What Is A Social Orphan?

After the break-up of the Soviet Union the new countries that resulted were not equipped to deal with the social and economical chaos that resulted. With a high rate of unemployment came even higher rates of alcoholism. The primary victims of the break up of the former Soviet Union were the children. Social orphans are children who have at least one living parent, but they do not live with that parent. They have been removed from the home for their own safety and now live with a family member, in an orphanage, or with a foster family.

Foster Care in the United States has suffered from a bad reputation, with children being shuttled back and forth in the system, often moved from one family to another. The stigma of the Foster Care system usually leaves a child with the label of “damaged goods” and families are wary of taking them into their home.

Our Response

Our experience in Ukraine has proven that children benefit most from a stable family environment. Thus, if we can assist a single mother to keep her child, and not give up that child to an institution, then that child has a much better chance in life to develop into a healthy adult. This is our first priority, to assist families to care for their own children.

Our approach involves different strategies including:

1. Child Sponsorship  -  Personal, family based, child development assistance to existing families of needy children
2. Foster Families For Orphans - Identify, recruit and support loving families for at-risk children
3. Mentorship and educational assistance for children in orphanages through regular visitation by local mentors.
4. Advocacy, networking, training for capacity building to deliver effective long term solutions in the countries we work in.

The plight of at-risk children worldwide is desperate. We exist to see them experience justice, mercy and a healthy future. Changed lives will result in transformed communities.

We are appreciative of your support.