|
I can
give you the stats that are commonly accepted though, and I think
they are not far off the mark:
Without intervention from the outside,
Most will become homeless,
10% will commit suicide by the time they are 18,
60% of girls will end up in prostitution or sex slavery,
70% of boys will turn to a life of criminal activity,
27%
will find work.
The
Ukrainian state provides 1 to 2 years of free vocational education
in various schools scattered around the country. Only grads that
have some means of extra support can take advantage of this additional
schooling, so orphans often can’t accept. If you look at the
profiles of the 11 students we present, you’ll see that the
vocations they have picked are not necessarily ones they have dreamed
of. But these young grads are already realists, and we are assured
by the Director and our caregiver contact, Mama Natalia, that they
are “all very good kids,” the most likely in their class
to succeed. That’s why we begin with them. They will try very
hard to justify our faith in them, for they know even now that the
next kids, their orphaned brothers and sisters who follow, depend
on their success and responsible behavior. Many have been in care
their whole lives, and they face very daunting challenges when they
enter the world on the outside. Making choices is particularly hard
for them, for they have rarely had that freedom. But they know how
to work!
Some
schools near enough to be available to them will feel their education
is not good enough and they won’t be allowed in. Where they
are accepted, with intervention from donors they can accumulate
some of the most essential belongings, move into quarters provided
and begin to learn a trade. At the end of 2 years, if they can find
jobs, they will already have beaten the odds against them.
The
Director of Green Forest, Vasily Nikolaevich Goga, has remodeled
some of the Green Forest dormitory rooms so that they may be available
to returning grads at summer and vacation times, or they can stay
there if the commute is short to their schools. If they come back,
they will be pitching in to help with whatever they can do. But
it is the safety of the place and the familiar faces that mean so
much! Director Goga has recently received commendation from the
Ukrainian government for dedication to improving conditions for
the children in his care. Without his efforts to augment governmental
funds, the institution and the children would be much poorer, and
so he appreciates our help.
The
caregiver whom our family has known and corresponded with since
2001 is one of the “mamas” that took care of the adopted
twin girls of our daughter. Mama Natasha and her friend, caregiver
Mama Valentina, are forever in our prayers, and they tell us that
we are in theirs. They try hard to be loving mothers and are anxious
for the futures of the children they care for.
Mama
Natasha will be the person who is responsible to OBS and sponsors
for the money they send. She is very conscientious, affectionate
and motherly, so she insists that at first the teens must receive
their money in small “allowances” along with instruction
and guidance, until they learn to budget and plan wisely. She intends
to go with them as they buy bedding, a few pots and pans, some dishes,
clock, toiletries, and sanitary supplies before they leave in June.
They will be given some meals at schools they attend, but she tells
us “it is never enough.” So a large portion of sponsors’
donations will be for their food, and she will help them with grocery
choices too. They can reach Mama Valentina or her by phone.
This
is how YOU can make a difference to their lives. You can sponsor
a teen for $50 per month, tax deductible through Orphans’ Bright
Star, a registered non-profit organization run ENTIRELY by VOLUNTEERS.
You will be able to send gift parcels SAFELY at a reduced shipping
rate (see link on our site): a minimum of 2 boxes per year, or if
you’d rather, extra money at birthday and Christmas times.
Your student will write to you sometimes and you can write to him
or her. You will receive photos too. We’ll provide translation
help. You’ll find it hard to imagine the happiness you’ll
bring to someone who has lost or has never had a family, who has
never received mail or had a person visit them. During these short
years, they can feel that somebody in the world, whom they have
never even met, nor ever will, cares about them. Your personal reward
will be great.
If
you’d prefer to team with another sponsor, so that you’ll
pay only $25 per month for the 2 years, we’ll try to find a
match for you, and the student would get twice the mail!
Please
open your hearts, and inquire of our project coordinator: natalie@orphansbrightstar.org
Please
consider changing one person’s life by your generosity!
Thank
you for caring, Natalie
|
