My name is Irina, and I am the founder of Child Innocence Equine Experiences — a gentle healing program where vulnerable youth rebuild their sense of innocence, self-worth, and confidence through the quiet, compassionate presence of our rescue horse, Amore.

For the past two years, I have poured my heart, savings, and every resource I had into creating a safe sanctuary where young people can relax, feel connected, and experience emotional healing. But today, we are at risk of losing this place due to high rent and accumulated costs — and I am asking for help to keep this healing farm open, stable, and able to grow for the youth who need it.

WHY THIS WORK MATTERS SO DEEPLY

Trauma is silent.

But its effects are not.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) — including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction — increase the risk of:

• depression and anxiety

• self-harm and suicidal ideation

• addiction

• chronic illness

• low self-worth

• broken relationships

• lifelong emotional instability

It is estimated that:

• 75% of children with mental-health challenges do not receive support.

• 1 in 7 children experience abuse or neglect each year.

These are not just statistics.

They are future adults — future parents, future leaders, future communities.

Early emotional intervention changes an entire future.

At Child Innocence Equine Experiences, we offer something young people respond deeply to:

A safe place.

A calm presence.

A healing connection — through horses.

Watch this video of a youth's feedback after one visit with Amore (filmed only the feet for confidentiality).

Many youth arrive carrying trauma, fear, or emotional pain they don’t know how to express. But when they meet Amore — a gentle Gypsy Vanner who was himself neglected for nine years before being rescued — something softens.

His calm, loving presence helps them regulate their emotions, feel safe, connect, and begin to rebuild the sense of self-worth that trauma often erodes.

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW

Child Innocence Equine Experiences was born from a simple but powerful vision:

to give young people a compassionate space to heal the emotional wounds that trauma leaves behind, so that they can live a life free of suffering.

The essence of this program comes from lived experience. I survived years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and grew up without safety and protection. My ACE score is 8.5 out of 10. And although what happened cannot be changed, I am proof that we can heal.

This is why I made a lifelong commitment to create the kind of healing sanctuary where young people could feel safe, seen, encouraged, and protected.

Two and a half years ago, that vision became real. With no safety net, I took a leap of faith and built this healing program from the ground up:

• signing a lease on an 11-acre property with a peaceful setting and a beautiful barn

• adopting Amore — a special-needs Gypsy Vanner rescue — and learning to care for him and work with him despite my initial fears

• using my Strategic Intervention training and coaching experience to support youth and their families

• investing all my savings, retirement funds, and borrowed resources to create and maintain this sanctuary

This farm has been sustained by love, courage, and a deep belief that healing is possible.

But now, we have reached a point where your help is needed to continue this vital work.

This fundraiser is our opportunity to stabilize the farm, clear the arrears, and reach more young people who urgently need emotional support.

And we know the experience helps all who come.

Every time a young person visits, something shifts. They leave lighter, calmer, with a spark in their eyes. One youth with severe social anxiety was able to make eye contact with a family member for the first time in many years — after just one visit with Amore.

Another testimonial:

This place has potential far beyond its current operation — a peaceful property, a proven concept, and a gentle horse whose presence changes lives. It has the potential to become self-sufficient.

With your help now, it can remain a refuge for the youth who need it most.

HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS

Your generosity directly protects the farm and expands the mission so more youth can be supported.

1. Stabilizes the Farm (Emergency Need)

Funds help cover rent arrears and essential operating costs so we can stay at this location and keep this much-needed healing program alive.

2. Ensures Amore’s Care and Well-Being

Your donation helps cover his feed, hay, farrier, vet care, and daily needs so he can continue offering his calm, loving presence to every young person who arrives.

3. Supports Free Equine Experiences for Youth

Visits are offered at no cost to youth and families experiencing financial hardship, keeping the program accessible to those who need it most.

4. Helps Us Reach More Youth in Need

Funds support outreach, community connections, and marketing — such as printed materials and promotions — so we can reach young people who may be struggling quietly and don’t yet know this sanctuary exists.

5. Provides Safety, Supplies & Stability

Insurance, barn upkeep, and essential materials for a safe, clean, and supportive environment, welcoming every young person who visits.

Every donation — whether large or small — helps keep this program alive and growing.

Together, we can protect this place where trauma loosens its grip, self-worth begins to return, and young hearts rediscover the calm and safety they deserve.

Child Innocence Equine Experiences is a mission-driven social enterprise housed under my business. While we are not a registered not-for-profit yet, funds raised go directly toward keeping the sanctuary open, caring for Amore, and supporting free and affordable sessions for young people.

Your support creates a ripple effect — healing one young person changes families, communities, and future generations.

The long-term vision is to advocate for healing from childhood abuse, raise awareness about its emotional impact, and teach compassion and forgiveness. We are also developing an online healing course accessible to youth anywhere, and working toward a simple method that other farms can use worldwide. Your support today helps build a model that can reach youth everywhere.

OUR GRATITUDE

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this mission and for caring about the young people who find safety and healing here. Your generosity — whether through donating, sharing, or offering support — protects a place where youth feel safe, seen, and valued. Every contribution truly makes a difference.

Your gift keeps the farm open, supports Amore’s care, and helps us reach young people who may be struggling quietly and don’t yet know this sanctuary exists. If you own a business or offer a service, sponsorships or in-kind support are also deeply appreciated.

With your help:

• A child who feels worthless will discover they matter.

• A teen who feels angry or scared will find safety and calm.

• A young person who feels alone will find connection and a place that sees and uplifts them.

Together, we can help them recover their innocence, rebuild their confidence, and begin a future full of possibility — a life they don’t have to heal from later.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for standing with us.