LUDMILLA
Within a forest of tall, depressingly grey apartment blocks in Kiev, an amazing lady named Ludmila, singlehandedly cares for over 500 families, including children and youth, inflicted with debilitating cerebral palsy. She must be one of the most inspiring ladies that we have encountered in Eastern Europe.
Ever reminding us of Mother Theresa and in order to relieve some of the tremendous stress on these socially neglected families, Ludmila arranges parties, prayer times, summer outings and social ‘get-togethers’ for families (mostly single parents) in need of mutual encouragement. These are people who would never be able to leave the stifling confines of their apartment blocks due to the demanding care and attention of their Cerebral children.
OVER 500 FAMILIES SUPPORTED
SUPPORTING FAMILIES WITH CEREBRAL PALSY
Employment and financial support is difficult in the Ukraine (including pensions for the elderly), meagre to the point of sometimes being non-existent. It’s a grim scenario prompting many husbands and fathers to reach for alcahol. It’s their way of dropping out of the pressures to survive, if only for a short time. The end result is that a high percentage of these men just disappear into society leaving wives and children to cope as best as they can.