“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” Proverbs 31:8

The “Happy Future for Orphans” project solves THREE tasks, in FIVE directions, through SIX programs.

Today in Ukraine, out of 7.1 million children, there are about 71 thousand orphans (1%). Fortunately, for this disadvantaged category of children, the state programs have already placed about 91% of orphans in families (Photo No. 1). Unfortunately, in our country, 100 thousand children are still in boarding schools, of which about 7% are orphans (by status), the rest are social orphans, or “candidates” for orphans! And this implies a number of tasks that are to be solved in the near future (Photo No. 2). Firstly: to take all possible measures to ensure that children from the category of “social orphans” do not move into the category of “orphans”. Secondly: to place the remaining 9% of children in Christian families. Thirdly: to help Christian foster families, who took orphans to raise, in their needs and problems.

To implement these tasks, the “Happy Future for Orphans” project works closely with the social department at the AUA ECB of Ukraine (Photo No. 3), and has plans to implement its activities in FIVE directions:

  1. WORK WITH CHURCHES (Photo No. 4)
  2. WORK WITH Foster Families (Photo No. 5)
  3. WORK WITH BOARDS AND SOCIAL SERVICES (Photo No. 6)
  4. PREVENTIVE WORK WITH PROBLEM FAMILIES (Photo No. 7)
  5. WORK WITH CHARITABLE FUNDS AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS (Photo №8)

OUR PROJECT CONSISTS OF SIX PROGRAMS:

  1. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FOSTER FAMILIES IN DIFFICULT FINANCIAL SITUATIONS

We plan to find one-time or ongoing financial support for families of certain categories:

  • Families who do not have ongoing financial assistance from the state. These are families that have adopted orphans and do not participate in any government financial programs. Such families often have financial difficulties. They cannot afford a good education or a more expensive medical treatment for children.
  • Families that bring up orphans and are participants in state programs (foster family, family-type orphanage, guardianship), but the funds allocated by the state are not enough for raising, treating and moral recovery of children. Children in foster families most often suffer from various diseases, therefore they need special treatment for which the state does not allocate funds.
  • Families with children with special needs who need finances for their upbringing and formation.
  1. CHARITABLE ASSISTANCE TO FOSTER FAMILIES IN THEIR NEEDS: FOOD, TREATMENT OF CHILDREN AND OTHER CRISIS SITUATIONS

In this part of the project, we hope to help our foster families in the following:

  • For those foster families who cannot purchase enough products, we plan to purchase products and donate them. We plan to do this charity help once for a family, and if necessary, several times.
  • If there is an urgent need for treatment or surgery for an orphan or a foster parent.
  • To help in the purchase of the necessary furniture to organize everyday life of a foster family.
  • If there is a need to replace or repair a car without which the family cannot attend services and function.
  • In case of a complete or temporary loss of one of the parents or his/her absence.
  • In cases where assistance is required in the construction or repair of housing in which a foster family resides, as well as in other similar cases when a foster family cannot independently cope with the difficulties.
  1. CONSTRUCTION OF THE ADAPTATION AND RECREATION CENTER FOR ORPHANS AND FOSTER FAMILIES

In 2019, we acquired land in the village of Chkalovo, Zaporizhzhya region. On this land, we plan to build an adaptation and recreation center so that orphans and foster families, as well as children from “crisis families”, can relax, improve their health and learn. In this regard, we plan to find funds for works at the following stages:

  • Development of an architectural project.
  • Installation of borders and fences.
  • Laying the foundation of the center.
  • The walls of the building.
  • Roof.
  • Acquisition and installation of windows.
  • Interior decoration.
  • Exterior finishing works.
  • Construction of the parking zone.
  • Construction of auxiliary units: water supply, plumbing, kitchens etc.
  • Construction of a food block and a dining room.
  • Preparation of all technical documentation and commissioning of the adaptation center.
  1. PERFORMANCE OF MOTIVATION AND TRAINING CONFERENCES AND OTHER EVENTS FOR FOSTER FAMILIES AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THE MINISTRY TO ORPHANS

Every year, at least once per quarter, we hold motivational and educational conferences and seminars where foster parents have an opportunity to gain spiritual and moral support in order to effectively serve orphans. To do this, we need funds to make important preparations:

  • Invite speakers for workshops, pay their road and accommodation in the area where the planned conference or other event will take place.
  • Pay for preparing dinner for conference participants.
  • Prepare printed materials for the conference: brochures, lecture notes, registration forms, advertising banners and other similar things.
  • Pay the road and accommodation for the conference participants who cannot afford it.
  • Acquire the necessary professional literature for working with children.
  • Present charitable gifts to the conference participants and their orphans.
  • Pay for the necessary information tools: video recording, audio recording, online broadcasting and other similar and necessary events.
  1. ARRANGEMENT OF BIG ALL-UKRAINIAN AND INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION EVENTS: CAR RIDES, BIKE RIDES AND OTHER SIMILAR ACTIVITIES THAT ENSURE CHILDREN FALL INTO CHRISTIAN FAMILIES FROM ORPHANAGES.

Such actions require large financial and human resources, but justify the costs with their effectiveness. The costs required to implement these activities include:

  • Provide training on the management and operation of the technical means necessary to participate in the event.
  • In case of holding services in churches planned for this region, provide the vehicles with necessary fuel.
  • Provide the team with the necessary food for all days of the event, as well as pay for accommodation.
  • Buy the necessary gifts for visiting foster families in the area where the event takes place.
  • Pay for the necessary information tools: video recording, audio recording, online broadcasting and other similar and necessary events.
  1. HOLDING SUMMER CAMPS FOR ORPHANS AND FOSTER FAMILIES

Every year we hold summer camps for foster families with orphans. To do this, we need to cover these costs:

  • Prepay for a place where families spend their vacations.
  • Pay the road of a team of ministers and workers who will provide the functioning of the camp.
  • Pay for meals for all camp participants.
  • Pay for accommodation of all camp participants.
  • Make the necessary purchases of office supplies needed for Bible lessons, and materials so that children can do their own crafts.
  • Buy gifts for camp participants.
  • Pay for travel to the camp and back home to foster families who cannot afford it.
  • Pay for the necessary information tools: video recording, audio recording, online broadcasting and other similar and necessary events.