14 Ukrainian war orphans should find refuge on the Island of Oléron for a year

It is a building of more than 500 square meters, abandoned since last September. Currently undergoing renovation, this future orphanage should soon welcome 14 orphaned Ukrainian children, from 4 to 11 years old. Seven little boys, and seven little girls. It is still impossible to know when this will be possible. And for good reason.

In the war that has pitted the country against Russia since last February, these children have lost their parents. None have found traces of another member of their family. Thereby, difficult to know their exact identity. A information void who complicates their arrival in France. While waiting to see them settle temporarily on the island, the volunteers of association”Oléron is mobilizing
“ are renovating the building which will serve as their future refuge for a year.

“We want them to forget the war”

A smell of fresh paint emanates from the Fleur de Sel building in the Heliomarin Center
from the Island of Oléron. A building generously lent by theassociation ATASH
. For three weeks, the volunteers of “Oléron is mobilizing
” take turns there tirelessly. They are retired, or come outside their working hours to give a little of their time and energy to the renovation of this building.

Alain, stained t-shirt and fingers full of paint, descends from his ladder, his back bent. “It pulls a little, but it’s for a good cause”. At 73, this former firefighter from Oléron intends to stay until the end of the work. “But it’s normal! It’s normal to participate! When you’re a grandfather like me, you have to think about the future of your children”. Barely a repainted room that the Oleron attack the sinks.

Everything is ready, or almost. A few more small finishes here and there, before the 14 small beds can find their place in this improvised orphanage. But it’s hard to say when the children will be able to fall asleep in it.

“A four-year-old child does not know how to state his identity”

Teresa Denkiewicz inspects the room that will serve as a playroom for the children. A new floor covering has just been laid there, so that they can let off steam in complete safety. “I can’t wait to see these little ones here”, dream there vice-president of the association “Oléron is mobilizing
“. “But it’s not that easy”, she breathes. Perched on her high heels, she connects the phone calls, runs from one room to another…

Since his visit to seven Ukrainian orphanages three weeks ago, at the beginning of October, Téresa Denkiewicz moved heaven and earth to speed up the process. “I have to fight against the administration. It is very difficult to make these children travel, even if it is the ministry in kyiv that asks us to take care of them”she explains.

“A child of a few years that we find in the rubble, in the middle of the war, does not know how to state his identity, his name…”. Thus, the papers of four of the 14 war orphans who should join the Charentais-Maritime orphanage are not yet up to date. The procedures are in progress. Until then, the association is counting on your generosity and your time to continue the development of this future orphanage. You will find for this, on the website of the association, a dedicated and secure page
for online transfers. All your donations of toys, clothes, household products, food and other are also welcome.