Dear Friends,

We are reaching out with a heartfelt request to support Grandma Olly from Ida-Viru County, who is raising her three grandchildren alone while courageously battling breast cancer.

Olly’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. When her daughter fell ill and the family faced significant hardships, Olly stood firmly by their side. Unfortunately, the circumstances made it impossible for Olly’s daughter to continue raising her children. Olly took the children into her home, providing them with a loving environment, care, and stability.

Although Olly has always been a model of resilience and determination, life has not been kind to her. Recently, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, adding even more challenges to her life. Yet, this has not broken her spirit—she continues to raise her three grandchildren and does everything in her power to give them a safe and loving home.

The Naerata Ometi organization has visited Olly’s family multiple times to provide assistance and assess their situation. Olly never asks for help. She says she will manage on her own, but there is one area where she cannot cope alone—the family’s bathroom and toilet are in urgent need of renovation.

What needs to be done?

Olly and her family’s bathroom requires a complete overhaul to ensure daily comfort and safety. The necessary work and materials include:

• Tile adhesive and tiles for walls and ceiling
• A new sink and toilet
• A plumbing dryer
• A ventilation fan to remove moisture

The total estimated cost for the work and materials is approximately €800.

Together, we can give Olly and her family a new start by creating a cozy and safe home.

Dear friends and kind-hearted people,

A courageous mother of five, Kadrin (name changed for privacy), has reached out to us during a very difficult time. Six months ago, her husband left the family, leaving her to care for the children alone. Despite the hardships, she has done everything she can to provide a safe and loving home for her children.

The past few months have been especially challenging. Three of the children started school, one entered kindergarten, and the youngest child is still at home with the mother as they have yet to secure a kindergarten spot. Buying school supplies and firewood has placed a heavy strain on the family’s budget. Additionally, their essential family car broke down, and the repairs were unavoidable and costly.

Right now, the family is in a critical situation. The refrigerator is empty, and the mother is worried about how to put food on the table for her children. We call upon you to extend a helping hand to Kadrin’s family. Every donation, big or small, will help ensure they have food and a warm home. Your support will bring a significant change in their lives.

Let’s come together to help this family through this tough period in their lives. Your compassion and kindness are invaluable.

For more information, please contact: Heiki Lutschan, Project Manager, +372 56255274, heiki@naerataometi.ee

Summer and holidays are over, and now we are enjoying the beautiful and colorful autumn. The school year has begun, and it’s a joy to see children returning to school, wearing new clothes and carrying fresh school supplies.

Unfortunately, this joy is not as carefree for all children. Many families lack the means to buy the necessary school clothes, shoes, backpacks, or supplies for their children.

Naerata Ometi NGO, in collaboration with one of our Friends’ Clubs, has launched a project aimed at collecting school supplies for those children who need them the most. We have gathered clothes, learning materials, bags, and shoes to support the school journey of children from foster homes, large families, and children with special needs.

We launched the project in October, as this is when it becomes clear which learning materials are most needed in schools. This is our first project, but we hope to make it an annual tradition, where every October we make small acts of kindness and contribute to the well-being of schoolchildren.

At the moment, with the help of our friends, we have collected school supplies for fifty children. Our dear supporters wished to remain anonymous this time, but we sincerely want to thank them both on behalf of Naerata Ometi and all the children.

We continue to map the needs of families and children and will share updates through our website and Facebook page. Together, we can achieve more!

For any questions or additional information, please contact heiki@naerataometi or call +37256255274.

We also accept monetary donations. If you’d like to help with school supplies but lack the time, you can make a symbolic donation using the details below.

Naerata Ometi MTÜ invites everyone to join our charity campaign, “Christmas Smile 2024,” aimed at bringing smiles to the faces of children who might otherwise miss out on the warmth and joy of the holiday season. The campaign focuses on giving Christmas gifts to children who have to spend Christmas in hospitals, live in orphanages, or come from economically disadvantaged large families. We have been running this campaign for 16 years. Over this time, we have brought joy to thousands of children, offering them moments of warmth and happiness that stay with them long after the holidays have passed.

Our long-standing experience and commitment have made the “Christmas Smile” campaign an annual tradition, one that brings the community together to share love and care with those who need it the most. This year, we once again rely on your support to bring smiles to as many children as possible during the Christmas season.

Why your support is important

For many children spending Christmas in hospitals, living in orphanages, or from low-income families, the holidays are not filled with the joy and warmth that many of us take for granted. By participating in the “Christmas Smile 2024” campaign, you have a unique opportunity to fulfill these children’s Christmas wishes and show them that they are incredibly important and valued. Your donation will bring a smile to a child’s face and create an unforgettable Christmas experience for those who need it the most.

How you can help

• Individual donations: Every donation, big or small, is essential for providing gifts to the children. Your contribution will help us buy the Christmas presents they wish for, making their holiday season unforgettable.
• Start an initiative: You can organize charity events such as bake sales or Christmas raffles to raise funds and spread awareness about the project. Every effort counts and helps us reach more children.
• Share information about our campaign: Spread the word about our campaign on social media and with your friends and family. The more people know about the “Christmas Smile 2024” campaign, the more support we can gather to bring holiday joy to the children who need it the most.
• Contribute your time: Join our team of volunteers and help us plan and execute the campaign. From wrapping presents to delivering them, there are many ways you can contribute.

A call to businesses

Many companies, such as Sorainen, have supported our initiative for several years by involving their teams in fulfilling children’s wishes and spreading Christmas joy. They understand that with the resources they have, they can make a significant positive impact on the lives of these children who need it most.

If your business has the resources and capacity to do something truly good this holiday season by bringing a smile to the faces of children in difficult situations, we kindly ask for your support.

Make the decision today

The earlier you decide to support us, the more effectively we can plan our campaign and ensure that as many children as possible experience Christmas joy. Together, we can make Christmas 2024 a bright and memorable time for many children in need.

Thank you for considering contributing to our project and making beautiful Christmas gifts for children. We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you, and bring Christmas joy to children.

Warm regards,

Dear friends and supporters,

We are delighted to share some wonderful news with you! Thanks to your help, Raimo underwent a successful cleft lip and palate surgery in Finland on August 1st. During the procedure, an alveolar bone graft was performed to close a 0.5 cm gap in the palate. Raimo is feeling well and is extremely grateful to everyone who contributed to his recovery. His sincere words of thanks: “I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I never believed that so many people would be willing to donate. I am incredibly thankful that we made it to Finland, where I received life-changing assistance.”

We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Finnish surgeon Jyri Huukki and Dr. Riina Einblau, as well as Raimo’s supporters Liina and Janno Rokk, whose support and dedication helped make this project a reality. Information about the previous project can be found HERE.

About Raimo

Raimo is a young man with a brave heart who grew up in a children’s home and now lives alone in a social apartment in Sindi. Throughout his life, he has faced the challenging condition of a cleft lip and palate, which has impacted his confidence and social life. Despite these challenges, Raimo has always maintained a positive outlook on life. He is friendly and helpful, volunteering at a dog shelter. Raimo’s greatest wish is to live a fulfilling life— to speak clearly, smile without worry, and feel confident in his daily life. Today, we stand by him to help him achieve this dream.

New Challenge – The Next Surgery

Now we turn our attention to the next surgery, planned for the end of this year or early next year. This surgery involves extensive maxillofacial and nasal reconstruction, which is crucial for improving Raimo’s facial structure, speech, self-esteem, and quality of life. The cost of the surgery is 34,000 euros.

How You Can Help

We ask for your help in supporting Raimo through this important next stage of his journey. Every donation, no matter the size, brings Raimo one step closer to a life where he can smile, speak clearly, and live much more confidently. Together, we can give this young man a chance for a happy and fulfilling future.

Thank you once again to everyone who has contributed to improving Raimo’s health and quality of life. Together, we can achieve more!

Dear friends,

We are reaching out to you once again with a request for help.

At the end of 2022, Natalja approached us seeking assistance. She suffers from a rare and very severe disease called pansclerotic morphea. This young woman has had to abandon her doctoral studies due to health issues. Her days are spent painfully changing bandages, as her body is covered with non-healing ulcers. For years, she has been seeking treatment options both in Estonia and abroad.

In 2000, she was diagnosed with pansclerotic morphea. For more than 10 years, she has had ulcers on her legs, and now they have spread to her thighs, lower back, and arms. There is a constant high risk of infection (ulcers remain persistently infected). The strain of microbes in her ulcers is highly resistant and must not enter her bloodstream. In recent years, she has been using a wheelchair.

Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for morphea. Previously, Natalja has undergone experimental treatments, which did not yield sufficient results. She has been treated in Italy, consulted with several doctors in Germany, and received treatment recommendations, which have been implemented in Estonia as much as possible. With the help of kind people, we raised funds and traveled with Natalja to Israel in 2023 to the Top Ichilov Clinic in Tel Aviv, under the care of Dr. Tal Zaal. She stayed in the hospital for two weeks. The doctor identified why the disease is so aggressive and how to help the ulcers heal. Skin and tissue samples were taken from Natalja. She received various injections and medications daily. Finally, a two-day extracorporeal photopheresis was performed.

Here, we want to thank all the donators and Sergei Astafjev, who helped Natalja so much that we could go to Israel for consultation, examination, and treatment. Thanks to all of you, things started to move forward.

Upon returning to Estonia and getting home, we discovered that the results were very good. The wounds began to heal gradually. According to Dr. Tal Zaal, to strengthen her body and fully heal the wounds, it is necessary to perform extracorporeal photopheresis twice a month for at least a year.

Her skin is extremely dry, and small ulcers constantly appear all over her body (some are superficial, while others are quite deep). Movement, sleeping, and even dressing are very difficult and painful processes for her. Even taking a shower is not like it is for a regular person, as water causes pain, and her entire body is covered with bandaged ulcers. Often, she sleeps for several nights on her knees or sitting up, as the skin on her lower back and hips is so painful and inflamed.

Since Natalja moves around the house on her knees, using knee pads, her knee joints often hurt and are ulcerated.

Dear friends, when we returned from Israel last year, the results were indeed visibly noticeable. The good news is that there is now a brand new phonophoresis device available in Tartu, Estonia. Natalja can now receive photopheresis treatment a couple of times each month. Additionally, she constantly undergoes blood transfusions and exchanges.

We believe that her condition and health are improving. Unfortunately, Natalja lacks the resources to buy vitamins, medications, bandages, disinfectants, and gels for her body.

Her monthly need for these items fluctuates and costs around 1300-3000 euros.

We believe that it is possible to help Natalja and that with regular treatment, she can get back on her feet. Natalja has been fighting this disease for over fifteen years and fully deserves for her treatment to succeed – then she could finally live a fulfilling life.

If you can support her treatment financially in any way, we are grateful for every donation.

Dear friends,

We are launching a project to help Kaie, who has been without proper medical care for years. This is a person who has lived in severe pain for many years. Various specialists have diagnosed Kaie with multiple illnesses. Unfortunately, the healthcare system has not been able to provide her with consistent treatment, leaving her in a difficult situation that feels like a labyrinth, from which it is very hard to find a way out.

The Current Situation

Despite the provisions of VÕS § 760, which obligate healthcare providers to offer adequate services to those who seek them, Kaie has not received the necessary assistance. Every specialist in Estonia seems to work in isolation, leading to a bureaucratic nightmare where:

• Doctor A would address Problem A only if Problems B and C are resolved.
• Doctor B would start addressing Problem B only after Problems A and C are handled.
• Doctor C assumes that Problems A and B must be resolved before dealing with Problem C.

This chain of responsibility evasion has left Kaie without treatment and in constant pain. She has already filed several complaints with hospitals, but these have not been successful.

To protect her privacy, we only refer to the recipient by her first name, and she is a resident of Harju County. She has experienced significant difficulties mainly with doctors in Tallinn but is afraid to travel to Tartu due to additional costs and logistical challenges, and her assistance may be denied due to her place of residence.

Project Goal

To break this vicious circle and ensure that Kaie finally receives the essential medical assistance she desperately needs, we have decided to fund Kaie’s legal expenses, which she cannot afford herself. A professional legal advisor who is well-versed in healthcare laws is a crucial ally in protecting Kaie’s rights and securing her treatment.

How Can You Help?

We invite you to support the funding of Kaie’s legal aid. Your donations will go directly towards covering her legal expenses. All amounts, large and small, contribute to ensuring that our fellow citizen can finally live without pain.

Together, we can change the situation and fight to ensure that Kaie receives the legally mandated treatment and begins to live a fulfilling life once again.

Thank you for your support!