Off to school!

PHOTO DONATION: Santa Spilberga



Most children happily look forward to September 1st when they can start the new school year and meet their friends. Unfortunately more and more children are uncertain if their parents can give them what they need to start school.

Last year you helped provide 350 children with new school bags, notebooks and other essential items. This September you can help more children go to school with happy hearts!

Palīdzēsim.lv and European Hit Radio ask you to participate in the charity campaign ‘Off to school!’, and there are several ways you can help!

• Donate directly to the ‘palīdzēsim.lv’ account specifying that your donation is for ‘Off to school!’

‘Palidzesim.lv’ Association
Registered number: 400081377568
Address: Jauniela 21-1, Riga, LV-1050

PAYMENT DETAILS:
Joint Stock Company ‘SEB banka’
LV90UNLA0050013761397
SWIFT code: UNLALV2X

• Donate 1 LVL by calling to the charity phone 90006888

• Donate useful items directly to the school: stationery items*, sports shoes and clothes, school bags and other supplies. Please call 29115545 (Ilze), 22479990 (Renāte) or 22441381 (Ilze) before delivering the items to 59 Tallina street, Riga

• Get to know what the children want by visiting the European Hit Radio website www.europeanhitradio.com. Deliver your donations, before 30 August 2010, to the European Hit Radio office - 5th floor, 17 Elijas street, between 9am and 5pm on working days

• Start a donation box at your work place and, together with your colleagues, you can help provide these useful items. Call Ilze (29115545) to organise how to deliver your donation

• If you have an idea - a vision of how you want to be involved and how to help - email ilze.skuja@palidzesim.lv

Participate in the ‘Off to school!’ campaign from 1st to 30th August 2010.
Log on to www.palidzesim.lv and www.europeanhitradio.com to follow the ‘Off to school!’ campaign and to see how all the donations have been distributed.

* Pencils, erasers, ballpoint pens (blue, coloured), coloured pencils, felt-tipped pens, rulers, PVA glue, glue sticks, scissors, pencil sharpeners, A4 sketchpads, watercolour notebooks, paintbrushes, masking paint, watercolours, crayons (standard, pastel, wax), plasticine, construction paper, coloured cardboard, glitter glue. Exercise books (checked, lined), notebooks (checked thin, checked thick, lined), music notebooks, compasses, protractor, markers, post-it notes.

THANKS:

IGORS LAVRENOKS - LVL 10,60 ( 13.08.2010.)
ILZE RJABINKINA - LVL 25,00 ( 13. 08.2010.)
ŠMITS EDGARS JĀNIS - LVL 20,00 ( 13.08. 2010.)
SANTA RANCANE - LVL 10,- (17.08.2010.)
Unknow donator - LVL 30,- (17.08.2010.)
Charity phone - LVL 17, - (18.08.2010.)
ILVA UTĀNE - LVL 50,- (19.08.2010.)
KRISTĪNE DĀLDERE - LVL 50, - (23.08.2010.)
SNEZHANA - for the big amount of different things needed for the school (23.08.2010.)
Unknow donator - LVL 25,- (25.08.2010.)
AIJA EBDENE - LVL 30,- (25.08.2010.)
ILZE- for the school bag and books
ZANE SAULE, DACE SAULE- PLAFF and ATIS SAULE- for the books, sports footwear and clothes for Tīna and Beāte.
ARTA LĒGĒNFELDE - LVL 5, - (26.08.10.)
CUBUS and personally Dace Gandiga for the clothes
SIA "ELEKTRIKA"- for the stationery - LVL 292,57
CITADELE Private Banking - LVL 126,82 for Endijs, Kristiāns, Tīna and Leons

Mara’s Centre

PHOTO DONATION: Rolfs Vendiņš

Mara’s Centre is located in beautiful green surroundings not far from Mara’s pond in the suburb Pardaugava. Unfortunately the women who seek help in this centre have not often had beautiful experiences. Here they look for temporary refuge from violent relationships, alcohol or other addictions, or simply to have a roof over their heads, and warmth and clothing. They are given the opportunity to recuperate, start a new life, find a home, organise welfare payments or to find employment.
We were met by Agnese, the centre’s energetic senior social worker. During our meeting it was clear that working together would be mutually beneficial. Your donations of furniture, clothes, shoes and toiletries through www.palidzesim.lv will go to the young mothers who leave this centre; in turn Mara’s Centre will help those www.palidzesim.lv mothers who have similar problems but who don’t have the power or the information to find help in their difficult situations.
Liga, the Centre manager, kindly showed us the living quarters, the activity rooms and the well maintained courtyard. She proudly revealed the most recent joint project, a vegetable patch, where dill, carrots, radish and lettuce have been planted; this keeps the mothers occupied and provides the younger residents with home grown vegetables.
During our visit one of the centre residents, Erika, celebrated her 25th birthday wearing a daisy wreath specially made by her daughter Evelina. Erika is responsible for decorating the walls with her pretty drawings of the children’s’ friends Winnie the Pooh, Piglet and others.
The atmosphere is one of friendship. These mothers and their children have found a temporary home in this centre. Each of these women has her own sad story and own destiny – but here they feel safe and protected.
They can stay up to 6 months – and in exceptional circumstances for a longer period. While at the centre they have the opportunity to participate in creative workshops (painting plates, sewing dolls or cooking). There are also educational and support groups for the residents, and they receive help and consultations from a psychologist, social worker and social rehabilitator. A social educator works with the children. The children are fed and cared for. School age children go to school or they are tutored at the centre with the help of the social educator.
This centre also houses up to 15 children, these are children who for various reasons are temporarily without their parents (parental child care rights have been terminated, conflict in the family or the children are victims of violence and rehabilitation is essential).
By donating the following items we can help these mothers start a new life and also help the centre save some money.

· Outdoor toys – cars for children up to 3 years of age
· Sport equipment (bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, balls and similar items)
· Children’s beds and high chairs
· Developmental toys
· Board games
· Books, DVD, CD (in Latvian and Russian, for children and adults)
· Clothes and shoes for children and adults
· Plates and dishes
· Bed linen
· Curtains
· Paint and other items useful for general maintenance
· Office equipment
· Toiletry items

All items can be donated to us or delivered directly to the Mara’s Centre
Address: Mara’s Centre, Cieceres iela 1, Rīga, LV 1010

Let as help!

We continue the "butterfly campaign" in our web page

PHOTO DONATION: Ēriks Meinarts

RAIVIS for whom we were gathering money during the “butterfly campaign” still needs 1026 LVL. You can help!

RAIVIS is 9 years-old boy, active and smart, unfortunately he has dysarthria and hearing impairment. But the boy is successfully attending the boarding-school for hearing-impaired children Valmiera. The cochlear implant, paid by the state, is ensuring him the communication, but in order to improve the language resolution quality would be needed a frequency modulation device. The cost of it- 1120 LVL.

You can help Raivis by donating the money in the account of the company with a special note- „Butterfly campaign- for Raivis”:

‘Palidzesim.lv’ Association
Registered number 400081377568

Address:
Jauniela 21-1
Riga, LV-1050

PAYMENT DETAILS:
Joint Stock Company ‘SEB banka’
LV90UNLA0050013761397
SWIFT code: UNLALV2X

Let us help!

Still needed help: 1026,- LVL (from 1120 LVL- 26.07.2010)
*We will update the names of the contributors and the given amounts every evening
*We will inform about the use of the donated money in a further photo story.

You can also donate 1 LVL by calling to the charity phone 90006888

Huge thanks to the angels of Raivis:
VIKTORIJA ĻAKIŠEVA- 5 LVL (23.07.2010)

The closure event of the campaign
With a nice concert was closed the charity campaign”10 000 butterflies for LV children”, during which from June 14th until July 12th in the shopping centre „MOLS” by donating 1 LVL you could receive a butterfly which as a symbol of a good work decorated the ceiling of the shopping centre „MOLS”.

10 000 butterflies were needed in order to help Linda, Raivis, Valērija, Iļja and Rūta.

At the end of the campaign in the ceiling of the shopping centre „MOLS” have flown together 8969 butterflies. We still need 1026 butterflies. These butterflies or lats are needed for Raivis to learn to talk.

In the closure event of the campaign on July 11th the children and the guests will be delighted by Ginta Ēķe and group Amurr, singer Kārlis Kazāks and singer Mārtiņš Ruskis. The event developed very nicely, fulfilled with positive thoughts and songs.

At the end of the concert, after the stories about the children, the balloons presented by Rīgas Rēvija together with the butterflies flew up in the sky, bringing the dreams of the children high in the sky so that they return fulfilled.

At the end we enjoyed the cake from Mārtiņa Beķereja which was baked in the shape of the butterfly and the fruits granted by Augļu Serviss.

Many thanks to all responsive and good will people who helped to organize the campaign, concerts and took care of the volunteers.

Our kindest thanks to:
·Shopping centre Mols and personally Lelde Gangnuse
· Publishing house „Žurnāls Santa” (Magazine „Santa”) and personally Santa Anča, Ilze Olšteina, Inita Sila, Dace Rudzīte and Dace Upīte
· The creative group of the concert project „Butterfly Summers” ("Taureņu vasaras") and personally Anita Rezevska
· TV 24 and personally Kristīne Augstkalne
· Europas Hitu Radio and personally Poļina Nazarova and Svetlana Timofejeva
· Radio 101 and personally Māris Žigats
· Fēliks Ķiģelis
· Guna Miļusa
· Portal draugiem.lv and personally Laima Lībere
· Magazine Ļubļu and personally Ņina Doždeva
· Latviešu radio (Latvian radio) and personally Kaspars Markševics
· Portal cālis.lv
· Mdizains and personally Māris Vēveris
· Krasta Lido and personally Linda Užule
· Rīgas Rēvija
· Mārtiņa Beķereja
· SIA Veiters
· Saldus Gotiņas
· 202
· Publishing house „Musica Baltica"
· Map antalis
· Printing company Ulma
· T Bode

Thanks to the artists: Ginta Ēķe and group Amurr, Kārlis Kazāks, Mārtiņš Ruske, Normunds Rutulis, Ance Krauze, Dace Gudrā, Kaspars Markševics , the actor Valdis Vanags, dancers from the folk dance group ‘Zelta sietiņš’ and singers from the VEF Cultural Club children’s vocal ensemble ‘MOMO’, the participants of the Green choir of Madona town and flute player Maija Fogele.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who tirelessly told the visitors of Mols about the campaign: Madara, Rubenis, Samija, Lelde, Anete, Marta and Artūrs, Marija, Kārlis, Madara, Paula, Monta, Evita, Dārta, Elīna and her friends, Natālija, Nadežda, Elija, Kristīne and the girls from Bauska, Ako, Marks, Dominiks, Linda, Ance, Maruta, Krišjānis, Zaiga, Renārs, Zelma.Most sincere thanks to you all! This campaign required many human and work resources, but the achieved result gives a double joy- about the accomplished and the main thing- that with our jointed strength we will help to improve the health quality for Linda, Raivis, Valērija, Iļja and Rūta

10 000 butterflies for LV children

PHOTO DONATION: Gatis Gierts

From the 14th June to 12th July you can bring happiness to a child who greatly needs support by participating in the charity campaign ‘10 000 butterflies for LV children’. This event is supported by shopping centre ‘MOLS’, ‘Santa’ magazine, European Hit Radio and TV 24.

Donate 1 LVL and a butterfly - a symbol of your generosity - will decorate the ceiling of the MOLS shopping centre helping create a colourful butterfly world that brings joy to these children.

We need 10 000 LVL or 10 000 butterflies to provide Linda and Raivis with hearing aids, and to send Valerija, Ilja and Rūta to rehabilitation therapy.


PHOTO DONATION: Andrejs Terentjevs

3rd July- the concert project ‘Butterfly Summers’ gave us a benefaction concert. Anita Rezevska’s music was performed by Latvian popular music performers: Ance Krauze, Normunds Rutulis, Zane Gudrā, Kaspars Markševics; supported by the actor Valdis Vanags, dancers from the folk dance group ‘Zelta sietiņš’ and singers from the VEF Cultural Club childrens’ vocal ensemble ‘MOMO’. The artists presented an enchanting concert, were photographed together with the children and presented the CD of the concert programme "Butterfly Summers". Many thanks to you!

The charity campaign "10 000 butterflies for LV children" is coming to the end. We are looking forward to share the joy of the children- Linda, Raivis, Valērijs, Iļja and Rūta- with you by coming to the closure event of the campaign on July 11th at 4.00 p.m.in the shopping centre "MOLS".

The children and the guests will be delighted by the following artists:
Ginta Ēķe and group Amurr
singer Kārlis Kazāks
singer Mārtiņš Ruskis

At the end of the event the butterflies will fly up!

Almost 2000 butterflies are still needed to fulfill the dreams of the children. You can help these children also by donating directly to the ‘palīdzēsim.lv’ account, specifying who your donations are for e.g. ‘Butterfly campaign- for Rūta’ . Please send your e-mail address so that we can send you the password to download the fairy tale.

‘Palidzesim.lv’ Association
Registered number 400081377568
Address: Jauniela 21-1, Riga, LV-1050

PAYMENT DETAILS:
Joint Stock Company ‘SEB banka’
LV90UNLA0050013761397
SWIFT code: UNLALV2X

YOU CAN HELP ALSO BY CALLING
90006888
AND DONATE 1 LVL

The donations will be counted daily, and even those who have transferred money to the bank account will be able to see their butterfly on the shopping centre MOLS ceiling!

More information about this charity event can be found on www.palidzesim.lv, www.mansmazais.lv, www.momogroup.lv and www.mols.lv.

See you at the shopping centre MOLS, so together we can create a butterfly world filled with love!

The flown together butterflies:
14.06. - MOLS 73, publishing house "Žurnāls Santa" and the event of Bbārs 144; total: 217
15.06. - MOLS 57; in the account of the company 15; total: 72
16.06. - MOLS 53 ; in the account of the company 5; total: 58
17.06. - MOLS 91
18.06. - MOLS 58; in the account of the company 65; total: 123
19.06. - MOLS 64; in the account of the company 55; total: 119
20.06. - MOLS 54
21.06. - MOLS 39
22.06. - MOLS 57; in the account of the company 10; total: 67
23.06. - MOLS 61
25.06. - MOLS 65
26.06. - MOLS 30
27.06. - MOLS 53
28.06. - MOLS 50; in the account of the company 21; total: 71
29.06. - MOLS 17
30.06. - MOLS 75; in the account of the company 5; total: 80
01.07. - MOLS 53; in the account of the company 310; total: 363
02.07. MOLS 76; in the account of the company 38; total: 114
03.07. - MOLS 177
04.07. - MOLS 36
05.07. - MOLS 81; in the account of the company 119; total: 200
06.07. - MOLS 44; in the account of the company 6 000; charity phone: 24; total 6068
07.07. - MOLS 56; in the account of the company 35; total: 91
08.07. - MOLS 95; in the account of the company 105; total: 200
09.07. - MOLS 50; in the account of the company 10; charity phone: 15; total: 75
10.07. - MOLS 88; rock festival Sladus Saule 136; total 224
11.07. - MOLS 74
12.07. - MOLS 60; in the account of the company 70; total 130

The number of gathered butterflies until the evening of July 12th: 8969

A girl’s day out!

PHOTO DONATION: Santa Spilberga

The 8th March* was approaching and it was time for a fun event for our girls. The main initiator and organiser was Ilze Cekule. Ilze runs the children’s playgroup “Cekulins”, and she offered these rooms for the girl’s day out. She is a very active participant in ‘Palidzesim.lv’, and she solves our families’ food problems.

On arrival each girl received a beautiful yellow rose, and they then participated in creative workshops. They could decorate a handbag with glass beads, or paint glass. The results were varied and beautiful - real works of art! Thanks must go to the glass artist Madara.

We had also been waiting for a visit from Marija, a make-up artist, who gave lovely and useful suggestions. Kitija benefited from this experience the most because she had a complete make-over!

Then Liene told us about using natural cosmetics and taught the girls how to make cosmetics from 100% natural products. Inspired by the gentle aromas, the girls also made bath bombs. It was not at all complicated - you can also make these at home, it only takes a little patience and care!

The ‘Martina’ bakery had supplied a delicious ‘klingeris’ (sweet saffron bread with raisins and almonds), and tea and fruit which were enjoyed between activities.

At the end of the event the musicians Linda and Kalvis joined us. Their music created a moving atmosphere, and in the end everyone was singing along to all the popular hits!

Our photographer Santa Spilberga carefully documented the action and providing this wonderful photo report.

Before going home the girls received very useful gifts – shampoo, cosmetics, beautiful aromatic soaps and more!

The festivities proved a great success! The girls loved it and the smiles could not be wiped from their faces.

Thank you to our collaboration partners who supported us and helped to provide gifts for our girls: L’oreal, Avon, SIA "CITA LIETA” - Custo Soapworks, Mārtiņa bakery, Mana kosmētika (My Cosmetics), Cekuliņš!

In future the Girl’s Club will meet once a month! You also have the opportunity to support this type of event – by sharing in your skills and knowledge, or by showing your support financially. Let’s help!

*8th March is International Women’s Day!

he Social Housing Residents at Purvciems

PHOTO DONATION: Rolfs Vendiņš



I had never thought that just next to ‘Domina,’ a shopping centre in the suburb ‘Purvciems’, are three social housing apartment blocks. People who are poor live here, those who have no other option but to survive on small social welfare payments. The majority of these people live in one room apartments with their whole family.

Ilze and Ineta, both residents of these social housing apartments, contacted us asking for our help because the chances of them surviving on their own are very slim.

Ineta has 4 children - Kitija (14), Jana (10), Laura (5) and little Ralf (1). They all live happily in a one room (studio) apartment that does not have a separate kitchen. Ineta raises her children on her own and survives on a welfare payment of approximately 135 LVL a month. She is not able to work because Ralf is still too small to leave with his sisters for the whole day.

The bigger girls don’t mind being photographed by our photographer Rolf, but little Laura refuses to participate unless she is with her sisters. The girls are very friendly and lovely. They are very willing to work, and to help their mother with the housework.

Zelma is a teacher who has volunteered to teach language to the girls. We believe that this offer of help is more useful than clothes or toys: both the older girls have already been to Zelma’s for private lessons.

The second family were not so approachable. Matiss, the eldest son, is 16 years old and studies and boards at a government funded Riga music high school – he wasn’t at home when we visited. Liene (6) and Bruno (2) hid in their mother Ilze’s skirts and were only coaxed to talk or smile when offered some sweets. This family also has difficulties because neither mother nor father has work. Only Matiss has found some employment during the summer, and willingly works to help his family.

This time you can help, not only with material items, but by giving them work - even a small opportunity to earn their family food and other essentials.

Ineta’s and Ilze’s families would be happy with clothes, food, medicines and nappies for Ralf. Jana really needs extra tuition in maths and the girls would be very happy with a computer.

If anyone has spare clothes and shoes in the following sizes the families would be very grateful:

Kitija (14) clothes size 164-170, shoe size – 39.
Jana (10) clothes size 134, shoe size – 33.
Laura (5) clothes size 116, shoe size – 28.
Ralf (1) clothes size 98, shoe size – 22.
Matīss (16) clothes size 180, shoe size 44.
Liene (6) clothes size 128, shoe size 34.
Bruno (2) clothes size 104, shoe size 2.
Thanks to you we have already helped so much; there have been many donations and the “Kraukla fonds” has given food products.

It will be especially difficult for these families in September when school starts – but we can help! http://blog.palidzesim.lv/2009/07/uzsakta-labdaribas-akcija-skolas-soma.html

A big thank you to Zelma for the opportunity to learn English!

Thank you to the “Kraukla” fonds for the food products and sweets.

Please help Ineta’s family get a pram for Ralf. His stroller is broken and without that he can’t go for a daily walk. Thanks to Sanita and Mareks and their family for donating a stroller: they are readers of the magazine “Mans Mazais”.

Thanks also to Larisa for making Kitija’s dream of owning a bike come true!

This evening (05.10.09) Ineta’s washing machine was stolen from the shared laundry room. If you have a washing machine that you have not used in a while, and that is taking up space in the attic or garage – please donate it to Ineta’s family! A heartfelt thanks to Sanita and Mareks and their family for donating a washing machine.

Call 90006888 and donate 1 LVL

A huge thank you to Ineta’s familys’ angels:

Ilva Utāne - LVL 25,- (05.10.09.)
Maruta Šulca - LVL 30,- (09.10.09.)
Anonymous donation - LVL 10,- (12.10.09.)
Gerda Šmeļkova - LVL 10,- (15.10.09.) – Movie tickets for Kitija, Laura and Jana
Lolita Kronberga - EUR 50,- (LVL 35,20) (20.11.09.)

Thank you to all the MM ("Mans Mazais") readers who responded and personally delivered the following items:

Maija – a bunk bed
Sintija – clothes for Kitijai
Skaubīšu family – jams, apples and clothes
Santia, Mareks – stroller, nappies, clothes, washing machine
Kristīne – clothes, honey
Elizabete Kārkliņa her daughter-in-law – vegetables, clothes
Ieva – clothes and toys
Elīna – nappies and farm produce

Ineta says heartfelt thanks to:
Maija and Alvis for the bunk bed! For the nappies, clothes, Christmas present and delicious cake!

Līvijai Baumane for the magazines (Egmont Latvija publishing) and for the toys for the girls!

Get-togethers at Zelma’s

We received this letter during summer 2009...

“By chance I found out about the ‘palidzesim.lv ’project when searching www.calis.lv. I wanted to offer you some help; an idea that has been with me for a while now. I believe that every person should be given the opportunity for a better life and that the best results are achieved if we are not given fish but a net to catch them with.
I would like to give English or Latvian language lessons to a needy family, be they the children or the parent. I would like to help a child improve their school marks or to help the parent become competitive in the job market.”

Is that not the best way to help? Our goal is to not only to give material assistance but more importantly to give some guidance to these children. To give them the will to change something in their life; to show that life can be different and that with a little effort they can remove themselves from their present environment. It is up to them.

So that is how we met this fantastic woman – Zelma. She started teaching two girls from the Purvciems social housing apartments: http://blog.palidzesim.lv/search/label/Purvciema%20soci%C4%81l%C4%81%20m%C4%81ja

When the girls had already had a few lessons I asked them how it was going. To my great surprise they told me that they are not only attending lessons, but that Zelma has cooked pizzas with them and has also invited them to sail on a yacht! The girls were brimming with positive emotions!

But that was not enough for Zelma J In October her idea for the youngsters to meet once a month was realised.

These meetings are open to the young people who attended our summer camp and to those children who are in our care. Here is Zelma’s story about what these young people have been up to:
PHOTO DONATION: Ēriks Meinarts

“At the first meeting we told the girls about beauty care as this is important to every woman. Gerda and I talked about how to choose clothing, and create a wardrobe with minimal cost and maximum results. My friends and friends of friends had donated clothes, and the girls are finding these items very useful. I want to say a big thank you to those who have helped with this first activity, to those who donated clothes or money – two Ivetas, Kristine, Zane, Arita, Sarmite, Baiba, Gita, Gerda, Signei, Evita, Marika, Antra.”
PHOTO DONATION: Santa Spilberga

“We started the second activity learning some techniques to use when working with felt. Iveta has learnt how to work with this material and she showed us what can be created with it; giving us some interesting ideas and showing some finished products. This craft requires patience and you can’t give up if it doesn’t turn out how you imagined. Baiba may have enjoyed this activity the most because she has her own approach and displays her talent by seeing the potential in any craft :).

Afterwards we ate my homemade pizza and then watched a movie ‘Twilight which Gerda had found. She had brought two big bags of popcorn; it was almost like being at the movies. The girls loved the film despite being a little uncomfortable sitting on the floor. Arita had hoped to also make Christmas decorations from recycled materials but unfortunately there was not enough time. We can definitely do that in the future. Some other ideas included an excursion to the chocolate producer ‘Laima', and someone joked that we could visit a toilet paper factory. But it seems that next time we will go to the cinema to see ‘New Moon’, the second part of the ‘Twilight’ saga. We will then go to my home where we will continue our activities, because it seems that there is no end to their ideas.

I would like to thank my friend Normunds who donated transport money for this event :)

I thought I would mention that the girls really look forward to these meetings: Baiba has special needs and this is her only opportunity to leave her home; and a few girls come from the Talsi area - a long way to travel just to chat and participate in interesting activities.”

We are so grateful to Zelma and her friends for giving these young people the opportunity to spend some wonderful moments together and to learn so many new things.