A young Ukrainian man adopted five years ago by a family in Quebec hopes to raise $5,000 to help the orphanage where he lived in Ukraine.
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Samuel Blanchet says that the children and staff of this establishment located in the south of Ukraine, near the port city of Odessa, had to be evacuated from Poland to flee the bombardments.
This is where he lived before starting his new life in Quebec, at the age of 13, and taking a new Quebec-sounding name.
“They left with nothing. Everything stayed there. They brought a few little things, but that’s it. They need basic necessities, soaps, shampoos, clothes, food”, alarmed, in impeccable French, the young man now 18 years old.
He is still in contact with the director of the boarding school.
500 banana breads
He partnered with Maison Jean Lafrance, an organization that supports boys in difficulty in Quebec, where he spent some time before his transition to adulthood.
With a dozen other teenagers, he started yesterday in the making of 500 banana breads in the kitchens of the Grand Marché de Québec.
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
Samuel Blanchet, 18, rolled up his sleeves to concoct 500 banana breads in collaboration with young people from Maison Jean Lafrance at the Grand Marché de Québec yesterday. They will be sold to help the orphanage where he lived in Ukraine until the age of 13. In the photo, he is with Mr. Lafrance, founder of the charity of the same name.
They will be sold for $10 each and all funds will be used to help the Ukrainian orphanage, either by donating money or by sending essential goods.
The initiative has greatly mobilized all residents, according to the founder of the charity.
“If you saw the team spirit there is, it doesn’t make sense. You put 10 teenagers together, you risk sometimes that there will be sparks, but this morning, there were none. Everyone works at their post,” says Jean Lafrance.
Pride
For his part, Samuel says he has “great pain” to see what is happening in Ukraine, where he still has family, while being “proud” of his country which “is fighting to stay upright”.
He is also challenging schools in the region to raise money in turn.
“I often put myself in their shoes. [celle du peuple ukrainien]. I tell myself that if I hadn’t accepted the adoption in Ukraine, I would be with them right now being bombarded and I don’t even know if I would still be alive. If I were in their shoes, I would like someone to help me,” he says.
►To get a banana bread, ask at the Jean Lafrance House.