January 14
The Stories of Tehila and Joshua: A Journey of Hope from Nigeria to Italy
The Stories of Tehila and Joshua: A Journey of Hope from Nigeria to Italy In Nigeria, a country rich in culture and resources but marked by deep inequalities, childhood can be a daily challenge. For children with disabilities or complex medical conditions, like Tehila and Joshua, these challenges become even more daunting. Tehila: A Smile Despite the Hardships Tehila is a 7-year-old girl born in a rural village in southern Nigeria. Since birth, she has lived with Down syndrome, a genetic condition that, in a context like Nigeria’s, presents additional obstacles. In many communities, disability is often misunderstood, leading to stigma and social isolation. Limited resources and a lack of adequate facilities make it difficult to access medical care and specialized educational programs. Despite these challenges, Tehila has shown extraordinary resilience. Her infectious smile and innate curiosity have made her beloved by her family and everyone she meets. However, a congenital heart defect seriously threatened her health and her future. In a country where healthcare is often inaccessible to low-income families, Tehila’s hopes seemed to be fading. SPONSOR A CHILD: Joshua—A Brave Heart in Search of Healing Joshua, 8, comes from an urban community in the Niger Delta region. His childhood has been marked by a heart defect that prevented him from participating in activities typical for children his age. In Nigeria, access to specialized care is limited, and families often face prohibitive costs for life-saving medical treatments. Despite their financial difficulties, Joshua’s family desperately sought a solution to his heart condition, fearing for his life and his future. A Bridge of Hope: From Africa to Europe Tehila and Joshua’s stories took a positive turn thanks to the intervention of the POBIC association and the “Open Heart” project. This program aims to identify children with congenital heart defects in countries with fragile healthcare systems, offering them the opportunity to receive appropriate care. For Tehila and Joshua, this meant a trip to Italy, where they were welcomed and underwent surgery at the Gaslini Hospital in Genoa, a state-of-the-art facility for the treatment of pediatric diseases. Moving to a foreign country, encountering a new culture, and undergoing complex surgeries were moments that required great courage for both children. Having their mothers by their sides throughout this journey was essential, providing emotional support and unconditional love. A Bright Future on the Horizon Following their surgeries, both Tehila and Joshua have shown remarkable progress. Tehila, with her lively spirit, has begun to explore the world with renewed energy, while Joshua dreams of returning to play soccer with his friends, free from the limitations that have held him back until now. The success of their surgeries not only improves their quality of life but also serves as a message of hope for many other families in similar situations. The Crucial Role of Community Support Tehila and Joshua’s experiences remind us that, despite the difficulties, every child deserves a chance at a healthy and happy future. We invite everyone to support projects like “Open Heart” and the POBIC association, so they can continue to offer hope and care to many other children around the world. Active participation and community support are essential to ensuring that stories like those of Tehila and Joshua can be repeated, transforming lives and building bridges of global solidarity. DONATE NOW / ADOPT NOW A Call to Action Following their surgeries, both Tehila and Joshua have shown remarkable progress. Tehila, with her lively spirit, has begun to explore the world with renewed energy, while Joshua dreams of returning to play soccer with his friends, free from the limitations that have held him back until now. The success of their surgeries not only improves their quality of life but also serves as a message of hope for many other families in similar situations. Where the surgeries were performed The children will undergo surgery at the Gaslini Hospital in Genoa. The hospital has been collaborating with the Open Heart project for many years and has helped us save dozens and dozens of children. Over the years, more than 60 children have been saved from death thanks to this program, and the Giannina Gaslini Hospital in Genoa is on the front lines with us to ensure these young lives are not lost. Here is the hospital’s official website. https://www.gaslini.org/ Here are some questions you might be asking How will the donations be used? Every euro donated will go directly toward Ariella’s surgical needs. Our NGO operates with the utmost financial transparency, ensuring that every contribution has a direct impact on their lives. Who selects the recipients of the surgeries? The recipients—in this case, Jernita Ariella and Mary—are selected based on medical criteria and need. We’ve been collaborating with the doctors at Gaslini for years to ensure that resources go to those who need them most urgently. And by urgent, we mean life-threatening. Can I trust that the donations will be used properly? Absolutely. Every transaction is tracked, and every financial detail will be made available to anyone who wishes to have further information. POBIC has been operating in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years and considers honesty one of its core values. Check out all our TRANSPARENCY DOCUMENTS on the website What is your track record in handling cases like these? We have a long history of success in providing life-saving care to children in similar situations. The success stories of the children we’ve helped are tangible proof of our commitment. Take a look at our work in Nigeria What happens if you don’t reach your fundraising goal? Even if we don’t reach the full goal, every donation brings us closer to our mission. Every euro counts and will help ensure a better future. Can I make a donation even if I can’t give much? Absolutely! Every donation, regardless of the amount, makes a difference. Even small contributions can make a difference. Many
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