 |
| Before bedtime, SOS Children's Village Karlino |
"We have 38 million people; Poland is a large country with many social problems. 62,000 children live away from home, 25,000 of them are in children's homes such as state orphanages and in short-term placement by the state. Although the birth rate is declining, the number of children in out-of-home care is constant. On this basis we can say that the situation for children is getting worse", Ms Janczur says.
SOS Children's Villages Poland aims to respond to these needs. It implements most of its programmes in the rural east, where poverty has resulted in social problems. In addition to the three children's villages in the region, it works directly with 52 families in Lublin. The aim is to empower them to effectively protect and care for their children, both emotionally and materially, in cooperation with local authorities and other service providers. A fourth children's village was recently opened in Karlino, in the northwest of Poland. In this mainly agricultural area, a high percentage of people are unemployed and most families live below the poverty line.
Fathers and uncles
 |
| SOS father and his daughter |
Unique for the Eastern European region, a couple heads a family in the new children's village Karlino. Its origin is twofold. Firstly, as the family is, as an institution and as a value, deeply embedded in Polish society, there was misapprehension as to why there were only single mothers in the children's villages. Admitting couples has led to stronger support and appreciation for our mission. Secondly, Ms Janczur expands, "if we look at it from a child's point of view, the best solution is a biological mother and father; if it is not possible to have biological parents or one of them, the next best thing is a foster family with two parents. Though honestly, I do not see any difference between the SOS mother and couple. The main thing is to find the right people who are competent; and to provide good assistance and support for them."
Adam und Dorata have been working at SOS Children's Village Karlino for almost a year and a half: "There came a point in our lives when we began to wonder why things are the way they are. Why are we part of a world that is moving even faster? What is happening to the family? What is happening to us?" explains Dorata. Both of them gave up their jobs as journalists at Poland's second largest newspaper, the "Gazeta Wyborcza", and moved from the metropolis Warsaw to the small town of Karlino. And they now have six children instead of just one: ten-year old Dagmara, nine-year old Adrian, seven-year old Kristian, seven-year old Marta, two-year old Amelia, and their own biological daughter, five-year old Gosia. "Friends who initially could not understand what we were doing now come to visit when they have a free weekend," says Adam.
 |
| Mother's male assistant helping a girl to read |
The plan is to further expand this initiative to three couples per children's village. The value of male figures has long been recognised by SOS Children's Villages Poland. In 2003, the first male assistant to an SOS mother was hired and now there are men in all four villages. An uncle, as he is referred to by the children, can choose his own path - either he does exactly what an SOS mother's assistant would normally do, or, if he chooses to be involved in more traditional male areas, he can choose to guide a sports group, for example. Ms Janczur is of the opinion that for children it is very good either way: "Our organisation is more open-minded than it used to be and we do have a good image in society, but we have worked to gain it".