Baiba lives in Karosta, a struggling neighborhood in Liepaja, Latvia. Her family of seven calls a small two-bedroom apartment in a former Soviet naval base home.
Ruta is five, and has attended the baby classes at the Family Support Center in Karosta since she was three. Normally preschool programs would be out of reach for families living in marginalized communities. But the baby classes are designed specifically to provide support for these families. The school has helped Ruta so much,” Baiba shares. “She was shy, but in this safe and welcoming place, she has felt brave enough to play with others.”
The Family Support Center is a community outreach program providing holistic Christ-centered care for more than 100 families in Karosta. Parenting and early childhood development classes are offered to young moms, and counseling and mentorship are available to both parents and their children.
The school has not only been a blessing for Ruta, but has been a godsend for Baiba. “We both love the time here,” she smiles. When Ruta first began her classes, Baiba was going through a particularly challenging season as a mom. Having a safe place to talk to other mothers in her neighborhood, she felt the love and support of community walking alongside her in her parenting journey.
