In times of war, the number of children without parental care increases, and we are doing our best to respond to today's challenges.
In Ternopil, for the second time, the Orphans Future charitable foundation held the Foster Families Forum "Child's Happiness - Growing in the Family". This event brought together 29 foster parents and their 126 children, 57 professionals and volunteers from governmental and non-governmental organizations to share experiences, knowledge and inspiration. The forum became a platform for strengthening family ties, discussing current problems and developing new approaches in the field of foster care. The contribution of each and every one was special and important.
Special thanks for the financial support in the organization and holding of the important Second Forum for foster families: BF "Podolyany" Tetiana Chubak, Yevhen Hlyva Foundation, NGO "Rodyna dlya dtyni", and twenty people of good will who donated to make the Forum take place.
During the panel discussion "Challenge and Success of the Year" (moderator - Olga Kolosha from the NGO "Rodyna dlya Dityna") and work in groups (moderator - Alla Melnychuk, teacher of Berdyan State University), parents-educators together with representatives of the Centers of Social Services and Services in Affairs children, Department of "Social Work" of the Ternopil National University named after Hnatyuk, developed a vision and practical steps to create conditions for supporting foster families, which will contribute to increasing the number of family forms of raising orphans.
We discussed and looked for solutions on the following topics:
HOW TO SPEND MONEY TO HAVE ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING? (ALEKSANDR SOHATSKY)
HOW TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES? (MARYANA GEVKO)
HOW TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE DANGER ON THE INTERNET, MEDIA LITERACY OF PARENTS (CYBER POLICE: Sofia TSEZARUK, Maksym SERVATNIUK)
HOW TO ORGANIZE REST AND SUPPORT FOR PARENTS? (OLGA KOLOSHA)
HOW TO SOLVE THE SUBSIDY AND HOUSING OF FOSTER FAMILIES? (MARYA MYKULA)
The organizers are satisfied that the Forum has ensured the fulfillment of important tasks:
- created a platform for sharing practical experience of supporting foster families by state and non-state organizations;
- analyzed the capabilities/resources of foster families, public and state organizations, to provide them with the necessary needs;
- formulated proposals for actions that will contribute to improving the situation of adoptive families and will form the basis of the creation of a joint document-recommendations for the Government of Ukraine and local authorities of the Ternopil region;
- contributed to attracting additional resources needed by foster families of the Ternopil region from businesses and philanthropists. Thus, BF "Podolyany" presented each family with certificates for a skating rink and bowling, so that families could organize quality leisure time, and the "Caritas-Ternopil" Foundation undertook to provide support to our foster families living in the territory of the Ternopil region;
- popularized family forms of raising orphans in communities of Ternopil region through the involvement of "TV-4" and "Suspilne Ternopil";
- encouraged the parents-educators and gave them an opportunity to get away from everyday life and have a little fun.
While there was a serious conversation between adults, 126 children had the opportunity to spend their time interestingly and usefully. For teenagers, volunteer trainers conducted trainings on financial literacy (Olga Khilko and Iryna Gavrilyuk), media literacy (Iryna Terlyuk), cyber security (Sofia and Maksym), communication with parents (Olena Koval). And for the youngest members of the Podolyan Foundation, they organized ice skating, a game of bowling and spending time in the children's playroom "Madagascar" accompanied by volunteers from the "Caritas Ternopil" Foundation and students of the Ternopil National Pedagogical University (coordinator - Halyna Oliynyk).
Andrii Nazarenko, the founder and head of the Orphans Future charitable foundation, believes that it is extremely important that every child grows up in a family, and it is necessary to make maximum efforts so that children who are left without parental care can receive it. During his speech, Andriy shared his personal story with the participants:
"I remember when I was 11 years old I got into a family environment for the first time, even though it was temporary.
This was after 9 years of continuous residence in a boarding school. Even then, I did not understand the importance and necessity of family education. But as I grew up, I compared myself to my peers who grew up with me in boarding school. We grew up alone, without support. And these were two different worlds. That is why we call other families to take action, to make decisions so that more children get a chance to grow up in families. And for this we need to support our current foster families. Every foster family story is an example of courage and mercy. Parents-educators are the heroes of our time, because they provide family comfort and confidence in the future. Thanks to them, children receive harmonious development and individual care. Therefore, our common goal is to contribute to the creation of the necessary conditions for the development of foster families and their children in order to reduce the number of children in institutional institutions. Problems of children left without parental care, and the problems faced by adoptive families have been accumulating for decades and often plunge us into emotional outbursts, long monologues and conflicts with the hope of instantly resolving all issues. That's why our annual forum is designed to step by step approach concrete solutions from those people who live it directly 24/7. Together we analyze the reality and legislation of Ukraine, develop a vision and possible further actions.
At the Forum, the Ternopil Regional Charitable Fund "FUTURE ORPHANES" signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Centers of Social Services of Ternopil and Ternopil Oblast, the Children's Service of Ternopil Oblast. This Memorandum establishes the obligations of the parties to work together to support orphans and families raising orphans in the community by providing psychological and social assistance. We believe that this memorandum will give rise to really effective cooperation so that foster families always have reliable support.
Foster parents, we sincerely thank you for your participation and support. Your presence and active participation made this event a real celebration of kindness and hope, it was an opportunity for all of us to exchange experiences, find new like-minded people, and also gain new knowledge and skills to support our children even more effectively. Your involvement in this event helped make it informative, inspiring and memorable. Your work is invaluable and we hope that this forum has given you new strength and inspiration on your way.
We sincerely thank you for your active help in organizing and holding the Second Forum:
Zoryana Vitushynska – host of the forum;
Volodia Yavorskyy – assistant;
Alla Melnichuk – moderators of work in groups;
Olga Sha Family for a child (– moderators of the panel discussion;
Alina Muts Caritas Ternopil and her team of volunteers for working with children and adolescents;
Galya Oliynyk and students of the Ternopil National Pedagogical University named after V. Hnatyuk for help.
For spiritual support, we are grateful to father Oleksii Filyuk, who by his example and participation inspired many to thoughts and actions.
Thanks to Maria Vasylyk for the cool gingerbread souvenirs
Special sincere thanks to the general partner for the comfort and atmosphere of the Second Forum of foster families of Tetiana Chubak, BF Podolyana and Tetiana Vasylieva.
Together, we can do everything so that children who grow up without parents can finally find a real family comfort. Because every child deserves parental care, attention and love.
Together we are a force!
