Irina Malikova, International Charity Society, Żabbar
Maxim Vorobev's tragic accident
When my beloved daughter Tatyana died at the tender age of 10 years, my whole world seemed to be brought to a standstill. Nevertheless within me I felt the call to spread the love that I still cherish for Tatyana on the suffering and orphan children. With this in mind, I founded the International Charity Society in 1998. The aim of the ICS is "to offer orphans and less fortunate children from the Federation of Russia a so-called 'dream holiday' in Malta".
Together with a fabulous group of volunteers, I managed to make the dream for many orphan children come true. Who can forget the happiness and love that was exchanged between the Maltese host families and these suffering children over these 10 years?
The total expense to bring these children over was Lm204. This included travelling expenses of air from Russia to Malta and vice versa, coach fares from the airport and back (from eight to 24 hours driving in total), group-leaders' fee and accommodation in Malta (although sometimes families took leaders to homes in order to cut the expenses), the notary stamp fee for the director's permit, as well as the expenses of fax, telephone etc.
Following the tragic death of the orphan child Maxim Vorobev, the TVER Department requested ICS to submit three sets of Apostille documents in order that orphan children could be allowed to come to Malta for Christmas to see their host families again. These include: a licence from ETC (extension from April 30, 2009 till April 30, 2010), a document from social security (Re: ICS Licence April 30, 2009 till April 30, 2010 with edification of activity of ICS), a document from Inland Revenue Department (Government registration of ICS activity, a licence for activity), a copy of document from public registry of Malta (ICS government registration on November 19, 1998 No. 15057), a document from the police headquarters (stating that the orphan children will have entry visa and will be allowed to stay in Malta), a memorandum and articles of ICS, a letter from the Ministry of Finance of Malta with reference (recommendation from the government ministry), a document from the Ministry for Social Policy (from Department for Social Welfare Standards about inspections of Maltese families by department staff), an invitation and family declaration from each and every family, and a report from the Department for Social Welfare Standards.
Up to now I discussed the matter concerning the tragic accident of Maxim Vorobev with the Russian Parliament representative and the Department of Education in TVER. The ICS official representative, Fr Nikon Belavenets, launched an official letter for permitting orphan children from the TVER region to come to Malta this Christmas. The Russian police investigation regarding Maxim's death is now over. ICS is waiting for the new contract from Russian authorities for holiday visits to be signed between ICS and the directors of all orphan homes in TVER. Such a signing would allow these orphan children, who have been regularly coming to Malta during these last five to seven years, to have another opportunity to see their hosting families again.
For persons who oppose the ICS initiative, the saying goes: "those who looked for faults find nothing else". As for my part, looking back I really thank God that I was bold enough to undertake such a courageous charitable endeavour. The support of my family, friends and collaborators proved vital because it brought new life and joy into the hearts of shattered children and Maltese hosting families alike. The greatest consolation I found in doing this work was Jesus's reassuring sentence: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me... Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me" (Matt 25, 35. 40).
Special thanks go to Victor E. Ragonesi, who, since 2000 has been the chairman and legal adviser of ICS. Dr Ragonesi also took care of ICS accounts. As an official acknowledgment for his sterling work for ICS, Dr Ragonesi received special recognition from Russian Imperial House H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia on October 27 of this year at the Russian Embassy in Malta.
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Joe Xuereb
Nov 27th 2009, 12:39
Lest I was misunderstood. I was part of the adoption/fostering processes all my working life. It was my bread and butter. So, nothing wrong with adoption/fostering. What I am concerned about are children who come to Malta for a 'dream holiday', they bond with their host family, and when this starts to get stronger, back they go to the streets? sewers? of Moscow and Sankt Petersburg. I think it is unfair to play yo-yo with these unfortunate children's vulnerable emotions. They are only children. They see and experience the world through a child's mind. We must beware of anything we do because it makes US feel good, makes US appear charitable. It is not so simple. That is all.
Malta and the Maltese must take a closer look at what they see as their role to save the world.
Cristina Barbara
Nov 26th 2009, 20:49
My family have been fostering a child from Russia for the past five years. She has grown from child to adolescent over these years, and has become a large part of our family. Without her, our family is not complete. These children have found families who love and care for them here in Malta. For us, they are not Russian children, they are OUR children. Allowing them to come to Malta for Christmas would be a dream come true for them, as they will have the opportunity to see their families again, after they were tragically sent back to Russia following Maxim's death.
L micallef
Nov 26th 2009, 20:32
We have welcomed a Russian girl into our family through ICS for the last 6 years. This we did of our own free will and have no regrets. We brought her into our family simply because it was an opportunity to give something to a child, maybe less fortunate than us, irrelevant of her nationality but becasue the opportunity came when it did, and because, I believe, it was meant to be.
We did not actually enjoy the expenses involved over the years, but then, good things rarely come free/ without sacrifice, and personally I do not collaborate with the mentality of these kind of expectations. I have never complained about paying for the expenses of my 3 other kids - she is no less.
Unfortunately, she was not able to develop and thrive in Russia as she has here, because the enviroment (pysyical and EMOTIONAL) lacked sufficient stimulation /opportunity /nurturing. Being in a family makes all the difference and there was no Russian family available for her.
Mrs Malikova has always supported us, and in my opinion the other hosting families - often at great personal sacrifice.
L Vella
Nov 26th 2009, 15:57
I have been fostering 3 children from russia for the last seven years. It is true that there are children in malta who have needs as well. I have been fostering a child from Malta as well but the difference is absurd.
Irina has always been of great help, and i have nothing negative to say about her or ICS.
I have been to russia myself and the way these children live is the exact way Irina always said, she has never exagerated anything. Maltese orphans have all kinds of things they have nothing missing in their lives except their families. Children in Russia are missing their families as well as material things but most of all they are missing the most important thing which is LOVE.
Joe Xuereb
Nov 26th 2009, 00:45
Sorry, I smell a rat.
The Maltese love children. Fact. But why bring the sad Maxim Vorobevs into the picture. More and assured hand-wringing maybe?
Stop treating kids like tChildhey were lost puppies in a kennels. Children grow up and the retain memories. I am sure there are thousands of such children all over Russia, all over the world. Russia has the will and the wherewithal to settle these children. Let them bond with their own kind. Russia may have its problems but Malta is not exactly a bed of roses in spite of its 'dream holiday' image that is being projected. And typical of the Maltese mentality, anything foreign and exotic is that much more desirable. I would have thought there were enough unfortunate children in Malta. Stop treating children like they were dolls, playthings. I am thinking particularly of a quaint Maltese trait where, in families with multiple children, the youngest is always the favourite because the cutest. Only to lose the sceptre when the latest one arrives. Youngest always spoilt rotten. And so it goes on. Not every family to be sure but it is a trend I have noticed. Sometimes with disastrous results.
C Mifsud
Nov 25th 2009, 18:47
We have also been hosting a child thanks to ICS.
We have nothing but praise for Irina who through her hard work and dedication has given us the opportunity of having a wonderful child come into our lives.
We are presently in the process of adopting this child. Irina works extremly hard on helping these children and Maltese families. Our experience is a very positive one and are in contact with our child who is very keen to become part of our family permanently.
We appreciate all of Irina's input to make all this happen.
Thank you Irina and ICS.
Karl Izzo
Nov 25th 2009, 15:08
Through Irina's intervention and hard work we have been fostering 2 Russian Boys for the past 2 years - Through her continuos help we have started adoption process for both boys - I think such boys and many others in these orphanages deserve to be able to find a better future for their living and in my opinion this is what Irina's mission is - Thank you Irina and keep up good work!
Jeanette Debono
Nov 25th 2009, 14:52
Having gone through an experience myself, evidence shows other than 'those who looked for faults find nothing else'...We hosted a child for 4 years until he was 10 years old through ICS...you can understand the bond that grew between us.....When he went back to Russia in September 2007 the next day we phoned the orphanage as usual to ask for him...however the Director told us that he has been taken by a Russian family.. Although this might sound good for the child for being part of a family we were not even informed of this and to make it worse although we were given the phone number the 3 times we called we were not allowed to speak to the child..Till today we have no news/contact of him...this is the truth!! Psychologically it is not fair for the child or the hosted family.
Charles Micallef
Nov 25th 2009, 11:24
Most of those of us who hosted these children totally disagree with Ms Malikova's
assumptions and still think that this organisation plays on the Maltese people
generosity and effections .........................Period!