“I’m not afraid to open the wardrobe anymore, there are no mice in there,” says Mariam. “In the old wardrobe, they used to live and squeak annoyingly, and we had to put mouse repellent to get rid of them. But in the new one, see, there are only our beautiful clothes—new jeans, blouses, overalls…” “And I’m not afraid to sleep anymore,” says her sister Anano. “The new bed won’t turn into a horror attraction at night. Its legs don’t break, and it doesn’t collapse.” Poor girls! The Barbakadze family endured a lot of hunger and poverty before turning to the Chernovetskyi Fund for help. Friends, if any of you can give the girls a summer vacation, it would mean the world to them. Mariam and Anano have never had a holiday and are spending this summer in the sweltering city. Maybe it’s possible?! They dream of it so much, even when there’s no food in the house. The farther the dream, the more desired it is.

Mother Elena: Forgive me for bothering you and asking so much, but isn’t this a shared cause of ours. I won’t hide it—I’m relying on you again… (Smiles) We’re always in need of medications, diapers, wet wipes, and cleaning supplies for the bath and toilet. To care for our three bedridden residents, I use a special cleansing foam. Maybe someone would like to donate a piano to the shelter? It doesn’t have to be new, just in good working condition. Our grandmothers need more joy—this would truly entertain them. And who knows, maybe someone would even give a little concert, like the students from the Georgian-German School “Skhivi.” Oh, what a wonderful day that was! I’ve also been thinking of enclosing the area where our residents sit during the day, to shield them from rain and wind. Metal-plastic would be best. I’m seeking help with this as well. The “Lazaret” shelter regularly needs medications, diapers, hygiene items, and cleaning supplies. Visiting the grandmothers in person is a lovely idea! This day will bring them so much joy and become a lasting memory!

Irina and her children often go hungry, have no opportunity to be treated and eke out a miserable existence in a rented apartment.

The scoundrel ended up in prison, but can this bring back a loving mother to the children?!
Two years ago, Ekaterina received a terrible diagnosis – cancer! She had a mastectomy and underwent chemotherapy. The disease would recede, then return. My God, she suffered so much, the poor woman! How hard it was for her to part with her beloved and loving children before her death! But what her husband did to her is beyond comparison with even cancer. He abused her so much that he ended up in jail for it! He was a scoundrel: he never cared for his children. Vodka killed everything human in him!” Shorena (13-year-old): Mom tried to protect us and didn’t talk about a lot of things! Like all Georgian women, she never complained to anyone! But I saw it myself once after her surgery as he hit her and yelled, “When will you finally die?” When I stood up for my mom, he pushed me too. My mom used to cry a lot. She knew she had cancer, but she endured it all. I had hoped she would live longer.

“Mom, I’m hungry!” – desperate cries of little Fatima are heard. “Mum, Nedjo is having seizure again!” – Ramazan yells. Nedjo writhes on the floor. Such horrible convulsions happen to the poor child almost every day. “Mum, Mariam ran out of diapers!” – Tsiala is looking for diapers for her sister… At this moment, mom Elene covers her ears with her hands and just wants to jump out of the window and disappear, escaping from the problems that are falling from all sides! But no! She can’t do that! Although she has health problems herself, she will never do that! She is a single mother. If she’s gone, what then? What will happen to her angels then? What will happen to little Nedjo? He will completely lose his mind! What will happen to little blue-eyed Mariam, who has just learned to walk and now constantly calls for mommy… Or to Tsiala, or Ramazan, or Fatima – the smartest and most talented one? Children don’t know when their birthday is. They don’t even know what these words mean.They

I’ll keep the second one for myself… It doesn’t hurt… It’s not fair that I can speak and hear. But she doesn’t!”