Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Talgar (Agenzia Fides) - “With the help of Italian friends and volunteers at Talgar Catholic Mission building work on the House started in June is almost finished”, said Fr. Guido Trezzani, Franciscan Friar on mission in Kazakhstan, who wishes to restore a smile and dignity to street children, orphans and mentally retarded children. The House is in Ark Village, founded by Fr Trezzani in 2000 at Talgar, a town about 25 km from the capital of Kazakhstan Almaty.
In the month of September school activity in the Village resumes. “In August the pupils make sure they have their uniform and books. Every year some new pupils start of a new adventure and this means red tape, papers which not all our children have, considering where they come from” the missionary told Fides
“It is encouraging to see that more people are realising that you can show solidarity without heroic acts of decisions. This is the case of some women teachers who help us and several students from Talgar who spent some time helping at our House ”.
In fact Ark Village was started with the help of volunteers in 1996 who offered to take care of the children at one largest orphanages in the town where there were some 200 children most of them abandoned. “The volunteers spent most of their time with the children helping them with homework, some gave special lessons (most of the children registered were mentally retarded).
The aims were two “Offer the children a home and an environment to take the place of a family; give them schooling and professional training to prepare them for life”.
In May 1998, Fr Trezzani reached an agreement with the Kazakh Ministry of Education and was recognised as guardian of the children until they reach the age of 18. Searching for a place for the children to live in Talgar he found a former Soviet Summer camp in disuse. This was the beginning of Ark Village where thanks to the Friar and his volunteer helpers unfortunate Kazakh children learn to smile again. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/9/2007 righe 29 parole 296)
