Miles of Smiles - Hope and Healing Centers

This year you have an incredible opportunity to continue Micala's legacy of caring for vulnerable children. Care for children who’ve been through unimaginable trauma and help them find peace.

As you may know, near the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia deported an estimated 20,000 Ukrainian children. Many of these children have been separated from their families and trapped in Russia for well over a year now.

In Russia, they’ve been forbidden from speaking their language. Forced to participate in Russian songs and military drills. Jammed into crowded institutions and are at risk of being “adopted” by Russian families—even though their families in Ukraine are still living! They’ve been traumatized and brainwashed, often told that their parents don’t want them and that their country no longer exists.

With your support, AFFEO partner Nikolai Kuleba is bringing these children BACK from Russia— going to great lengths to locate and bring them home to their families in Ukraine. It’s a complex mission that requires thousands of miles of travel through multiple nations and checkpoints … and that’s not the hardest part.

The real challenge comes in helping these children work through the immense trauma they’ve been through, to support reunification. Helping them feel secure again. Connected to their parents. Safe and loved.

Nikolai has launched two Hope & Healing Centers specifically to help these deported children, who were institutionalized in Russia for many months, find comfort and peace after their terrifying ordeal. Once back in Ukraine, the centers provide short-term room and board, medical check-ups, and counseling services for the child and their family. It’s delicate, slow, gut-wrenching work. But it’s imperative to bring them hope….to see resilient children and families – safe and together again.

Over 200 children have already been rescued from Russia and need this help; many more are on their way.

Will you consider a special gift to help these children find joy in family again and comfort through healing at a Hope and Healing Center?

-$35 provides hot meals for a child for 1 week
-$70 provides art and sports therapy for a child for 1 month
-$100 provides temporary housing for one child (with their parent) for 1 week
-$250 allows one child to receive all critical services for 1 month in a Hope & Healing center upon returning from Russia.

Your gifts will be put to work immediately to help heal and successfully reunite Ukrainian children rescued from Russia with their family.

Thank you for your support for vulnerable children and for championing this cause that was close to Micala's heart!

AFFEO is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.