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Paul Learns to Speak with the Help of the "Chai" Family Services
Paul, 15, is the oldest of three children. He lives with his mother, step-father and two younger siblings in part of a privately-owned house, which is rapidly deteriorating. The family occupies two tiny rooms without central heating, running water or other amenities. In bitter frosts, the only warmth comes from a small coal stove in the kitchen, which also functions as a bedroom for the two boys. Paul's mother, her husband, and their 3-year-old daughter occupy the second room. Paul is mentally challenged. Following the childhood trauma of barely surviving a car accident in which his grandmother was killed, he began suffering from speech disorders and mental disabilities. The teenager now attends a specialized boarding school five days a week in another part of the city in order to get the special attention he requires. Without any assistance from the boys' biological father, Paul's mother struggles to play both the role of caretaker and earn an income for her children. She is presently unemployed, and the family lives on Paul's disability allowance ($50) and her second husband's salary ($40). The family has been connected with the local JDC-sponsored Hesed social welfare center since 1998. And when the "Chai" Family Service was launched in Northern and Eastern Ukraine in 2003, the children were invited to take part in its programs. "Chai" Family Service provides assistance to children and families in need using a holistic, family-centered approach to empower them and, ultimately, enable them to be removed from the Hesed welfare caseload. Programs such as the SOS Emergency Program, day centers for children-at-risk, and Tikva centers for children with special needs are all incorporated under the Service. Paul attends Kharkov day center for children-at-risk twice a week, where he is provided with meals and professional assistance in his development. And after almost three years of intensive trainings with both a speech therapist and medical psychologist, he has started to speak. "We did not think it could be possible," says Paul's mom of his progress, eyeing him proudly. "All the years in the specialized boarding school haven't brought any visible results. But after the training in the Children's Day Center, I can see that my boy has changed." From the looks of Paul's smile, it seems the teen knows that this is just the beginning of a brighter future for him and his family. October 2006 |
