My attention was first drawn to Oleg, when we went to Berdyansk in May of the previous year. We took the children on an excursion, and then we went to lagoon for a nice little splash. As some of the children couldn't get into the water unaided, we carried them one by one into the shallow water. And there he was: in no time at all Oleg jumped into the water and went wallowing around with his head nearly submerged. While I had doubts about whether or not to go bathing again that day, Oleg had none: the little boy would make his way to the water over and over again with a happy smile on his face.
On our way back to the Child’s Home, Oleg would now and then utter some incomprehensible sounds, and only some time later I figured out that he starts making noise whenever he sees a car. He meant to say that he was excited!
As the child educator says, Oleg likes cars of all kinds wherever he sees them, and shows wild enthusiasm even if he only snatches a glimpse of a car while watching some film.
Oleg also takes great interest in television: he likes cartoons and nature shows.
When it comes to toys, Oleg enjoys nesting blocks and likes playing with buzzing and moving things.
The boy is very communicative: he likes to socialize both with children and adults. Oleg gives a delighted smile every time you call his name and strives to hold the adult’s attention for at least half an hour.
Though Oleg’s legs are malformed to some degree, he can walk and even run! The boy cannot talk, he is only able to produce some sounds that are not always easy to understand, yet he will unmistakably show his dislike for punishments: if something goes wrong, Oleg starts screaming, and cries if he’s ignored.
Oleg is an active child, and it is quite probable that his walking difficulties will be reduced after a surgery that he is supposed to undergo at the beginning of this year. He will most certainly be happy to walk around a big city with lots of cars or around a small village with noisy tractors. And his joyful smile will then be the best response to love and care given to him by his new parents.
If you are interested in adopting Oleg, please read the memo to the potential adoptive parents, guardians, and foster parents; you can also contact Children’s Affairs' service of the Zaporozhia State Administration by telephone (061) 239-01-56. Request the Profile Number of Oleg accordingly to the orphan list # 0055217.
Other children who dream of finding a family
If for some reason you are currently not able to adopt (for example, you are a student and do not have a family of your own yet) you are still able to help children at a boarding school (an orphanage with your financial support. Ways you can help include: planning and participating in excursions and trips for children; visiting a child in an orphanage; or helping purchase developmental toys, books, construction sets, and sports equipment.