The Most Important Thing in Life
15/10/2008
13-year-old Oleg, a youngster from an SOS Children's Village in Russia is typical of children who live in the villages - their a tragic background makes them treasure home. Oleg describes his life and what is closest to his heart.
According to cautious estimates, more than 40,000 Russians die from alcohol poisoning each year. About one third of all deaths in Russia are the direct or indirect result of alcohol, which contributes to more than 700,000 deaths per year.
Alcohol is also the reason why Oleg is now in the village: "My mother and father they are drunkards. My mom died in 2002 at Christmas. She came from Christmas celebrations and fell asleep outside and was frozen to death. My dad he is an alcoholic."
Having a home is most important
I respect my grandmother, whom I treasure and who is priceless. She will always be in my heart as a person who has done so much for me. Here, in the village, I'm happy of course. I found a home here and this is the most important thing in life, right?
My granny has another daughter, my aunt, whose family is complete - husband and daughter. I can't say I'm jealous when I watch them, but I'm sad, that I don't have such family.
When I came to the village five years ago I had the option to call the SOS mother either by her name or call her mother. I don't know why, but I started to call her mom and I have been doing so ever since.
A significant person
Ever since Oleg has been living in the SOS Children's Village he has been recognised as a significant person in the village. "He is an extremely responsible person - whatever task he is given he does it. He is never late and he is a great help for us as he guides events in the village," says a social worker.
One of the most important events he has been the conductor was the village's fifth birthday, where over 50 guests were watching him. "It wasn't scary at all; maybe I was nervous during the first events I guided. One of the last times I was a bit nervous was when I recited one of Pushkin's poems in front of a big public, with all these strangers listening to me."
Oleg is also participating at the children's council in the village and he is one of the most active kids. "Children can decide together with staff when to have a disco or some other festivity or some other event in the village. Lately there have been too few participants from the children's side; I guess it's because of laziness. Sometimes I'm lazy, too, but when I'm interested then I manage to beat my laziness."
Love for order and animals
When it comes to school issues, there is no laziness - Oleg is checking younger children's homework and assists them with learning. "I don't like ugly handwriting and during the five years I have taught the younger kids in our home their handwriting has improved a lot," he tells about his academic achievements.
In spite of his rather long history of teaching he has no plans for the future in this regard: "I want to learn computers and then we will see what the future brings."
The boy has also a great love for animals; he even wanted to become a vet. "I love dogs, I think they are very smart and I believe they understand me - I can see when they watch me with their wise eyes when I'm talking to them." Although in Oleg's top animal's list the horses are on the second place, he has only a cat at home. Maybe he has learned from the cat the love for order, maybe it's in his blood, but there are legends in the village about his desire for organising.
"Oleg came to the village library on one day and asked strange questions like what are those papers on the empty spaces? I explained him that we write on those papers the title of the book and the name of a child, who is borrowing the book," tells the social worker. "He said: 'Ok, but let's make the system better and put it to the computer. Shall we do it on a day-off? Then there are fewer interruptions'."
SOS Children supports nearly eight hundred children through projects including four children's villages and social centres which are the base for SOS Family Strengthening Programmes. Will you Sponsor a child this Christmas?
Relevant Countries: Russia.