(source: OZ Návrat)
“No other person gives me as much support as my mum,” says 17-year-old Jakub about his mother.
Strong, caring, persevering, helpful. These are the words people use when asked to describe their mothers in one word. But what happens if a strong and caring mother gets into a situation when she herself needs our help and support?
4,500 abandoned children want to grow up in a family
We are looking for parents for abandoned children to provide them with a safe haven and a loving family. Most of these kids have experienced a traumatising event and with your help, we can provide them and their new families with therapies, which will help "unbreak” their hearts.
“We meet mothers who have never had children of their own, but they have learned to love children born to other women,” says Dana Žilinčíková from the civic association Návrat (Return), which provides help for mothers in need.
“Some women regret that they don’t know how to be good mothers for their own children because they feel emotionally empty due to difficult childhoods. Other women do everything they can for their children, even though they are poor and lack other social relationships.”
The traumatic experiences that some people are exposed to prevent them from forming a proper relationship with their parents, whether it be biological or adoptive. Návrat offers counseling and tailor-made programs that are key to improving relationships like these.
Another organization that helps mothers in difficult circumstances as well as their families is Úsmev ako dar (Smile as a Gift).
“We try to identify every option that could help improve or fix their situation,” explains Veronika Prokopová, who works as a psychologist for Úsmev ako dar in Košice. “One option is giving them a roof over their head and work that would enable them to provide for themselves as well as their children, for instance in the Dorka Center for Family Recovery in Prešov. The center gives them the opportunity to work as seamstresses and sew their worries away by creating bags with a story.”
Úsmev ako dar also works with a group of mothers who have discovered that they have a lot of maternal love, even though they have never been able to have children of their own. They are paired with children who need love the most because they have lost their biological mothers.
“Mothers are symbols of love and the home. What makes them exceptional is their ability to track and respond to the needs of everyone they love, no matter how many people it is,” says Veronika Prokopová.
This Mother's Day (as well as any other day), you have the opportunity to help mothers in need. All you need to do is click “I will donate” next to one of two projects – either “4,500 abandoned children want to grow up in a family” by the civic association Návrat or “DORKA bag – Bag with a story” by the non-profit organization Úsmev ako dar.
The Slovak Spectator has teamed up with Dobrá Krajina (Great Country)to create a space for stories of people and communities who need our help. Each article in the series For a great country will give you the opportunity to support a specific project and actively contribute to building a great country.
Author: Radoslav Kmec, The Pontis Foundation
