The Salvation Army opened the Patvērums Childrens Day Centre in March 2002 to provide a safe environment for underprivileged children from the local community in Riga.
Monday, November 06, 2006
November already!?!
I cannot believe it's a month since I last wrote an entry! I'd be surprised if anyone is still checking this site but for those of you that are, thanks and here's what's been happen!
In many ways it's been a quiet month. The children are back to school and settling into their new classes’. Autumn seems to have been and gone as we had snow on Thursday and unlike the normal first snow it's still falling!
Numbers at the centre have been fairly low due to seasonal colds and different family situations; it's a shame when there aren't so many children as it's not as easy to run the different groups and activities. But 2 weeks ago a small group went bowling and had a great time. This week we will be celebrating Lacplesa day (Lacplesa was a Latvian hero and there are legends about him). We've done many different autumn crafts and last week the children were able to turn themselves into superheroes! We took photos of them all in superhero poses and then they used the picture to create a personal superhero. It's been interesting to see the different powers they have given themselves.
Last week Inese restarted the prayer time. 2 parents attended and she spent 2 hours with them talking and praying. This week, after many months we are having a parent groups meeting again. We have sent invitations to all parents and hope that the weather won’t put them off attending on Thursday.
As far as family situations are concerned the family I last wrote about is still in the crisis centre. The mother is finding it hard to live there but we're pleased she is sticking with it. The children are attending school every day and coming to Patverums a few times a week. The daughter is receiving counselling which we are very pleased about. The mum has got a job and the court proceeding against her husband is continuing. The biggest problem they now face is where to live. We discovered last week that because they are in a crisis centre they have now been taken off the waiting list for social housing! We cannot see the logic to this at all as at the end of 6 months the family will probably have no where to live as they are already being taken to court regarding their old flat for not paying rent. The family still has 4 and a half months but at the moment it's hard to see what will happen.
Last week one of our boys was in hospital with tonsillitis. He now comes only occasionally to the centre but the week he was taken in to hospital he came most days and it was good to see that when he needed a warm place to be and some company he felt he could come to us. He is now home.
We are still treading the road to official status! Last month we were able to get a fire alarm system fitted and apart from a few small things we are almost ready to get everything checked and stamped by the fire department. Next we are focuses on the kitchen and next week we are planning to invite the agency that deals with kitchens to come in and tell what needs to be done. We've tried to get some things organised before their visit so that when they do give us the long list we will be ready to do some of them straight away!
Well, I think that's it's for now and I will try not to leave it quite so long between entries next time!
posted by Patverums Childrens Day Centre @ 6:27 pm
I have not forgotten Patverums blogg and it was very nice surprise to see some news when I oppened it this morning. It is always interesting to read your news. You are in my prayers! Ilona
Hi!
I have not forgotten Patverums blogg and it was very nice surprise to see some news when I oppened it this morning.
It is always interesting to read your news. You are in my prayers!
Ilona