Did you know that there are some children born in wealthy families who still become orphans? On the one hand, they are different – they are children with special needs, but on the other hand, they are just like the rest of us. They need love, understanding and care. They are capable of being upset and happy. JUST LIKE US. The major difference is that they have to struggle every day of their life!
We all can give them love and care. We can be there for them. They are a part of our lives, they are a part of our society, and we need to reach out to offer them help. They can’t be ignored and put in an institution far from society.
Charity program “HELP”, financed and administered by Diema’s Dream, is assisted by the establishments for Social Security and Education.
The background of the program
The program "HELP" started 10 years ago at the Orphanage #8 for mentally disabled children. Initially it was volunteers who felt the pain of these lost children who had to live in their little cubicles without toys, clothes, proper nutrition or exercise. They were left alone with their struggles and their diseases.
For a long time the Program was a collaboration of the House of Mercy (Dom Miloserdia) and the Russian Orthodox Center “Tzarizin Life-Giving Spring” (Zivonosnii Istochnik v Zarizino). But in 2007, the program was closed. By that time, our foundation, Diema’s Dream was established in 2006 and could continue the Program “Help”.
With the help of volunteers, Diema’s Dream Foundation and Orphanage #8 drastically improved the living conditions for the children, Orphans were surrounded by warm loving hearts and caring hands.
Up through December 2007, the Program was operating only within Orphanage #8. In 2008, Diema's Dream was able to expand the program to make it possible for other four additional orphanages to participate in the program “Help”.
Who do we help
We help:
- Orphans and disabled children with severe and complicated cases of mental and physical disabilities;
- Disabled orphans of all ages and at all stages of their lives;
Our goals
- Improve the living conditions for physically and mentally disabled orphans;
- Provide medicines and operations for the children and other support to the orphanages.
How do we help
1. We help to improve the living conditions of healthy and disabled orphans:
-medical, financial, and other help (clothes, toys, bedding, books, hygiene products, medicine, etc)
-medical examinations and treatments of the orphans in order to improve their health
-increase teacher-child communication
-increase in motor and sensory activities of the disabled children
-reach for realistic improvement in intellectual development of mentally and physically disabled orphans
-support disabled orphans’ adjustment to society
-create conditions for children’s recovery and development.
2. We work directly with orphanages:
- organanize wellness events, celebrations of holidays, and other cultural and educational events for orphans;
- improve their living conditions (including fixing of the buildings);
- organize training seminars for the therapists ;
- provide modern equipment and introduce therapists to new methods of working with disabled orphans.
Medical help
We provide the following medical assistance:
- organize medical examinations for the orphans including doctors’ fees and transportation to and from the hospital;
- pay fees for the surgeries, nurse’s pay while a child is in hospital or during his/her recovery in an orphanage;
- pay for the medicine needed for the orphans (emergency only).
Help directed towards orphans' development, social adjustment and rehabilitation
-projects, events, trips which help children to broaden their verizons and make them feel part a part of society ;
-purchase of educational books and developmental toys; -volunteer help from medical and educational professionals from Russia and other countries, as well as volunteers from non-profit organizations who can offer medical, psychological, pedagogical or social help to the orphans;
-sharing experience in medical, psychological and rehabilitation areas of work with special needs orphans;
- organizing training seminars for the orphanage staff. We invite consultants from medical, educational and governmental establishments and organizations from all over the world;
- support projects directed to improve the quality of life for children at orphanages.
Financial aid
-supply orphans with clothes, bedding, toys, exercise equipment, books, and personal hygiene products;
-improving the living conditions of orphans including fixing old constructions of the orphanages or maintaining them.
-purchase modern equipment for children’s’ rehabilitation.
-financially support changes in the structure of the building, according to the needs of disabled orphans (such as ramps for wheel chairs, providing necessary equipments for each child, etc.)
Why do we support
Program “Help” meets the goals of Diema's Dream charity foundation for disabled children :
- we provide financial and other help to orphans;
- we provide rehabilitation for orphans with severe physical and mental disabilities, as well as disabled young adults over the age of 18;
- we support orphanages.
Main activities of Diema's Dream
- charity
- Rehabilitation
- other types of activities, which meet our goals and are not prohibited by the laws of the Russian Federation.
Today records show that Russia orphans are neglected and their rights as citizens are often violated. Russian General Attorney, Commissioners of the People Rights in Russia, as well as representatives from numerous social organizations have never mentioned not once that orphanages in Russia are going through crisis.
In most cases, children don’t get proper nutrition, clothes, or shoes. Many structures of orphanages are in bad condition, they require either compete or partial reconstruction, which is not being done.
