Daniel and the boys at Safe Haven are shown hard at work. They received a grant this past January to re-do the roof (a much needed project), putting in new insulation, and other renovations.
Many go abroad to different countries or travel for fun. However, interestingly enough, many of our volunteers experienced their first time outside of the United States on their first trip to Ukraine. Jenny, Brian, Bethe, and I were the team members who had our first overseas experience in Ukraine. Going abroad for the first time can be nerve racking, as they have no idea what to expect, however each one of these members have continued to return year after year to continue the work asked of them.
2015 was full of memories from camp. The team consisted of Brian, Bethe, Jenny, Jo Ni, John, Daniel, and Janna.
Mission statement: partnering with christian families of Ukraine to reach abandoned children and provide Christ-centered homes. Developing lifelong relationships, teaching and encouraging children to reach their full potential and preparing them for life on their own.
Children in the orphanages of Ukraine The orphanage system in Ukraine is failing. While the basic physical needs are met, kids do not receive the individual attention that they need to succeed. Orphanages are underfunded and understaffed; as a result education is minimized. The culture views these kids as damaged or worthless, and teachers see little point in pushing the kids to excel. This leads to disinterest and apathy in the kids, and many do not have goals and dreams. Also, the kids are not taught the necessary skills for independent living. The statistics for children who age out of the system are heartbreaking. 1% Will finish university 40% will end up in prison 60% of the girls resort to prostitution 60% of the boys will resort to crime 15% will end up committing suicide Often, the problem is cyclical. Girls aging out of the orphanage can get pregnant very early. Not having grown up in a healthy family, and having never learned how to take care of themselves, many of these mothers will place their children in state care, making the problem generational. We believe that Christ-centered homes are the best environment for the children from the orphanages to receive the love and encouragement they need to become successful members of society and break the cycle of abandonment. These homes are also the best way to show the love of christ to these children and help make disciples. Our goal is to partner with families and individuals who are passionate about working with these children and ensure that the finances and resources are available to make them successful. We will be working with families that are fostering younger children as well as homes that are dedicated to helping the older kids when they age out of the orphanage. Some of the services we offer include: *monthly support *finances for one time projects *assistance with building projects *creating an encouragement network *infrastructure support *helpful oversight *legal resources |
Learn more about our mission, with different blog entries each day. We will also be updating this as much as possible throughout the trip. Categories
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