Zālīte School in Latvia, supported by Star of Hope, is a boarding school for children with learning disabilities. Many students come from broken homes and desperately need stable adult role models. “We have to be both teachers and mothers to these children,” says Zanda Spūle-Vilcāne, a physical education teacher.
Often, the problems involve substance abuse or children growing up without a father. Less common is the absence of a mother in a child’s life. For nine-year-old Samantha, it’s all three.
It’s hard to believe when we see her in the school environment. She looks carefree as she receives guidance in the classroom, lets loose in gym class, and plays with her best friend, her peer Ingūna. Through an interpreter, we learn that Samantha has a problem with one of her legs. It turns out to be an understatement. When we follow Samantha home, she first takes off her shoe, and then she takes off her foot.
Samantha shows her damaged leg.
She was only two years old when she had to have her left foot amputated after an accident, an accident caused by her drug-addicted mother, Gunta. After that, Samantha’s grandmother, Inez, took over her care.
Since then, Gunta has had three more children with different men. Even though social services had already taken Samantha, Grandmother Inez had to fight for custody of Samantha’s younger siblings. But now all the siblings live here, in their grandmother’s cramped old apartment: five-year-old Emils, three-year-old Alexanders, and two-year-old Milana. Emils still hasn’t learned to speak. Grandmother Inez doesn’t know if it’s due to her daughter’s addiction, trauma, or something else. Now Gunta is pregnant again, and Inez feels helpless.
“I can’t take care of any more,” she sighs.
It’s not just her grandchildren living with her. Samantha’s best friend, Ingūna, also happens to be her aunt. Another aunt, 22-year-old Ilze, is already a single mother to a two-year-old. Broken families create new broken families in each generation.
The widowed Inez sees no end in sight. Yet she continues to fight to care for both her children and grandchildren—and she does it on her own.
“Both my husbands are dead, and now I don’t want any more,” she says firmly.
She stands before us as a living symbol of the fighting spirit within a mother’s heart.
Samantha is in the classroom with a teacher.
Samantha is cheered on by physical education teacher Zanda Spūle-Vilcāne.
Samantha is eating school lunch.
Ingūna and Samantha are at home.
From left in the back row: Samantha, Ingūna, Inez, and Alexanders. From left in the front row: Milana and Emils.
Since our inception in 1991, our commitment to advocating for children with disabilities in Latvia has been unwavering, as evidenced by our support for five special schools across the country. These schools provide not only regular education but also a wide range of extracurricular activities designed to enrich the lives of students with diverse interests and talents.
In addition to core academic subjects, our special schools offer programs in home economics, theater, dance, music, ceramics, textile crafts, and furniture making. These activities not only provide students with valuable life skills but also foster creativity, self-expression, and a sense of accomplishment. By engaging students in a variety of artistic and practical pursuits, we aim to empower them to explore their passions and unlock their full potential.
Beyond the classroom, our organization is deeply committed to supporting vulnerable families, ensuring that children with disabilities have the best possible conditions to thrive in an inclusive society. Through targeted assistance and advocacy efforts, we strive to remove barriers to access and create a supportive environment where every child has the opportunity to succeed.
In essence, our work in Latvia is driven by a belief in the inherent dignity and potential of every child, regardless of ability. By providing specialized education, fostering creativity, and supporting families, we are working to build a more inclusive and equitable society where all children can flourish. Join us in our mission to create a brighter future for children with disabilities in Latvia and beyond.
