2009-06-15 : “A Tale of Two Sisters”
Jun 15, 2009
A Tale of Two Sisters
There is never a shortage of truly compelling and distressing stories that come to us that involve children - innocent children who have been thrust into untenable positions because of their family circumstances...circumstances over which they, just youngsters, have no control.
Such was the case of a request that came to us today in an email from Libby Reichman, founder of Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Israel. Modeled after the international program of the same name, BBBS pairs adults with children and teens from troubled single-parent homes in a close mentoring relationship. We have shared many of Libby's stories in this diary before and in each of them we have been able to make a real difference by contributing some of our donors' tzedakah funds to solve a seemingly insurmountable problem.
Today's story from Libby was no different...
Dina and Inbal, now 9 and 13, previously spent some time in a domestic violence safe house with their mother and older sister. It was obvious that this family had many problems which included an abusive father and a mother incapable of nurturing her children or even providing for their basic needs. With the help of a Big Sister, Moran derives some benefit from a steady relationship, but the girls' situation is quickly deteriorating. Every professional involved in the case agrees that if the girls are to survive they must be removed from their home and placed in a group home. Before any placement can be done, though, each of them must undergo psychological testing...an expensive undertaking with a long, long waiting time before it can be implemented.
With the girls' mother now somewhat cooperative about allowing the testing, the biggest obstacle facing Libby was the cost. Could we help?
With the help of our donors the Good People Fund was able to tell Libby to go ahead with the tests. Hopefully, these two young girls will soon be living in a warm and stable environment, free from the stress and pain of their previous life.
