Let us warm the hearts!

Palīdzēsim.lv at the moment has about 400 children and young men of different age waiting for the Christmas miracle. A miracle that could make them healthier, more successful. A miracle that would change the attitude of their parents. A miracle that could fulfil their small and big dreams.

The campaign which was open by Palīdzēsim.lv in the Christmas market in Līvu square together with SIA „Fīlings” goes on in this Christmas time also in the other places in Rīga- Arena Rīga, gastro pub „Cidonija”, Rīga State 3rd Gymnasium and other.

During this charity campaign “Let us warm the hearts!” we - Palīdzēsim.lv together with SIA „Fīlings”, Arena Rīga and the hockey club Dinamo Rīga invite you to afford pleasure to the children by donating the money which will be used to fulfil the different dreams of the children. For one child it is a visit to the Aqua Park, somebody else desires a doll or car, another child- health improvement, a theatreor circus play or a hockey game. The wishes and needs of the children are different, but all as one - long awaited and desired. We all together can fulfil them and warm their hearts!

You can make the children holidays more pleasant by:

* donating the money in the account of the organization- for the campaign “Let us warm the hearts”!

The foundation "PALĪDZĒSIM.LV"
Reg. no. 40008137568
Address: Jauniela 21-1, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Account: AS "SEB banka"
LV90UNLA0050013761397
SWIFT code: UNLALV2X

P.S. When making the payment, please kindly mention the purpose of the payment (for example, for the campaign “Let us warm the hearts!”). If you do not want that your name is shown in the list of donators, please write in the payment “Anonymous”.


* calling to the charity phone 90006888 - you will donate 1 LVL
All the money which will be collected during December will be used for the gifts for children

*visiting the photo exhibition in Līvu square and donating money in the pub „Fīlings” or in the small houses of the Christmas market

*visiting an event during December in the Arena Rīga - by buying against a donation an object made by children in the charity market of Palīdzēsim.lv (at the entrance B)

* putting a donation box in your company

*getting gifts for the children - you can have a look in our home page www.palidzesim.lv (blog- Photo stories) and choose a definite child for whom you would like to make a present

*studying the definite wishes of the children in the home page of European Hit Radio (http://www.europeanhitradio.com/) and delivering the gifts until December 16th to the office of European Hit Radio- 17th Elijas Str., Rīga, 4th floor, in the working days 9:00-17:00.

About the delivery of the presents or putting donation boxes, please kindly contact us:
Renāte Robežniece, phone.: 22479990, e-mail: renate.robezniece@palidzesim.lv
Ilze Skuja, phone.: 29115545, e-mail: ilze.skuja@palidzesim.lv
Laura Liepa-Timma, phone: 22441381, e-mail: laura.liepa-timma@palidzesim.lv

We wish you and your family this Christmas approaching time full of sincere and light thoughts!

Let us help!

A BIG THANK YOU TO THE CHILDEN'S ANGELS
Alina Voronova - LVL 108,- (01.12.11.)
Jevgenijs Durnovs - EUR 450,- (05.12.11.) - Līvu akvaparka apmeklējumam
Jevgenijs Durnovs - LVL 88,69 (05.12.11.) - Līvu akvaparka apmeklējumam
In the charity market of Palīdzēsim.lv in the Arēna Rīga - LVL 188,69 (05.12.11.)
Ieva Čulkstēna - LVL 15,- (06.12.11.)
Inga Bleiere - LVL 78,84 (06.12.11.)
Iveta Lause - LVL 20,- (08.12.11.)
Arēna Rīga - LVL 224,- (07.12.-10.12.11.)
Arēna Rīga - LVL 114,16 (11.12.11.)
Maija Baumane - LVL 100,- (12.12.11.)
Svetlana Ivanova - LVL 30,- (12.12.11.)
Anonymous - LVL 15,- (13.12.11.)
Guntars Pētersons - LVL 5,- (13.12.11.)
Ilva Utāne - LVL 50,- (13.12.11.)
Denis un Erika - LVL 50,- (15.12.11.)
Inga Skuja - LVL 15,- (16.12.11.)
Česlavs Gržibovskis - LVL 15,- (16.12.11.)
Edmunds Rudzītis - LVL 15,- (20.12.11.)
SIA "LV CĒSIS" - LVL 100,- (21.12.11.)
Anonymous - LVL 20,- (21.12.11.)
Jelena Mahhova and Arthur Herchen - LVL 48,34 (EUR 70,-) (22.12.11.)
Nellija Milča - LVL 5,- (22.12.11.)
Rīgas Valsts 3.ģimnāzijā Ziemassvētku tirdziņā saziedotie līdzekļi - LVL 78,- (22.12.11.)
Edīte Kostigova - LVL 40,- (23.12.11.) - For Diāna
EM Būvniecības un mājokļu politikas departamenta darbinieki - LVL 15,- (23.12.11.)
Arēnā Rīga Saltimbanko cirka izrāžu laikā saziedotie līdzekļi - LVL 217,34 (21.-25.12.11.)
Arēnā Rīga izrādes "Alise brīnumzemē" laikā saziedotie līdzekļi - LVL 23,60 (26.12.11.)
Rūdis Rubenis - LVL 5,- (27.12.11.)
Inese Moroza - LVL 30,- (27.12.11.)
Oļesja Gavriloviča - LVL 5,- (27.12.11.)
Bikram yogas labdarības klašu dalībnieku un citu studijas apmeklētāju saziedotie līdzekļi - LVL 224,04 (17.-28.12.11.)
Vadims Maļcevs - LVL 10,- (29.12.11.)
Anonymous - LVL 10,- (29.12.11.)
Arēnā Rīga koncerta laikā saziedotie līdzekļi - LVL 16,36 (29.12.11.)

Linards

PHOTODONATION: Artūrs Romanovskis




His mother’s story:
Linards was born a healthy baby and grew up as any normal child.
Things changed however and Linards went into hospital in January 2009 when he was 5 years old. He was admitted to the Hematology ward where he was diagnosed with idiopathic aplastic anaemia. Basically, his bone marrow had stopped working properly.
Linards stopped going to kindergarten because of his low immunity, and he started a prolonged period of treatment. He had two rounds of treatment during two years, but we didn’t see any change. He visited the ward every week where he underwent countless blood transfusions. After a year his diagnosis was revised to include another ailment - Hemosiderosis. There was an abnormal accumulation of iron in his liver from the transfusion of erythrocytes.
The doctors decided that he must have a bone marrow transplant. We left for Berlin on the 14th March 2011 and the next day Linards was admitted to the sterile ward for this procedure.
He was prepared for the transplant and underwent many examinations. He was then also diagnosed with (MDS, formerly known as preleukemia). This meant that he couldn’t survive without a bone marrow transplant.
Linards started chemotherapy on the 19th April, and his immunity was reduced to zero. The bone marrow transplant was scheduled for 27th April. The immediate results were promising however Lindard’s body rejected the marrow. Another transplant was then planned for the 5th July.
The process started again on the 26th June – chemotherapy, then radiation and the transplant. A whole month passed with perfect results. The new cells were slowly starting to work and we were planning to move into an apartment in Berlin after Linards was discharged from the clinic.
But, there was another complication and Lindards’ kidneys completely stopped functioning. He was operated on immediately to start dialysis and taken to intensive care. The doctor’s prognosis was that the dialysis would take place for 14 days but thank God this was not the case. After 3 days his kidneys started to work on their own and he went back to his ward.
Three days later things were worse. A translator was called and the doctors said that Linards was in a critical but stable condition, but if his condition became any worse we could lose him. We could only wait. For a few days nothing changed, he got no worse, and then everything slowly started to get better. His results improved. They reduced the strong drugs and Linards slowly started to walk again. Every step is fraught with risk but Linards feels good.
Linards was discharged from the clinic on the 31st October. 200 days after the transplant are critical; so we have to wait until 21st January. This means that we have to spend Christmas and New Year in Berlin and after that we can return to Latvia.
Linards has two older brothers Renārs and Nauris. Renārs has had to change schools because he is living with his grandmother in Jurmala while we are away. Nauris has finished 9th grade and has now started college.

That is a short version of a three year story.
Our only breadwinner is the boys’ father. We have more or less taken care of our financial problems during 8 months. AirBaltic has helped us during this time providing Linards’ father with flights so he could join us.
Linards’ brothers visited in August but Linards’ problems had already begun and he was asleep for most of this time.

We very much wish to spend Christmas together as a family but we don’t have the money to buy full price tickets.

The cheapest fare (for the dates we want to travel) is 365,16 LVL.

Let’s help!

We still need 00 LVL (from LVL 365.16 to 06.12.11*):
* Every evening we will update information about donors and their generosity.
* In future photo stories we will detail how the money is spent.

MANY THANKS TO LINARDS ANGELS:
Our photographers
Everita Rudzīte - LVL 10,- (25.11.11.)
Inese Līdaka - LVL 10,- (29.11.11.)
Laura Lazdiņa - LVL 40,- (30.11.11.)
Inita Ozoliņa - LVL 21,- (30.11.11.)
Aigars Rozentāls - LVL 10,- (05.12.11.)
Anonymous donation - LVL 30,- (05.12.11.)
Anonymous donation - LVL 3,- (05.12.11.)
Irēna Bērziņa - LVL 30,- (06.12.11.) – Hang in there! Wishing your family a happy festive season!
Inga Bleiere - LVL 211,16 (06.12.11.)
Evita Pudane - LVL 10,- (19.12.11.)

Thanks to your generosity, the necessary amount has been donated, the tickets purchased and Linards’ family will be together during Christmas and the New Year!

Thank you with all our hearts.

Buy the red ribbon in the stores of The Body Shop and support the family who has suffered from HIV

The charity organization „Palīdzēsim.lv” and chain store The Body Shop invites you to get involved in the struggle against HIV by supporting a family where the parents of two children are infected with HIV. "Palīdzēsim.lv" is taking care of this family.

Irīna’s family lives out of Rīga. Her husband was infected with HIV many years ago and also infected Irīna. The family has two children- 11 years old girl and 2 years old boy. Both parents were 36 years old when they were infected.
The oldest girl is Irīna’s first child. They boy has been very lucky- if both parents are infected with HIV then there is a big risk that also the expected child can get infected, but the boy was born healthy! There were other factors which could heighten the risk to infect the child- the boy was born in a natural birth, he did not wait for the caesarean operation (the women who are infected with HIV are not allowed to give the birth themselves), Irīna was already 43 when she was expecting her son.

At the moment the situation in the family is quite difficult because both parents are invalids, they receive the medicine compensated by the state, the husband cannot move himself and also Irīna cannot work due to the health problems. The oldest girl during the working days lives at her granny in Rīga because the parents living conditions are very confined (5 persons are living in a one room flat). The small brother goes to the kinder-garden.

The girl has problems with the eyes. The living conditions are difficult in the family. The family lives from the state benefits. Of course, it is enough just for the surviving, not living.

The children have never been in the circus or aqua park.

The girl likes very much figure skating.

The children would also need the winter clothes and footwear:
Girl- size 35/36., 146-154 cm
Boy- size 25/26, 90-96 cm

In the winter time the children would need very much the vitamins.

By involving in this campaign and buying the red ribbon everybody can help these children to see a better future!

The campaign will last until December 11th in all stores of The Body Shop.

You can also support this family by donating money in the account of the organization.

Let us help!

Conclude the Week of Good Deeds

It is with great joy and satisfaction for the things accomplished during this week that the organizers - charities Palīdzēsim.lv and Charity.lv - conclude the Week of Good Deeds.

We consider this event a success. Even more so - the Week of Good Deeds has turned into a movement of good deeds with participants of all ages. We are really happy for all the good things that have been done and there are so many of them!

The greatest satisfaction comes from knowing that schools, members of 4-H, scout and girl guides get involved in the culture of helping – it means that our children and young people are on the right track! They are open and ready to support and help those who need it the most. Overall more than 100 schools took part in this event and that is only the number of schools who have sent us information about themselves and their deeds.

Children and young people have done many different things: kids have tidied up abandoned graveyards, visited old people both at retirement homes and at home and helped them in the gardening, many kids have gone to pet shelters to cuddle and walk abandoned animals. They have tidied up their classrooms, schools and surroundings. Young people have brought joy to little ones at kindergartens by organizing games and bringing self-made gifts. A special week of kisses, hugs and compliments was organized at Riga 85th High school.

Several companies and institutions took part in the event by lending a hand. For example, people from LTV went to children and youth centre “Ziemeļi” while employees of the Riga City Council’s Welfare Department did a whole list of good deeds. Employees of many companies donated blood and raised money for children or old people.

Employees of different branches of Latvian Red Cross as well as other public organizations took active part in the events. Many good deeds were not even submitted for “registration” and we were happy to find random information about the different activities. For example, people from Māris Štrombergs Agency (MŠA) visited schools in Valmiera in order to interest young people in sports and active way of life.

There are so many different good deeds that we are not even able to mention them all.:) You can read about all of them by clicking here: http://www.draugiem.lv/labodarbunedela/news/index/664
Photos: http://www.draugiem.lv/labodarbunedela/gallery/index

We thank the readers of the portal DELFI for their response to help requests (http://aculiecinieks.delfi.lv/news/witness/paldies-delfi-lasitajiem-par-piedalisanos-labo-darbu-nedela.d?id=41484845).

During the week we received also some requests for help. Many of these requests have been fulfilled but some are still waiting for helpers: http://www.draugiem.lv/labodarbunedela/news/index/663

We at Palīdzēsim.lv joined forces with our supporters, volunteers and friends to organize different events: we visited children at the social care centre Teika, Zālīte Special Boarding School, Children’s Hospital, as well as moms at the Ilģuciems Female Prison and pet shelter Ulubele.

PHOTO DONATION BY: Gints Ivuškāns, Andrejs Terentjevs, Kaspars Volonts

The Good Deeds Week ended with a fun and heartfelt event at the Congress Hall. The event was organized to benefit kids and families taken care of by the Palīdzēsim.lv: http://blog.palidzesim.lv/2011/10/labo-darbu-nedelas-2011-nosleguma.html

The Good Deeds Week has come to an end but that does not mean the end of the good deeds themselves. We will continue doing them each day without waiting for Christmas or the Good Deeds Week!

A big thank you goes out to everyone who helped this week happen!

We want thank the following creative people:
Agris Daņiļevičs and dance school Dzirnas
Band Pulse effect
Rubenis for video clips
Māris Vēveris un MID Lab for mock-ups
Actress Vita Baļčunaite
Singer Liene Šomase
Band Re:public
Nils Īle and his students
Flute player Maija Fogele
Young singer Roberta Džesika Larka
Iļja Orlovs and his sisters from Malta
Girls choir Rīga and its conductor Gunta
Big thank you to artists Maija Sējāne – Īle and Līva Rudzīte

We thank our partners:
International Generosity Academy Foundation
Hockey Club Dinamo Rīga
Arena Rīga
Rīgas Nami for cosy premises and sound equipment
Creative Initiatives Center and its manager Ilona
Eiroawk
S-print
az web agency
Veiters
Cydonia gastropub
Mārtiņa Beķereja for big tasty pretzels
T-bode
IT firm MA1
Telecommunications company BITE
L'oreal for the gorgeous day at the Children’s Hospital
Rīgas Rēvija for balloons
Stationery wholesalers Ūpis for polymer materials
Company Greta for crockery, table cloths, napkins, candles
Company Officeday for materials for the creative workshops
Ziedu nams for flowers
Rīgas Miesnieks for tasty sausages for picnics and sandwiches
Augļu serviss for fruit
Staburadze for cakes, cookies and juices
Ādažu čipsi for treats
Hills for cat and dog food
Daile for dog treats
Company Arkolat for crockery for workshops and gala events
Independent theatre Kabata for props for the gala event

We thank the many media outlets:
LTV1, especially the show Good Morning, Latvia!
LTV7, especially the show SeMs
Photo news agency f64
Latvijas Radio
TV24
Latvia News Channel
1st Baltic Channel
TV5
Portal Draugiem.lv
Portal Delfi
Portal Esi Labs
Portal grani.lv
Magazines Ieva and Privātā Dzīve
Magazine and portal Mans Mazais
Magazine Ļubļu
Newspaper Subbota

The 2011 Week of Good Deeds is approaching!

The charity organisation "Palidzesim.lv" and the society "Charity.lv" invite you to join in "The Week of Good Deeds". Between 16 and 23 October help us to promote a culture of helping others.


The concept. For the third consecutive year The Week of Good Deeds will take place throughout Latvia. During this week everyone is invited to help someone and promote this principle through the country. The aim of this campaign is to popularise and expand on the growing trend in goodwill, community spirit and mutual support. We hope to increase positive experiences for all involved, and secure this project as an annual event. This year we will focus on helping others without spending a lot of money.

The process. HK Dinamo Rīga will start the ‘The Week of Good Deeds’ on the 16th October at Arēnā Rīga with the Good Deed game. Palīdzēsim.lv and the Innovative Education centre (Inovācijas izglītības centru “IDEJA”) and their volunteers will hold master classes during the week. These classes will be held at the children’s hospital, the “Zālītes” special boarding school and the social welfare centre “Teika’. They will also visit the animal shelter „Līči”. The campaign will conclude with an event attended by the children, youth, volunteers, supporters and local celebrities.

Through media and social networking the wider community will be invited to participate.
This year we will focus on actively involving schools, companies and non-government organisations.

You can track the campaign at www.draugiem.lv, following each event as it is recorded during the week (http://www.draugiem.lv/labo.darbu.nedela/). Also, www.palidzesim.lv and www.draugiem.lv will post information about those who desperately need your help.

If you know someone who needs help, email labie_darbi@palidzesim.lv. Write now.
And, to show others how good it feels to help email a photo of your experience to labie_darbi@palidzesim.lv.

About the previous years’ ‘good deeds’...
The ‘week of good deeds’ campaign was launched two years ago, and we think it benefits society in general. People have shown initiative and been active in helping others and organising working bees within their own districts. Over 70 schools have been involved, along with community organisations, businesses, and even families who have previously received help from palidzesim.lv.

Here are only a few of these positive moments:

• Lecturers and students from Daugavpils University visited the Naujiena children’s home. They organised some activities, and brought with them donated clothes and shoes and also delicious kliņģeri (cake) and apples.



• The Zaļupes society ‘Rupucīši’ delivered essential items to the underprivileged people in their area.



• The Riga city council welfare department actively invited their employees and the people of Riga to donate warm clothing to the homeless.



• The 45th unit of the Vabole girl guides helped Tekla Skrinda, a pensioner, to stock her firewood supply. They also helped tidy the Mukānu cemetery graves.



• The third grade students at Kalsnavas primary school had organised lots of lovely and fun surprises for children with special needs who study in the Kāpēcīšu class. The children all studied together, played different games and the Kāpēcīši class were surprised with lovely handmade gifts!

These and many other stories warmed our hearts during ‘The Week of Good Deeds’.

This year we also invite all Latvian residents to be actively involved!

By working together we can do more good!

Follow us on:
http://www.palidzesim.lv/
www.draugiem.lv/labo.darbu.nedela/
www.facebook.com/pages/Palidzesimlv

The Ļahu family

PHOTO DONATION: Andrejs Terentjevs

Recently we have met with families who we have been helping for years, and we have seen that nothing has changed. They live month to month on their social benefits, they don’t look for work and unfortunately their children are being raised with the same mentality. A new consumer society is emerging. We want to change this, even if just a little and therefore we are motivating these children and young adults to focus on their education and future development. We encourage them to think and act differently – to change the way they view life.
This is a different story. Zane Rautmane is a volunteer at the Gain-Latvija Jelgava field office, and she told us about the Ļahu family. We went to visit them together with the F64 photographer Andrejs Terentjevs.
The Ļahu family live on one of Jelgavas small streets. Aivars, the master of the house, came to greet us. His sons Pēteris and Dāvids welcomed us with curiosity. We entered their cosy kitchen and asked how they were, to which Pēteris replied “And what’s your name then?” :)
Una, their mother has baked us an apple pīrāgs (pie) and invites us to tea during which we slowly get to know each other. We brought the children some treats from Ādažu chips, and gifts of books and stickers from “Egmont”. The gifts are distributed at once as is usual in a large family.
We are at peace while talking with this family; we feel their warmth and the genuine love of a family.
Our meeting starts with Aivars showing us their greatest sorrow – the burnt ruin of their ceramic workshop. It was the family’s only source of income. Here they created pots and bowls, plates and trinkets. They employed many people from communities near and far.
The workshop burnt to the ground on the 14th December
The fire totally destroyed the workshop, and the products ready for sale at the Christmas market. This family is strong but tell us that without Zane’s support and friendship during the hardest times that they perhaps would have given up. But they have Zane, and also their neighbours who help each in their own way by bringing a jar of sauerkraut, or a kind word or suggestion.
Aivars is an invalid; last winter he suffered a heart attack. However, now he is sprightly and determined to achieve what he has started, to realise a dream - his own small business. Una has already started to write a project for submission to the EU small business support.
This family does not sit on their hands; they don’t complain or cry. They work and find ways to overcome this difficult time in their lives.
Their eldest three children – sons Zemgus and Robert, and daughter Ieva – have their own lives, they study and work. The youngest (9 year old Anna, 7 year old Dāvids and little 6 year old Pēteris) live at home with their parents. The eldest children help a lot and even from their meagre student allowance find money to send to their parents.
Una and Aivars have big plans – they will rebuild and renovate their workshop. Una knows that the workshop will be more beautiful that the previous one. It will be bright, with a tiled floor, big windows, and a larger space. She says “we are optimists! It will work out! Family is what helps us! These events unite us. When we are on our feet again we can help others. We want to rebuild the workshop not only for our use, but also so the local school and kindergarten children can attend lessons. So children who have special needs can work with clay to improve their physical development. A window has already been donated, so now we have only a few small things left :)”
The Ļahu family are keeping a growing list of people who have helped them, so they can thank them when the time comes.
We can also help!
The family asks for the following donations:
- Financial assistance to buy an electric oven (500 LVL)
- Building materials (screws, spatulas, insulation, tiles, plastering materials)
- Wood (for roofing and shelf repair)
- Windows and doors
- Electronics – e.g. a “fleksi” (the supermarket Maxima has given a gift card that the family used to buy a battery operated drilling machine), shovels, a wheelbarrow and similar items
The children like to play board games in the evenings. Anna enjoys drawing and would like to attend a drawing group but that costs 5 LVL a month. She likes to model and to dress dolls.
The boys are happy with cars, puzzles and books.
The family would readily go to a play or the opera.
Let’s help!

A BIG THANK YOU TO THE LAHU FAMILY’S ANGELS
Our photographers
Aigars Rozentāls - LVL 8,- (31.01.11.)
Anonymous donation - LVL 30,- (31.03.11.)
http://www.oppaa.lv/ donations - LVL 12,- (12.07.11.)
Inga Bleiere - LVL 500, - (15.09.11.) for an electric oven
Ilze Oiguse - LVL 10,- (17.10.11.)

A big thank you to Karīna and the Riga childrens and youth musical theatre "Rībēja mute" for the tickets to the play "Velniņi" (little devils) and also for the payment of their transport to Riga!

March 2011 – with thanks to the Puppet theatre, the Ļahu children have been to the plays "Pepija Garzeķe" (Pippi Longstocking) and "Mazais Samurajs" (The Little Samurai). Their transport was also paid for.
We are still waiting for sympathetic people who can help the family with building materials!

April 2011
We received a letter from Zane Rautmane, the family’s guardian angel. Thank you to all the donors and those who support this family.

Let’s continue to help!
“Hello!
Thank you so much for your support and donations to the Ļahu family. This has not only helped them start the process of rebuilding their ceramic workshop, but has also given the family strength and encouragement.
3040.43 Ls have been donated so far, also a sink, roof window, paint, a window, wood and spatulas. Aivars removed most of the rubbish himself but the larger items were taken away when a special working bee was organised (see the pictures). They plan to build the roof and the floor with the donated funds, and they will organise building permits.
They have applied to the EU unemployment project for 2000LVL. A decision will be given in May.
A big thank you for your support,
Zane Rautmane"

September 2011
“With this letter we want to say a big thank you for the support and donations to the Ļahu family. We also want to tell about the status of the renovation of the ceramic workshop.
3040.43 LVL has been donated, and a sink, roof window, paint, a window, wood, spatulas, rolls of bitumen polymer materials and bricks. 1014.83 LVL has been spent and 2025.60 LVL remains.
Several working bees have been held to help renovate the ceramic workshop. Concreting of the floor and on top of the walls, the second floor has been covered and the wall structures have been built. The roof, including a chimney, has been built.
The roof still has to be sealed with the bitumen rolls, the drains need to be installed as does the flooring on the second floor. The internals stairs need to be built, the building still needs heating and plumbing. The interior walls need to be finished, the windows and doors need to be installed and the exterior of the building needs to be completed.
The submission to the EU unemployment project for 2000 LVL was rejected.
The Ļahu family is very happy about the ongoing work, and they say a big thank you to you all for the unexpected support and interest.

On behalf of GAiN Jelgava
Zane Rautmane

With thanks to the donors we have helped the Ļahu children start school.

Kitija

PHOTO DONATION: Andrejs Terentjevs

Inga has three children: Signija (12), Ralfs (7) and Kitija (5). Mom deals with her youngest one’s health problems and daily struggles all on her own. Dad was an alcoholic and now children are refusing to meet or even see him.
This story is about Kitija who needs our help.
Kitija has many different illnesses - she has epilepsy with cramps, kidney failure, hip subluxation and stomach problems. Kitija would love to go to water procedures but due to problems with kidneys its impossible. The food has to be processed too before she can eat it. Mom says, Kitija has all the problems imaginable but in spite of that mom is determined to deal with them all. Its difficult because she’s all alone so the ladies from the local social services asked for help.
Kitija requires lots of hard work. Inga recalls that at first her little girl was laying like a little “pancake” but there’s been a big progress since then - now Kitija takes hold of her toys, sits on her own, claps, laughs at her brother’s jokes. Her mom takes her to therapeutic exercise and massage sessions but the amount of these procedures covered by the state is way too insufficient. Kitija enjoys spending time with other kids so she will go to a social kindergarten in Riga.
Currently the family resides in Iecava but they are planning a move to Riga so that they would live closer to Kitija’s kindergarten and also it would be easier for mom to find a job.
Kitija loves music and enjoys attending different events, however, she still has never been at the zoo or at the theatre...
Currently Inga’s family survives on LVL 400 a month. On one hand its not a small amount but they are a family of 4 and Kitija needs special care, medicine and diapers so in the end the amount turns out to be really small.

We can help!
The things Kitija needs are:
- diapers,
- money for buying medicine because the state does not cover all the expenses,
- Nutrini bottles,
- picture books, toys for babies – musical ones, rattles,
- blender for blending food,
- money for massages and therapeutic exercise,
- mom dreams of rehabilitation abroad or a special feeding chair for Kitija,
- Kitija would very much enjoy a trip to the zoo, puppet theatre or attend some other event.

For now we can help by providing the afore mentioned things and she also needs LVL 500 to buy medicine and diapers and go to therapeutic exercise and massage sessions.

Lets help!

WE STILL NEED: LVL 191,54 (from the total of LVL 500,- 06.10.11.*):

*We will update the list of donors and the amount of received help each evening
*We will give a full account on how the money was spent by creating another photo story

A BIG THANK YOU TO KITIJA’S ANGELS:

Ivars Siliņš - LVL 50,- (26.08.11.)
Anonymous donation - LVL 15 (02.09.11.)
Anonymous donation - LVL 70,30 (06.10.11.)

On 26.08.11. students from the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga studying “Social Business” raised money by selling gherkins on the streets of Riga (near the Riga Zoo and on Tērbatas street). :)
The students raised a total of LVL 50 and bought a blender that has already been handed over to Kitija. The students are very happy about having helped her!!!!!










02.09.11.
We have purchased the medicine for Kitija, 17,88 LVL were spent. The glasses for her brother are ordered and paid for-38,06 LVL.

BMW Days 2011
Already for the 4th year BMW Life club Latvia is making an event- “BMW Day”. It takes place in the second Saturday of September. In this festivity are invited to participate all fans of BMW car brand, apart from the club, forum, and nationality. The participants will go in a column to the cities of Latvia, in the route are included the visits of the cultural historical monuments. The second day of the festivity will be spent in the sports complex 333 where the participants can show their car driving skills in the track, also to participate in the dexterity drives. The integral part of the event is also the gathering of donations for the children with health disorders. This time the money was collected for the girl Kitija. In total were gathered 123,16 LVL which will be used for Kitija- her health improvement, medicine, household needs. Many thanks to BM Auto for the souvenirs and titbits for the children, also to all the participants of BMW Days 2011! You can go on helping Kitija by donating the money in the account of the organization.