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.