The Together for Life Foundation has been organizing a foster care program for Ukrainian boys and girls in the Valencian Community during Christmas for almost 30 years. But the Russian invasion has turned the activity of this Valencian NGO into a permanent bridge for sending aid and an escape route for the victims of the war, so this year will be a special situation of shelter. For this reason, Together for Life calls on Valencian families who are interested in collaborating.
In principle, it is planned that the children’s stay will be from December 16 to January 14. On this occasion, 55 boys and girls from 6 to 17 years old will be transferred. Half of them have already come before and visit their host families for Christmas, “But we still need more families so that many others can come for the first time, get out of the war environment that is still being experienced in Ukraine, and therefore “What seems to be going on for a long time, and they and their families can have that respite,” says Clara Arnal, president of Together for Life.
The minors who come for the first time are boys and girls between 6 and 10 years old. “We are looking for families in the Valencian Community who are willing to open their home and their hearts this Christmas to one more little person, and of course an incredible bond is created.”
The program continues to be financed by host families as it has always been, although it has the institutional support of both the government subdelegations in Valencia, Castellón and Alicante, and the Generalitat through the General Directorate of Child Protection, which issues The favorable reports so that these foster programs are within the legislation, and that the boys and girls can have the greatest protection, since it is unaccompanied minors who arrive to be welcomed by families.
“We hope that many families are encouraged, that they call us by phone, and we will inform them so that they can go through the selection and training process as host educator families. And we hope that they and the boys and girls who will come from Ukraine,” adds Clara Arnal, who appreciates the solidarity of the citizens of the Valencian Community, which continues to be so necessary.
