In Hesed Rahel there is a program "Children’s Initiative" to help socially underprivileged children and teenagers. The Program Coordinator, Elena Petrova, and Member of the Medico-Social Commission, Tatyana Kuznetsova, regularly hold meetings-examinations of families that need help. It is very good when people are not losing hope and continue taking efforts to improve their situations. It is our goal to help such people.

Vasserman family, mother and son, live in Pavlodar. Thirteen-year old Vlad has been a client of Children’s Initiative Program for two years already. The family came to Pavlodar from a small town of Aksu. In their native town, the mother, a manicure specialist, had been looking for job in vain and decided to take the risk and move to Pavlodar. In Pavlodar, this woman found a job, but she has to look for additional earnings to provide for her son. They have a difficult life but they are not alone, there is a Children’s Initiative Program to support this family at a difficult time. Every month, Vaserman family purchase food on the money provided by the Program. At the beginning of the school year, Vlad received all necessary writing materials and a set of winter cloths. Recently mother and son had general checkups at the Diagnostic Center.

Children’s Initiative takes care of this family. The family rents a one-room apartment. Recently the Program Coordinators visited the family. Mother and son looked a little embarrassed because of the poor apartment. There is a bed for the mother. For Vlad there is a mattress which is put on the floor every evening. Vlad does his homework on a television rest. In the corner there are some more things covered by a blanket. The only place where we could take a sit was the kitchen. There was some food in the fridge cooked by the caring mom. We greatly respect the mother for being courageous, for not losing hope and continue struggling with life difficulties. In Pavlodar Vlad has become an active member of Jewish community events. He is greatly interested in Jewish traditions and customs.

Vaserman family is very grateful to the Joint Committee for the provided help when they need it desperately. We are sure that when this family gets well, it will also help the Jewish community.

Elena Petrova