On 6th May, 2017, in the framework of the program “Organization of Palliative Care for Children in Kaliningrad Region” Non-commercial organization Project PARUS visited the Klaipeda Monastery of St. Francis of Assisi at the invitation of its partner, the charity foundation «I believe in Miracle». We got acquainted with the work of the newly opened rehabilitation center for cancer patients in Klaipeda (Lithuania).
The group from Kaliningrad was warmly welcomed by the abbot of the monastery Father Benediktas and his assistant Andreus. The rehabilitation center for cancer patients and the monastery chapel built in 2012 are a part of the future cluster “The City of Hope”, which will be built on almost 10 hectares of land donated by the city authorities.
The next stage of construction is the creation of a hospice and a “village of happy old age” for the senior citizens. Since the whole complex is designed to provide social services, the oncological center was granted a remission of land and property tax.
The need for social, psychological and spiritual support and rehabilitation of severely and incurably ill people is very high. At present the center is helping 1,500 patients who are sent from the city oncology clinic.
The rehabilitation center exists purely through donations and various fundraising events (up to 20 per year): charitable sports races, marathons, dance contests, tennis tournaments, kayak rafting and even rock climbing. The main assistants in organizing and conducting such events are volunteers.
Our group, in its turn, told about the work which has been done in Kaliningrad region in order to construct a children’s hospice as well as its significance for the region. Besides we spoke about the mobile palliative service “House of Fruppolo”, which has been operating since last year and regularly provides support to 32 children.
Project PARUS is deeply grateful to the Lithuanian colleagues for their warm welcome and sincerely thanks the Charity Center “I Believe in Miracle” for the invitation to take part in this trip. Besides, we are very thankful to our German partners “Projekt ANNA – Kinderhilfe Kaliningrad e.V.” for the assistance in organizing the trip.