Orphanages

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Many families in Ukraine are poor, living at or under the poverty level. These families are left in difficult situations, unable to provide for themselves adequately. Poor living conditions and alcohol abuse often result in the abuse or neglect of their children. The children of Ukraine have no way of seeking assistance or rights to press charges against those that abuse them. Death or suicide is often a result of such abuse. Many more of these children are either abandoned or leave home to escape the torment.

As a result of such circumstances, Ukraine 's homeless, “street children” find themselves in a terrible situation. These children often face the terror of cruelty, torture, kidnapping, sexual exploitation, drug abuse and forced, hard labor. Many beg in the streets or work in the sex industry. Food is scarce for these children and at the same time they face the freezing temperatures of winter without proper clothing or blankets for warmth. The majority of “street children” have very little education. Many cannot read or write. They frequently suffer from illness and disease due to lack of medical care and are often psychologically traumatized.

The children in the orphanages are both orphans (without parents) and social orphans (with at least one parent living). Many of the orphans in Ukraine are abandoned to the orphanages or found in the streets and brought to the orphanages. State funding to these institutions is very limited. Many lack sufficient resources to provide for the number of children that are in their care. There are shortages of food and clothing as well as, occasions without electricity or heat. These facilities are often understaffed and cannot meet the needs of the children physically or emotionally. Programs are not implemented to care for these children properly. The children get very little stimulation. This lack of stimulation is particularly harmful to the babies and very young children, who are rarely held or comforted. Any neglect within the orphanages leaves the children in a hopeless situation. They have no one to turn to for assistance.

The orphaned and abandoned children in Ukraine must rely on others for help and support. There are currently no state agencies to assist them as needed. It is up to us, people who care about the situation these children are in to make a difference. Our work together will improve the lives of these children and help provide them with the love and care they deserve.

or parents looking to adopt, providing a home for a child from a Ukrainian orphanage is an opportunity to make an incredible difference in a child's life. Despite the conditions they endure in the orphanage, most parents find that their adopted children are extremely resilient and are able to make up for any physical or emotional delays given a healthy and loving environment. Given the crisis of abandoned children and over-burdened institutions in Ukraine , adopting a child from these orphanages is one of the best things a parent could do.