STORIES
Lifesaver

Helping Children

by Nives from Hrastnik, Slovenia


I think heroes are all over the world. From someone who saves lives, to someone who donates money, someone who tries to prevent poverty or someone who helps young people.


A few years ago I read a book about poverty. I do not remember the name of the book, but I still know what the book was about. A woman was a successful factory manager. She had a lot of money, so she decided she would donate it to a charity organization. The organization was very grateful for the donation so they suggested she could visit the Vietnamese children whom she donated. When she was in Vietnam she realized how lucky she was. Children were dirty, hungry, they were sleeping in simple tents, but they weren't complaining, they just wanted some food. However, the woman could not accept how they lived. She decided to help them again. She started her own organization. Three months later she found many volunteers and they became successful with their charity work. They raised a lot of money, collected food, clothes etc.


I support organizations like this. In my opinion the world needs more people like the character from the book. I admire the work of all the people who try to help helpless children. I hope that people realize that a small contribution to the poor children makes a lot of difference to them.

In my country there is a youth center which aims at improving the lives of many children from dysfunctional families.  The Malci Belic Youth Care Center is a Slovenian non-profit center for boys and girls from primary schools who have emotional, behavioral problems or they have bad self-image, minimal expectations, desires and goals, who are unsuccessful in school work, anxious, unmotivated, or neglected and abused by parents. Children live in small communities or rather in six educational groups, with a lead educator and teacher. Teenagers who are there from primary school and they successfully complete educational programs are able to stay in the center. But the children have to accept all the obligations - house rules, regular school attendance.

In this center teenagers live like a family. They feel safe and they are offered a chance of overcoming the void inflected on them by their primary families. This center is offering young people education, day care throughout the year, the company of peers and many other quality extra activities. Every child can have a 'sponsor', someone who is prepared to donate some money each month and spend holidays with these children.

I believe each of us, who takes a minute and recognizes a child in need and tries to help him as much as one can, is a hero. Children are the most vulnerable part of the society. They need to be protected and helped. Heroes are also good people who establish such youth care centers and help there as volunteers and change young people's lives forever.

Page created on 1/25/2012 1:16:34 PM

Last edited 1/25/2012 1:16:34 PM

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