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Al so,
as a result of the new Partnership between
Smiles and KORE Foundation
– this past month we started the
Chicken Coop Enterprises
for families within our Family Care Project. This month news from
America is focusing on the first Chicken Coop built for the
Potioc family,
now living in a Smiles House located in Mierlou, sponsored by
Gorsley Baptist Church.
It is an amazing story of bringing
people from the depths of despair in poverty, to renewed hope and
dignity of providing for the needs of your family through support of
this American Foundation. Enjoy ….
And give God all the Glory. |
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Smiles first
met the Potioc family in 2009, when they desperately came to our
office to ask for help.
“We will be evacuated from our social
house, offered temporary by the
City Hall”, they said.
“We have no other place to go with our children…”
After
we
got to know the family better we discovered that both of the parents
are hard workers. Mr. Potioc worked for many years as a carpenter but,
since he lost his job, he now works day to day as he can find work.
Mrs Potioc was employed as a housekeeper for many years, but in the
current economic climate, she was dismissed. Their four children are
clean and polite, a bit unexpected for their age and for the
environment in which they were raised. Alexandra is 14 years old and
she is the one responsible for the other three little siblings, aged 5
to 13, when mum and dad are working. We could see that she shares the
burden with her parents, being aware of the hard period in their life.
Her little sister and brothers, even if younger, will also understand
the problems and difficulties. While a child should play and have no
worries at this stage, these little angels can afford to be only “part
time” children.
Earlier this
year, the inevitable news broke. They were told:
“This week, as the owner has changed, the house will be
demolished.
You need to move… NOW!”
We will carry
with us forever, the wonderful experience we had when we went to tell
these people that Smiles will provide them a house. We found only
Alexandra home, taking care of the little ones, as usual. Her parents
were out, looking for a place to temporarily move their belongings
after eviction. We shared the great news with the shy and beautiful
little girl, trembling in the door. Her reaction was both surprising
and touching, even if we knew she is more mature than her age would
suggest. She started to cry instantly, after a deep shaking. Released,
and with a new hope growing inside, she timidly said:
“Thank you! I just
can’t wait to tell them when they will be back.
Thank you, thank you!”
Only
one day later we left the Potioc family happy in their new house. Not
after that we told them we had selected them to have a chicken coop
built, through partnership with the
Kore Foundation. Now
they can start building a future. Six 'hope-less' people, once struggling
for a roof and for the basics of life, are now learning to smile,
because of the support we raised and now offer through our partners.
Keep smiling!
Nine more families will
have this opportunity during the initial commitment of building ten
Chicken Coops for families living in poverty. |