Local family hosts Ukrainian orphan

By Jennifer Dawson/Times Sentinel managing editor

Vika Tkachuk of Kremenchug, Ukraine, may not be able to speak English, but she definitely knows how to say Mamma Mia!

Carolyn Deripaska of Zionsville, Vika’s host mother, said Vika wanted to see the movie every day during her visit. In the first two weeks they saw “Mamma Mia!” twice, and at the end of her three-week visit Vika and Carolyn had made the trip to the movie theater no less than four times. Vika, 11, who is a Ukraine orphan, came to the Deripaska family through the Indianpolis-based Fatherless Foundation, a not-for-profit that places Ukrainian orphans with host families mainly in Central Indiana and Fort Wayne.

The orphans come for a vacation in America, but the visit has the underlying purpose of introducing the orphans to families who are considering adoption. An orphan can only be sponsored for a trip to the United States once by the Fatherless Foundation, but this is Vika’s second trip. She came to Indiana in December 2007 through the foundation and stayed with the Deripaskas. During this time Carolyn introduced Vika to a woman who was interested in adopting; Carolyn is not able to adopt because of physical limitations.

The two hit it off and Vika’s second trip to the States was supposed to be one-way. But the Ukraine government passed a law prohibiting single-parent adoptions and Vika’s future mother could no longer adopt her. Vika still came back to stay with the Deripaskas — her trip paid for by the family and the woman who was supposed to become her mother. Even though paying for Vika and hosting is a sacrifice, Carolyn thinks it is worth it.

“I do this because I want to give children a chance to have a good side of life ... family life,” Carolyn said.

The Ukraine orphans have either been abandoned completely or have limited contact with family who can not take care of them. It is hard to believe anybody could abandon a child, especially Vika, who was dropped off at the orphanage at age 6. Vika, who Carolyn describes as “bubbly” seems to always have a smile on her face. And even though she can’t speak English and Carolyn can’t speak Ukraine, Vika has a connection with her that works and, if all else fails, “there is a lot of pointing,” Carolyn said.

Through a translator, Vika said she loves visiting America because it is “clean and beautiful.” She also said that some of her favorite things to do when she visits are to go shopping, go to the Russian Ballet, and dine in restaurants — her favorite American foods are chicken nuggets and fried ice cream. She also has discovered the “High School Musical” and “The Princess Diaries” movies, which, Carolyn said, she can recite many lines in English. She also bought “everything ‘High School Musical.’” Vika has had a fun-packed visit, with an outing to the Indianapolis Zoo, rock climbing, swimming and driving a Sea-Do at “full speed,” Carolyn said.

Vika appreciates America and her host family. She wants to be adopted, but not all orphans who come visit want a new family. Carolyn said some orphans like to take a vacation to America but do not want to stay, and some hold out on the belief that their parents or family will someday return. Vika returned to Ukraine on Friday, Aug. 14., with another adoption falling through. Before she left to go back home she said she loved, most of all about America, her host family.

Vika is just one of many children who need help in the Ukraine. Carolyn also works with the Orphan’s Bright Star, which has many projects in need of money. The organization is raising funds to build a playground for the Kremenchug Baby Orphanage. The playground will cost $10,000 and $8,500 has been raised, Carolyn said. And if donors want a more personalized donation, they can sponsor a Ukrainian orphan by giving $50 to pay for room and board for the Poltava Vocational Education program in Ukraine. Visit www.orphansbrightstar.org for more information or to donate.

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