"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." Isaiah 49:15

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The Problem

• Ukraine has over 100,000 orphans.
• Only 10% of these are orphaned due to death of a parent; the rest are social orphans – due to alcoholism, abandonment, or imprisonment of parents.
• Many social orphans have experienced abuse and violence from parents who were drug addicts or alcoholics.
• Orphans typically grow up in large state-run homes, which may house over 200 children.
• Many children run away from these homes, preferring to live on the street.
• Children usually graduate from these institutions between 15 and 16 years old and are turned out, unprepared for life outside the home.
• Many girls will end up in prostitution. Those who run prostitution rings target orphaned girls, who are especially vulnerable due to their lack of options and lack of people who care what happens to them. Though promised good jobs, they end up on the streets and brothels of cities across Europe.
• Most of the boys will commit crimes once leaving the orphanage. Many of these will die young of violence or end up in prison. Most inmates contract TB in prison.
• Ukraine is now encouraging long-term foster care in private homes as an alternative to large state-run orphanages
• Within 2 years of leaving the orphanage…
  • Only 27% will find work
  • 30% will become addicted to drugs
  • 60% of the girls will become prostitute
  • 70% of the boys will turn to crime
  • 15% will commit suicide
• Since the fall of communism poverty, alcoholism, and drug abuse have lead to a 250% increase in the number of orphans
• Less than 5% of children in orphanages will be adopted by age 5.  Children over that age have a very slim chance of adoption
• The state mandates orphans leave the orphanage after 9th grade.
• An estimated 800,000 children are currently living in private and state-run orphanages, foster care or are homeless.