A RUSSIAN man who found his birth mother through an Irish charity was in Ireland last week to share his exceptional story. Misha Serdyukov (20) was taken to a baby orphanage at two years of age when his mother was hospitalised in a psychiatric institution for post-natal depression. He then moved to Hortolova Orphan-age in western Russia at the age of seven where he met Debbie Deegan, founder of Irish charity To Russia with Love – and through the charity’s assistance, Serdyukov was reunited with his mother two years ago.
A RUSSIAN man who found his birth mother through an Irish charity was in Ireland last week to share his exceptional story.
Misha Serdyukov (20) was taken to a baby orphanage at two years of age when his mother was hospitalised in a psychiatric institution for post-natal depression. He then moved to Hortolova Orphan-age in western Russia at the age of seven where he met Debbie Deegan, founder of Irish charity To Russia with Love – and through the charity’s assistance, Serdyukov was reunited with his mother two years ago.
The young Russian is a student in IT at Bryansk University, with support from the charity’s ‘Final Steps’ programme.
Many children living in Russian orphanages are ‘social orphans’ who have been separated from their parents by poverty, crime, addiction or neglect. After adopting a Russian orphan – Zina, now 20 years old – Clontarf housewife Debbie Deegan set up To Russia with Love in 1998 to help the thousands of other orphans.
“We hope Dublin families will consider these orphans when buying gifts this Christmas,” said Deegan. “Many of the children we look after have been neglected and abandoned by their families for a variety of reasons, and the biggest Christmas wish I hear again and again is ‘Help me find my mother.’ It’s heart-breaking and I hope the people of Dublin will support our new campaign to make our Russian orphans’ Christmas dreams come true.”
The charity has recently launched a ‘Christmas Gifts with Love’ campaign to help give the 1,500 presents needed to ensure each orphan in their care receives a gift this Christmas.
Mindful of the credit crunch, a variety of gifts are available to suit all pockets from €10, which will give an orphan a teddy bear to cuddle at night; €20 will provide a new hat, scarf and gloves to help the youngsters brave the harsh winter weather of -25°C, while €100 will give orphans toys to play with. Some €500 will give the ultimate Christmas gift of helping To Russia with Love with the travel, research and legal fees required to unite a Russian child with his or her mother.
Upon leaving orphanages in Russia, orphans are typically left to fend for themselves and are vulnerable to trafficking, prostitution, drugs and crime. In response, To Russia with Love has introduced its ‘Final Steps’ programme supporting those who leave the orphanages into third level education. Only 4 per cent of children leaving state care in Russia go on to further study.
To Russia with Love says its ‘Final Steps’ programme has a 100 per cent success rate with those on the programme studying business, medicine and law. A donation of €1,000 will give the gift of computers and printers to help Russian orphans progress their education.
