Letter from Dr.Roshal
Dear Friend, I am asking you to join me in an action that is important for the future of our society and Russia’s young people. When children get hurt and injured in earthquakes, tsunamis or wars, no one is likely to remain indifferent. Particularly so, since such events always get the first-page coverage in newspapers and are widely covered on all TV channels. But we forget, and sometimes prefer not to notice what is going on right in front of us, and not only in Moscow: thousands of street children go hungry regularly; they are chronically sick; they sleep on the street. Some of them start stealing, using drugs and commit other crimes against society and themselves. UNICEF — UN Children’s Fund, a highly respected and trustworthy worldwide organization — is addressing the problem of street children in Russia. In close cooperation with the Moscow City Government, UNICEF specialists train social workers and health professionals who deal with street children. Their activities are targeted at ways to intervene on the child’s behalf before he or she is forced out onto the street. UNICEF specialists work with families and neighbours helping them to become part of the solution. UNICEF has already assisted hundreds of children. However, UNICEF resources are not unlimited. Surprising as it may seem, people from other countries donate their money to support UNICEF activities in Russia, while Russian people do not do it. People, who are not necessarily very wealthy, trust UNICEF. So do I. UNICEF closely monitors the disposal of all the funds provided towards the implementation of children’s programmes. The money you give will be used effectively by UNICEF and will help Russian street children. UNICEF annually publishes a detailed operations report from which you will see how your money is working. So, please, donate as much as you can afford to give, and children will be grateful to you for that. Thank you, About Dr. Roshal Leonid Roshal is a paediatrician and the Director of the Moscow Institute for Children Emergency Surgery and Traumatology. He was awarded with the Russian “Medal of Courage” for his self-sacrificing actions during the siege of the Dubrovka Theatre Center in Moscow (2002), the civil “Gold Cross” for his service to society, laureate of the awards “National Hero of Russia”, the “Pride of Russia” and many other titles of honour. Doctor Roshal has dedicated his whole life to the problem of “Children in Catastrophe”. He has helped children who have suffered in earth quakes, train crashes, military conflicts in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Georgia, Egypt, Yugoslavia, India, Japan and other countries. You can always find Doctor Roshal hard at work where children are in danger and he is relentless in his efforts when it comes to preventing the suffering of children. More specifically he has acted as a mediator in negotiations with the hostage takers in the Dubrovka Theatre Center in 2002 and at school #1 in Beslan in 2004 where he also provided medical aid to the victims. Mr. Roshal is a member of the Presidential Council of the RF, to facilitate the development of a civil society and the advancement of human rights. He was named “Man of the Year in Europe” in 2004.
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