Issue 213 Spring 2016 - Vadim's Story

Vadim is 16 years old, with Downs syndrome. When he first came to the Phoenix Centre he could not dress or wash himself. He soon learnt.

Now Vadim has become the older brother to other children in wheel- chairs, as he can help them. He does not leave the Centre until everyone is wheeled outside. When visitors arrive Vadim will run to take their coats and try to get them to play tennis.

Vadim never had any education, but as he liked to draw, the Centre staff asked him to start drawing some letters. In just 5 months he has already learnt the letters up to “o”.

His passion is drawing, tennis and dancing. At the recent Spring Festival he was given the important place of playing the guitar. He would love to stay at the Centre and not go home at all. 

You can support the work we do at the Phoenix Centre by clicking the link below. 

Make a donation on BT MyDonate

Issue 213 Spring 2016 - Natasha's Story, Phoenix Centre

Natasha, 17, came to the Phoenix Centre with her hands permanently affixed together and her head hung low. She did not interact with others and if she did it was through strained and halting speech. She struggled to sit up by herself and participate with teachers, assistants, and other children. Only six months have passed, and the difference seen in Natasha today is incredible.

Through daily physical activity with the Phoenix Centre team, Natasha can now sit by herself. She claps along to songs, motions to people and objects, and can even grasp small items and move them with limited difficulty.

Natasha will immediately light up a room when she enters with her big smile. Whilst her speech can be slightly difficult to understand, she can make her needs known as well as convey her thoughts and opinions. She loves to chat with anyone who is close to her.

The most amazing change is in the development of a clever and playful personality. She will tell jokes and tease, and has quickly become an avid draughts player! When a visitor comes to the Centre, she will gladly challenge them to a quick match and will probably beat them within a few moves.

It would be hard to imagine her as such a wonderful and joy-filled person without the interactions with staff and visitors, and the one-on-one physical care she receives at the Centre. 

You can support our work with the Phoenix Centre and our other projects by clicking below. 

Make a donation on BT MyDonate

Issue 213 Spring 2016 - Transforming Lives and Communities

Vova and his family are typical of the many families helped by LoveWithout Borders. He is 5 years old and lives with his mum, dad and two older brothers. They live in the no-man's-land between the fighting factions in the Luhansk area of Ukraine.

His dad was a mechanic and his mum a nurse - they were a very contended family. In 2013 Vova was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Whilst the chemo worked, it caused the bones in his legs to bend and so he needed specialist help. But, then the war started. His dad lost his job and there was, and still is, no stable authority in place to arrange the treatment that Vova needs.

To receive the specialist help meant going through 15 check-points and this would take all day, if they could get through them all. But, the family continued to be brave and positive.

Love Without Borders arranged for Vova to be taken to Kiev where he has now had the operation he needed.

As refugees begin to return to their homes they are confronted with destruction and squalor. Trying to rebuild their houses, their families, their lives ... with nothing but their hands, their drive, their faith.

But, the volunteers from LoveWithout Borders are responding and rebuilding lives, families and communities.

Re-equipping, even rebuilding homes. The needs are endless, but so are the prayers and the desire to make a difference. 

You can support the incredible work Love Without Borders do by clicking the link below. 

Make a donation on BT MyDonate

Issue 213 Spring 2016 - Love Without Borders

Since ChildAid supporters began their faithful giving for the children and families of Eastern Ukraine affected by the war, nearly £46,000 has been provided for emergency and restorative aid.

Both our EUREKA (Eastern Ukraine Relief & Emergency Kids Aid) appeal, and our partner, Love Without Borders, have already achieved much, including:

• 150 children have, on a regular basis for a year, received life-saving insulin and medical supplies until a local supply was established

• 100 families regularly receive emergency food packages (in fact with aid from all its international support Love Without Borders has distributed over 3 tons of aid per month during the last 12 months alone).

There is now a great need for the provision of psychological care. Children are crying all night long. Many people are taking sleeping and anti-psychotic drugs - there is already concern over addiction.

A large number of churches have disappeared. Many church leaders who were forced to leave in the early days of the conflict cannot return as they are on an “embargoed” list at the so-called border.

Where the non-Moscow Patriarch churches do meet, there are often unknown people just sitting and watching ... certainly not worshipping!

In response, Love Without Borders have built a spiritual base to fully transform lives, and at the border near Luhansk they have set up a temporary tent where:

•   Food and 2,000 Bibles have been handed to refugees and local people

•   1,000 children and 4,000 adults have received Christian literature to encourage and support them. 

The current urgency is to operate a “seeds & chicks programme”.

Last spring and summer huge areas of agricultural land, gardens and allotments were abandoned due to fighting. Although continuing, the fighting is not as fierce as September, but most people could not return to their homes during the winter due to the cold and damaged housing. Consequently, there are no seed stocks for this years crop.

Love Without Borders aim to supply 4,000 vulnerable families with seeds and chicks, as well as carry out house repairs following shelling and extensive looting.

Your help is vital to ensure families will be able to tend their land. Support us by clicking the link below.

Make a donation on BT MyDonate