All about the Orphans of Ukraine
The vast majority of the children in these state-run institutions have been abandoned by their mothers and fathers, or taken away from them because they were no longer fit to parent. Many of these children have been abused physically and/or verbally, and suffer from detachment disorders or other mental illness. However, the real crisis for these children begins when they are turned away from these facilities in their mid to late teens. It is then that any and all support is taken away from them. Many of these children end up homeless, living on the streets having to fend for themselves. Drug use is rampant. Orphan boys living on the street most often lead lives of crime. Many of the orphan girls will resort to prostitution or become victims of human sex trafficking, a problem greatly on the rise in Ukraine. Perhaps saddest of all, many of these children will turn to suicide before their 18th birthday.
These children, before they are left alone, need something bigger than themselves to live for. They need to learn that they are a part of a family; that if they receive Jesus Christ they have been given “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). They need to be told that their lives have value; that ultimately they are loved by God through Christ, even if everyone else in their life has abandoned them. These children know rejection and pain so well. They need to know that Jesus 8 is not some character in a book, but a living savior who has come to rescue them from their sinful nature, and the broken world they inhabit because of it. This is the precise message Midtown wants these kids to learn in the crucial years before it is too late. By working with Radooga, this is the message that we can bring.
About the kids we serve
Russ has given some basic information about Ukraine and the issues facing orphans there. But what about our kids? The orphaned children we visit live in (or in suburbs of) Kharkiv, Ukraine. Kharkiv is the second largest city in Ukraine with a population of around 1.75 million. It is in extreme Eastern Ukraine so it is much more Russian-influenced than Kiev, the country's capital. The children we visit primarily speak Russian as a first language rather than Ukrainian which is more widely spoken in central and Western Ukraine.
Our kids come from three different orphanages that are located around Kharkiv. They range in age from 8-19. In the summer of 2010, there were around 175 children at camp most of which were boys. Many of the children suffer from physical issues due to institutionalized rearing. Many are extremely small for their age and are shorter in stature. Some have mental or social delays that often go undiagnosed. But these children are also incredibly talented and gifted in many ways. So many of them are amazing artists. There are great singers, dancers, rappers, gymnasts. Many of the boys are incredible soccer players and can beat ANY of the Americans in ping-pong.
But one of the most important things to remember about these children is they each have a life story that is unique to them. Many of the children are at the orphanage because they were removed from their homes by the government due to abuse or neglect. Others are there because their parents were put in jail or died. Some of the children lived on the street for a period of time before coming to the orphanage. There are some children that appear to have been simply "given" to the orphanage by a parent that could not handle raising a child. This further reminds our team how important relationships with the kids become. It is so important to know each one of the kids and their specific story in order for us to build lasting bonds with them. Often, though, the kids are very reluctant to discuss the past and sometimes instead weave inconsistent stories instead of sharing the painful details.
After spending the past two summers with the same group of children, it is apparent to our team that these children simply want to be known. They want to be heard and loved and encouraged. It's often difficult for them to accept this affection, but it is obvious to our team and those that work with them that this is their true desire...as it is for all of us.
Thanks to those who are stepping into the journey of knowing these kids. A member of our team recently told me that our work with these kids is "eternal." Might be a hard concept to understand when there is a picture of an unfamiliar child on your fridge, but praise God He gives us the opportunity to show His Love to these kids. Thank you for your prayers!
-Heather
Why Ukraine?
Ukraine may not seem like the most obvious place for a church to get involved. You may not have even known until now where to find Ukraine on a map. But in fact, Ukraine is a very needy country indeed, but is also a country that has seen great fruit from the involvement of missionaries from the west since communism fell in 1991.
Ukraine has 46 million people. That's more than countries such as Canada and Australia, by quite a bit. It used to be part of the Soviet Union, and ever since it has been struggling to find its identity as an independent nation. The people have been struggling, too. Here are some not so impressive statistics about Ukraine:
- Fastest spreading HIV/AIDS epidemic outside of the African continent
- Suicide rates double the European average
- Life expectancy 10+ years less than European average
- Alcoholism responsible for 12% or all disease
- Preventable accidents are the leading cause of death among men (usually caused by alcohol)
- 100,000+ orphans in the country, countless others living on the streets
For our community, we've been drawn into Ukraine by the relationship and invitation of Oleg Vasilevsky, President of Radooga Ministries. Our community also has a background there, as two of our founding elders have been deeply connected to the nation from before our church even existed.
Midtown took its first team in 2008 to work with Radooga at an English language camp. Recently, the ministry has focused around a particular group of orphans in Kharkov, Ukraine, in conjunction with Radooga.
