckwheat, Inna says that Daryna likes it, and it's so convenient for her as it takes ten minutes to cook. Chatting with a caring mother always inspires me, she tells about Daryna's funny sayings, shows her pictures - as most girls of her age she like to draw princesses. inspires me, she tells about Daryna's funny sayings, shows her pictures - as most girls of her age she like to draw princesses. Inna is pregnant once again, but now she has a big shoulder to assist her. Vitaliy met her and Daryna in the hospital, almost like in a fairy tale he said that won't let Inna carry on problems on her own. Inna was introduced to his family where she found a second home full of care and understanding. Vitaly's grandma likes Inna most of all, she helps her with cooking several times a week, and can't wait to see their wedding. Little Daryna likes her new father very much, it is only with him she can experience little childhood pleasures, for instance to sit on his mighty shoulders and for a moment turn from little to very big. Money can't solve all problems, but it can provide a way out of a desperate situation. I enter a door of a small shabby wooden house of 36-years old Galya. She is living with three daughters (Natalya 12, Olya 11 and Ira -9). Galya receives constant help from our social center. After moving to Ukraine from Russia she was cheated by a broker while buying an apartment. Without money and documents, without passport she didn't fold her hands, she did all possible to keep her children with her. Unfortunately she started to live with a man who appeared to be a drinker and a tussler, he used to beat Galya and her three girls. She ran away from him to a new place, where she got help of our social workers. As I go to the clean and light living room I see her girls sitting around 3 small tables, we presented them this Autumn. Sometimes it's hard to believe that until recently they had no furniture and slept on the stove, did their homework on the kitchen table. I am happy to find all humanitarian aid of Communication Workers Union and Kyiv Books Club, received with assistance of EveryChild, in action: washing machine is occupied with girls laundry, refrigerator and gas-stove allows Galya to cook in the house, not in the yard as she was forced to do before, her house has an electricity and gas. I speak with Galya about her current affairs, progress in restoring documents, financial aid available from state for her children. She says that she has to find another house in two month as the owner wants to sell the apartment, I am assuring her that together we will find an optimal solution. EveryChild office decided to assist her with money donated by Kyiv Anglican Church, so now she can look for a new apartment with confidence. I admire Galya very much; she is like an "iron lady" never gives up, always optimistic and strives for her family's happiness. There is also so much more to do for our social workers from the center: Natalya needs an operation on her back after her fall from a tree, Galya also should be examined by a doctor as she has problems with eyes and can't find a job because of poor health. It's almost six o'clock as I drink tea with girls and talk with them about their life, studies, listen to their problems and needs. Another working day is finished and I hurry up to my own family. confidence. I admire Galya very much; she is like an "iron lady" never gives up, always optimistic and strives for her family's happiness. There is also so much more to do for our social workers from the center: Natalya needs an operation on her back after her fall from a tree, Galya also should be examined by a doctor as she has problems with eyes and can't find a job because of poor health. It's almost six o'clock as I drink tea with girls and talk with them about their life, studies, listen to their problems and needs. Another working day is finished and I hurry up to my own family. At home first of all I try to sit 15 minutes in silence, my daughter and husband know, since I worked as a teacher at school, that this time is critical for me to prepare for my home life. As I am done with that, I am ready to cook, sit with my family members and listen their news. But sometimes my evening time is interrupted with the calls of clients. Recently, it was very touching, when I heard a young trembling voice of one of the mothers who complained that she quarreled with her husband. "Ludmila, - she said, could you help me please to get him back home? Can you say that I love him?" I was surprised and asked, why don't she call him herself. The answer was unexpected: "He will believe your words for sure, I know it for 100%". I like to sit at the big table with my family chatting and drinking tea, sometimes we argue about the music with my daughter who tries to accustom me to listening rap and rock, which I don't feel I am comfortable enough with. Then, after watching news and political talk shows with my husband, I am excited to see new series of "Sex and the City" serial. I like the humour and irony of the main characters very much, it helps me also to find solution and ways of communication with my young female clients. Going to sleep I am wondering if I will manage to stick to my initial plan for the next day; not because I am disorganised but mainly because working in social service means you open yourself to the unexpected, everything that can happen will and you'd better be ready for it.


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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