Small Beginnings

Hope for Children's first days were not grand in scale. In the winter of 1993, we would simply meet children on the street and take them to cafes for a meal. In subsequent encounters we would find the same children and offer them clothing.

We would also visit children who were in prison. We tried to meet the needs of children as best we could, while dreaming of having a place where we could invite them.

These children lived in desperate conditions, many forced to survive as best they could by begging, borrowing, stealing or working - for example by selling newspapers or scavenging scrap metal from the dump to resell.

Some lived on the street. Those who returned home at night faced sleepless nights in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in buildings that should have been condemned.

Many suffered violence and abuse from parents who had given up hope and turned to drink.

In March 1994, Hope for Children was officially registered by founding members: Vitali Astapenko, Mikhail Gill, Daniel Smith and Helen Vipass.

Mikhail and Vitali were not only pastors, but also very good fathers to their children. They had a desire to help lost or overlooked children and an ability to demonstrate the father heart of God. Daniel and Helen were trained teachers from Britain, who felt a strong calling to serve in Latvia.

 

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A Safe Place to Be

Finding a place to rent where we could invite the children to visit proved daunting. First, there was a shortage of accommodation in Riga at that time. Second, no one wanted to open their homes to these kids—affectionately described by one person as cookie-thieving dirt magnets.

But once God gave the green light, everything came together - Hope for Children registered and was offered an apartment right in the center of Riga. This place had been the home of a wonderful pastor who had passed away.

In April 1994, we began receiving our first children. Initially, they would come to the apartment during the daytime. But when we realised many of them were going off to sleep in stairwells or attics, near warm pipes in basements or sitting upright in public transportation we began to let them stay overnight.

 

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Expanding to Help More

By the end of 1994, Hope for Children acquired a place of its own—Dzirnavu 119-30. This apartment was used as a day centre. It also gave us the opportunity to separate the boys from the girls at night. The girls and smaller boys stayed at Dzirnavu 30, while the older boys stayed at the place on Krisjana Barona.

It was good to have another place for children to stay overnight, but not ideal that this same space had to be shared with all the other children who dropped in during the day.

In August 1996, Hope for Children acquired an apartment across the entrance way (Dzirnavu 29) and began repairs in preparation for use as a day centre. This was a slow process, moving forward when funds and workers were available.

In November 1996, Hope for Children acquired an apartment in the Riga district of Zolitude on Zolitudes street. After adding a bit of new wallpaper and paint, this place became the new boys' home, replacing the old rental on Krisjana Barona street.

In May 1998, Hope for Children acquired the apartment next to Dzirnavu 29. Steps were taken to link Dzirnavu 29 and 31 and repairs continued on this expanded and merged space.

 

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Adding a Farm and New Day Centre

In December 1998, a farm was acquired in Durbe near the port of Liepaja. The farm became a refuge for street children from Liepaja. This rural setting also provided an educational experience and great fun for the children from Riga. And many involved with Hope for Children benefited from the farm's produce.

In February 1999, Dzirnavu 29/31 opened as the new Day Centre (throughout the remodeling, this area had been used to store aide—such as winter boots, coats, etc).

 

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Dace's Story

When my mum and dad drank it was very difficult for me at home. I was often very very frightened. They were not able to take care of me when they were drinking. And of course, they were not working.

My brother was living on the streets and he took me to Hope for Children. We were both made very welcome. We used to go there for our meals and we received help for school things.

Thanks to help from Hope for Children I have been able to continue my studies and I am very grateful. I am very grateful to God for Hope for Children.

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Growing Families

Our various apartments are staffed by house parents who live with and care for the children for a period of time (a minimum of two years).

It has been our prayer that when house parents or other staff move on to new ministry or jobs they would continue to serve the children as foster parents, taking some of the children with them.

We were so glad Hope for Children was able to provide a home for some of our house parents to do just that. After being house parents, one family moved in February 2000 to an apartment in Marupe that had been purchased by Hope for Children. They have since fostered numerous children for both long and short-term periods.

In 2001, a second apartment in Zolitude was acquired on Ruses street. After necessary remodeling including a new kitchen, flooring and decorating this home received its first children in March 2002.

Also in 2001, Hope for Children acquired another apartment in Zolitude on Rostokas street. The children who had been staying at Dzirnavu 30 (the very first place we acquired) moved to Rostokas in August 2001. And the apartment at Dzirnavu 30 was converted to an office and Family Support Centre.

In February 2004, Hope for Children opened the doors of a new Day Centre in the Riga district of Bolderaja.

 

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Heartfelt Thanks

Looking back over the last 10 years, Hope for Children is thankful for the many friends and sponsors who have prayed, contributed and helped our children.

We have appreciated the help of volunteers from Sweden, Ireland and England and have been blessed to receive teams from Australia, England, South Africa, Sweden and the United States.

We are also very grateful to a dedicated and servant-hearted staff that has continued to serve children in Latvia.

But most of all we stand in awe of and gratitude to our God who has faithfully provided so many resources throughout these 10 years, so much material provision, strength, energy, protection and wisdom and most of all such all-enduring love.

 

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Mission Statement

Hope for Children is a Christian charity which serves to restore and bring hope to children and families in Latvia which have fallen into crisis because of poverty, homelessness and substance abuse.

Hope for Children seeks to follow Christ's example of unconditional love and compassion by working with those most vulnerable to the effects of change and poverty.

In pursuit of helping children reach their full potential we work towards giving them the best chance of a good education and healthy lifestyle providing them with the nurturing and safe environment they need.