Meeting Elena
Extract from the Diary
by Elisabeth Ullmann
Extract from the Diary by Karin Demuth
Elena's parents are coming to visit today. Her father has just come out of hospital and he is looking forward to seeing his "grandchildren". The children give grandma and grandpa a noisy welcome and literally cling to them both. When Fred wants to take the family photograph there is a complete tussle as to who is allowed to sit next to mum, grandma and grandpa.
After lunch we take a stroll to the Children’s Palace, a youth centre in which a huge variety of activities are on offer: from computer courses to music, drama and crafts, to various sporting activities. Our children perform a short play. Afterwards the two course leaders give us a tour of the building. At least, they show us part of it because it is huge. It is an ostentatious complex full of marble and granite from Kazakhstan (as we are proudly informed) and unbelievable overhanging crystal chandeliers (2000 light bulbs!). This is all from the Soviet era. Now the building seems a little dilapidated because the funds for its upkeep are lacking; but Elena tells us that the courses are still very good.
The difficult political and economic situation is apparent in this country, as is so often the case. During Soviet times education was taken for granted. Today it has become a luxury. One colleague sums it up as follows: In those days the idea of equality was far more present and education and jobs were a matter of course. It was possible to go on little holidays within the Soviet Union even if freedom of movement was restricted somewhat. Now, in theory the whole world is open to everyone but nobody can afford to go anywhere.
Elena's Story:
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
All these mother's stories come from SOS Children's Village Hermann Gmeiner Academy. Copyright is reserved and no unauthorized use permitted. Use for non-commercial purposes may be requested. The interviews telling about the lives of some SOS Mothers form part of an interesting study on being a replacement Mother to children in need in SOS Children's communities worldwide.