approached us confidently, smiled disarmingly and said “I'm Lena, what's your name?” She was interested in talking to us. There were pictures from the kids' last year's trip to the sea, and Lena started showing us the pictures and explaining who were in them and what they were doing.

Elena is a special child, and her speach is not always clear. But she always tries to make sure she was understood, and is very eager to communicate with both her peers and adults. And she loves to sing too — a little star, she was happy to sing a song for us. Lena likes drawing and doing paper crafts of flowers and nature.

Caregivers say that Lena is their biggest helper in the group. She waters flowers, helps with clothes and can even babysit younger kids. She is also very kind, even-tempered and respectful towards elders.

If you are interested in adopting Elena, 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 quoting Elena’s Profile Number 0055234.

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.