Four years ago the Subbotins family became Hesed "Polina" client, when "Hesed on Wheels" program started its work at Chilik village, which is 130 km from Almaty. By the time the family became Hesed client, the Subbotins didn't live, it had just been trying to survive. In a warm season children and adults (there are 4 of them in total: a grandmother, a mother and two children) planting and gathering tobacco, could earn 40 dollars per month. In winter the Subbotins had one-time earnings.

   But soon grandmother died. Searching for a better job and better life for their children, the Subbotins left for Almaty. First, the family lived in a village house of their friends. When that house was sold, main characters of our story turned out to be on the street. A mother (Nelya) and her new civil husband (Igor) started to work as street cleaners. But life didn't become easy. If not a help from the side of Hesed, the family could die of hunger. But despite of the community's desire to help, the Subbotins denied to tell anybody about their problems.

  Sometimes later a new disaster happened in that family - Nelly's daughter, 20-years old Margarita was violated. When the time for childbirth had come, a flat owner's society felt pity for the family and gave it a small room with an area of 5 square meters and without heating and sanitary engineering.

  On September 8, 2004 Margarita gave birth to a son. Only then, after a long-term persuasions, the family let Hesed to find out the real situation.

   "The child is bathed in technical water from a heating system. A basin with holes serves both as a bath for a newborn child and as a wash-bowl for the rest family members", Oksana Shtefan told. Oksana is "Etgar" children's program leader and the first person, whom the Subbotins let to come into their "home". "Until we came, the child wasn't even registered in the state service and wasn't examined by medical workers".

   Within three days Hesed workers gathered children's clothes and all necessary things for a good child care. Swaddling bands and children's food became a first "Etgar" program contribution to a future of a new member of the community. Oksana Shtefan found contacts with maternity hospital, where the child was born and a children's hospital. Due to the persistency of the Hesed representatives, the child was examined by surgeon, neuropathologist and pediatrist. The diagnosis of the young Subbotin was as follows: hypertensive syndrome, rupture. The child was appointed an additional examination and treatment.

  Hesed took the Subbotins under its control, composed a plan of further work with family members, as besides a newborn child there was a 6 year old Evgeniy (Nelly's son).

  "We would like to send Zhenya to a kindergarten", Oksana Shtefan, "Etgar program leader says. "But first, the boy needs clothes and shoes. May be www.mitsva.kz web-site readers are ready to help children from that family?! Our contact e-mail: contact@mitsva.kz. Write us, as warm words for Hesed clients are nor less important than sponsor's financial help rendered in time".

Galina Goldberg