Nina is full of empathy and loves animals and nature. Emilka is an artistic soul whose creativity never ceases to amaze. Almost eight years ago, the sisters came into the care of Mrs. Iwona, whose own story is also connected with foster care. The girls were only meant to stay with her for a short time, but they stayed for years.
Meet Mrs. Iwona, Nina and Emilka, and find out how the Hemmersbach Kids’ Family Foundation supports their family.
A Dream of Helping Children
Mrs. Iwona has been a foster parent for around 17 years. She grew up in a children’s home herself and has good memories of the care she received there. One person who played a particularly important role in her life was her caregiver, who helped prepare her for independent living.
“I was happy there. It wasn’t about the building itself, but about the care I received. My caregiver taught me everything, from how to take care of myself to how to travel,” Mrs. Iwona recalls.
While still in high school, she began dreaming of opening a children’s home one day. Although that dream did not come true, Mrs. Iwona became a foster parent and has spent many years helping children who need care and a safe place to live.
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
Almost eight years ago, Mrs. Iwona received a phone call about two young girls. Until then, most of the children who had come into her care had been slightly older, usually of early school age.
This time, she was told that two young sisters needed a home for a short time, as they were expected to be placed for adoption. That was how Nina and Emilka came into her life.
Initially, the girls were only expected to stay with Mrs. Iwona for a short period of time. However, things turned out differently. It also became clear that the girls were facing health and developmental challenges that had not been known about before. Today, almost eight years later, Nina and Emilka are part of Mrs. Iwona’s family.
Nina and Emilka – Two Sisters, Different Needs
Nina and Emilka have different personalities, interests and needs.
Emilka is very creative and artistically talented. She takes part in competitions, is interested in music and enjoys making things herself. She also loves swimming. She attends a swimming-focused class at school and takes additional swimming lessons.
“She is an artistic soul. She makes all kinds of things herself, such as squishies. Sometimes her creativity really amazes me. She is a wonderful child,” says Mrs. Iwona.
Nina is very empathetic. She loves animals, nature and walks in the forest. She enjoys spending time with Mrs. Iwona, helping in the kitchen and going shopping together. “The forest is her element,” says Mrs. Iwona.
The Girls’ Everyday Life
Every day is filled with school, everyday responsibilities, activities and time spent together. However, the girls need different kinds of support.
Emilka is more independent. Mrs. Iwona mainly gives her advice and helps her in situations that she finds difficult. Emilka has been diagnosed with FASD. She does well at school, but finds some areas more challenging, including relationships with her peers, finding her place in a group, remembering school responsibilities and managing her emotions.
Nina also has FASD, autism spectrum disorder and an intellectual disability. She is physically able, but needs much more support with everyday activities. She currently attends a special education school, where there is a strong focus on developing practical skills and independence.
For Mrs. Iwona, it is very important that Nina becomes as independent as possible in the future.
“My dream is to help her become as independent as possible through rehabilitation and therapy. It is about ordinary, everyday things,” she says.
Support from the Hemmersbach Kids’ Family Foundation
Nina and Emilka are wards of the Hemmersbach Kids’ Family Foundation. With the Foundation’s support, the girls took part in a Therapeutic Camp at the HKF Child Development Support Center in Wrocław. The Foundation also funds Nina’s Sensory Integration therapy.
The Therapeutic Camp is an intensive five-day program that combines different forms of therapy and activities supporting a child’s development. During the program, specialists work with the children while also providing parents and caregivers with practical guidance they can use later in everyday life.
For Mrs. Iwona, the stay at the HKF Center was an important experience not only because of the support the girls received.
“I learned so much during the Therapeutic Camp! I felt that someone was taking care of me, too. Someone looked after the girls, and I could have a little time just for myself. I was so happy. Small gestures like that are very important,” Mrs. Iwona recalls.
Mrs. Iwona also appreciated the therapists’ work and the guidance she received during their stay.
“The Foundation has such great specialists. The therapists immediately knew how to work with the girls. I also received some very valuable advice.”
Support That Helps in Everyday Life
After the Therapeutic Camp, Mrs. Iwona noticed changes not only in the girls. She also gained knowledge that helped her better understand their needs. In Emilka’s case, guidance on communication and how to show her support proved particularly important. Mrs. Iwona also learned that Nina should be given more space to try doing things independently.
“Even I know so much more now. Most importantly, I received guidance on how to better support Emilka. I learned how to communicate with her. I also learned that I need to give Nina more freedom and more space,” she says.
“A Huge Thank You!”
Finally, we asked Mrs. Iwona what she would like to say to those who support the work of the Hemmersbach Kids’ Family Foundation.
“A huge thank you! They have no idea how much good they are doing. We have benefited from this support, but other children benefit from it too. Thank you so much. I am grateful and I truly appreciate it.”
Nina and Emilka’s story shows how important it is to provide support tailored to each child’s individual needs. For the girls, this means access to therapy, developing greater independence and learning new skills. For Mrs. Iwona, it also means gaining knowledge and practical guidance that she can use every day.
The Hemmersbach Kids’ Family Foundation continues to support Nina and Emilka in their development and everyday challenges.
