Summer orphan outreach mission opportunity

Joel Butts  is seeking volunteers for a summer orphan outreach mission team through Youthreach International. The team (TeamSim) has been partnering with Donelson CofC and ministering to orphans in Ukraine since 2006. If you are interested in a two-week short-term mission in early June focused at sharing the love of Christ with orphans and at-risk children please contact Joel by leaving a comment below. For more information on YouthReach International's ministry visit www.youthreach.org.

YouthReach International, TeamSim Dec 2012 Mission update

Greetings everyone,We had a fantastic Winter Camp in Simferopol, Ukraine beginning Dec 8 and ending on Dec 16. Our team worked in 2 orphan facilities during that time. The team was made up of (me), Christy Blazer, Arthur Kazaryan, Nastya Skovorodnykova, Sasha "Pechen'ko" Lifentseva, Masha Yermachenkova, Violetta Alimova, and Elya Sharipova. 

We shared with approx. 100 kids lessons loosely based on the John Elderedge book “Epic”. If you haven’t ever read it check it out. It’s a great little read.

“Life, for most of us, feels like a movie we’ve arrived to forty minutes late. We find ourselves in the middle of a story begun before the dawn of time that is sometimes a confusing mixture of wonderful and awful at the same time and we haven’t a clue how to make sense of it all. We need to know the rest of the story so we don’t lose heart. It’s a story of adventure, of risk and loss, heroism . . . and betrayal. A story where good is warring against evil, danger lurks around every corner, and glorious deeds wait to be done. Think of all those stories you’ve ever loved—there’s a reason they stirred your heart. They’ve been trying to tell you about the true Epic ever since you were young. There is a larger story And you have a crucial role to play." (Epic)

Typical days were spent arduously marching up the hill to Detskyi Dom (Children’s Home) for lunch, back down the hill to catch the bus across town to Gagarin School for Girls where we spent 2 hours. Back on the bus and across town to the Hotel, up the hill to DD then 2.5 hours spent there each evening followed by dinner. Needless to say falling exhausted into the bed each night.

So often we don’t see the results of our effort. I wanted to share below what happened a few days after the camp...actually while Christy and I were flying home...


From Lead Mentor Nastya Skovorodnykova:

“Today there was a concert at DD devoted to the St.Nicholas Day (Dec. 19). So there were different guests who brought lots of presents. Our Vice Mayor was also there. So he said to the children:  

VM: “Kids, who is the main person of [St. Nicholas Day]?

Kids: “Santa Claus!!!” (Or Grandpa Frost)

VM: “And who is the greatest person in our city?”

Kids:” BOG!!” (GOD!!!)

And this is how I realized our efforts are not in vain! Go TeamSim! Go!!!” ~ Nastya

According to Nastya, the adults in the room were stunned, mouths hanging open.


Thank you for sending us - All 8 of us. Without your gifts and prayer God would not receive the praise of these children.

Peace and grace,
Joel

P.S. YouthReach International TeamSim June mission is underway. Want to experience this kind of blessing in your life. Email me at prophet1961@bellsouth.net. Go! BE!

DECEMBER 2012 FUNDING DEADLINE REMINDER!

The deadline for our December 2012 Trip funding is Nov 1!
Christy and I each need approximately $1000 each. If you are planning to support us financially now is the time to make your donation. Visit our team funding website (link below). and click Christy’s name, my name, or the link to the General Team fund and make your tax-deductible donation today.

Online Donation Link: http://youthreach.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=1039820&lis=1&kntae1039820=698DEF498132439CB5089E2802F6D460&supId=0&team=5252418&cj=Y

Christy Blazer: Eyes to See the Essential

Christy and Anastasia

Each time I prepare to go to Ukraine to minister to orphans in Simferopol first, I seek God’s help. Second, I seek the help of others. My December 2012 teammate Christy Blazer is committed to seeking and saving the lost children who have been abandoned and left to be cared for by the Ukrainian government. She has witnessed first hand in December of 2011 the needs of these children and just how critical our mission is to their emotional and spiritual survival. 

She has eyes to see what is essential, and it's no longer invisible to her eyes.

I say “emotional” because without the life-giving mentoring relationships that she will help to establish and cultivate between orphans and local YouthReach 12-3-1 Mentors, many will lose hope. One-in-seven will take their own life within one year after leaving the orphanage system at age 17.

Christy typically works with the 11-13 year-olds. I say she is committed to their spiritual survival because she knows she works with a group of children who will more than likely decide whether or not there is a Creator by the age of 14. In terms of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, her kids are age-critical.

As Christy’s team leader, I’m committed to helping her achieve her goal so that she can focus on her commitment to living out her faith before these kids. She needs your help to raise the funds needed for the trip in December. The deadline for our funding goal of $3400 is November 1.

Please click the link below and make a secure online donation in Christy’s honor. You can also mail a check to the address below along with a separate note containing Christy’s name.

Peace and Grace,
Joel

Christy’s funding website
or copy and paste this url in the address field of your browser:
http://youthreach.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1039820&lis=0&kntae1039820=89DB1D326C8D407C977D06BDD3F29623&supId=335904595

Mail a check along with a note containing “Christy Blazer” to:
YouthReach International
1911 Grayson Hwy, Suite 8-344, Grayson, GA 30017

“I’m smelling the sweet smell of change in the air!"

Dear folks, friends, and family,
 
To borrowing from one of our most dedicated mentors Nastya,  “I smell change coming!"

Tomorrow is a big day for our YouthReach International orphan outreach ministry in the former Soviet Union. It’s a particularly big day for our team operating in Simferopol. 

Tony Morrow, Rob Browne, and the staff at YRI are preparing to submit grant proposals to acquire the funds we so desperately need to elevate our ministry to the next level. 

Last week, I was asked  by Tony and & Rob to “dream big” and gather ideas for growing our programs in Simferopol. I can’t say a whole lot right now about the details. Just know that we received some excellent feedback from our team mates/mentors on ways to bolster the work going being done with orphans in that city and begin to fill critical gaps in our ministry.

Please be prayerful over the next several weeks regarding this giant step forward. We need wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit. Please be praying that the submissions say the right things, that the right eyes review it, and the right hands stamp the approvals. 

Peace and grace,
Joel


Visit our December mission trip team funding site to help us make a difference in the lives of at-risk orphans in Sinferopol Ukraine. Deadline is Nov. 1. We’re only 25% of our needed funds. Please help us today.

Michael Neill Shares About 12-3-1 Mentoring in Novosibirsk, Russia

I received this originally as an email this morning about Michael Neill of College Park, GA. Mike explains a little bit about his experience as a YouthReach volunteer in Novosibirsk Russia.

Michael Neill live in College Park, GA, and is the President of Michael Neill and Associates, Inc.  He is the author of two books, Creating and Maintaining a Credit Union Sales and Service Culture, and Coaching for Performance. Additionally, Mike is one of the most sought after speakers in the Credit Union Movement. 

Though I had given to specific people for their short term trips with YouthReach International, my first to Novosibirsk, Russia, was in February of 2012. The trip was focused on equipping the volunteer mentors that make up the YouthReach International team in Novosibirsk. I was encouraged by the mentors and their commitment to follow Christ as 1^st generation Christians. This is done in an environment that often exacts a price for following Christ. These believers do not follow Christ “underground.” They follow Christ not only with their words but in their actions. They profess the risen Savior by living their lives transformed by the cross. These mentors sacrifice their time and resources for the children in the orphanage where the immediate results of their efforts are not always evident. However, the call of the message of Timothy to “Pure Religion,” is very real to them. I feel compelled to support this work as I see their commitment to live for Christ.YouthReach has a tremendous vision that is backed by an impressive infrastructure that provides confidence that the resources I share with YouthReach are being used wisely and effectively to impact young people for Christ. Additionally, knowing the Christ-connectedness of the YouthReach leadership ensures that the vision of YouthReach International is led by the Holy Spirit. Everything I have seen and experienced is done excellently, in and by the love of Christ.
Mike Neill is part of the team changing orphan's lives in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.  Do you want to stand with Mike on that team?  If so, consider donating now by clicking here:

TeamSim funding site

General YouthReach Donation

Sasha Goes to Kiev

Sasha (right) and Ira.

Tomorrow, our beloved Sasha ( Marizza Pechen'ko) will be traveling to Kiev to attend a training seminar hosted by One Hope. She departs at 2:30 p.m. Simferopol time (6:30 a.m. our time)

Each Spring, orphans age-out of the orphanage system at age 17 with little or no practical  life skills. This training provides learning modules focused on teaching orphans during their last year at the orphanage. The modules include:

Module 1: Identity (who am I and how can I develop each part of my personality)
Module 2: Social Skills (how to relate to others, manage conflicts and use good manners)
Module 3: Health and Hygiene (nutrition, hygiene, bad habits, first aid)
Module 4: Love and Sex (respect in friendship and girls/boys relationships, the purpose of sexual relationships and their possible consequences)
Module 5: Gift of Marriage (things to consider before you agree to get married, way to express love and deal with disagreements in marriage)
Module 6:  Raising Children (how to create a family, be a positive parent and know child’s needs)
Module 7: Homemaking (food shopping and cooking, taking care of your home and clothing, hospitality)
Module 8: Time and Money Management (what life costs and how to budget; how to manage time)
Module 9: Job Skills (profession orientation, how to find and keep a job, the risk of human trafficking)
Module 10:  Legal Rights (human rights, orphan’s rights, law and the consequences of its breaking).

Our goal in the coming year is to help equip our team of 12-3-1 mentors so that they can, in turn, equip others. Sasha's participation is merely the first of many opportunities we hope and pray God will open for the team. Not only will the rest of our team mentors benefit from this knowledge and training but also orphanage staff, teachers, caretakers and workers will learn how to better prepare kids for real life outside the orphanage system. Sharing could also extend to those mentoring orphans through other organizations working in Simferopol and Donetsk.

We'll will be working diligently to connect our 12-3-1 mentors with other individuals, churches, groups, organizations, professionals, and brothers & sisters in Christ who are also ministering to orphans not only in Ukraine but in other countries as well. This helps to speed and facilitate the proliferation and exchange of knowledge, creating added awareness of the plight of orphans worldwide.

Please be in prayer over Sasha as she travels overnight by train. This can be somewhat dangerous for a girl traveling alone. Although Sasha is very street-wise the potential for harm always exists.

Also be in prayer over Anya Goliakova. She currently is suffering from a serious infection that requires 3 shots of antibiotic each day. She was to have traveled to Kiev with Sasha but is under Doctor's orders to remain at home.

I'm excited about the things God is doing in Simferopol among his people.

Peace and grace.

P.S. Sasha will be working with Vika Vdovichenko (also a YRI TeamSim 12-3-1 Mentor) building a Social Outreach Center in Simferopol ministering to low-income college students, trade school students (mostly orphans), orphanage graduates, and orphans. She must raise support for her monthly salary. Want to no more? Email me if you want to help.

Three Sisters...Meet Lena

LENA

This is Lena. She is one of  three sisters living at the children's home in Simferopol, Ukraine. Lera (13), Lena (11), and Sasha(8) are some of the sweetest, most beautiful kids I've ever met. I've known these girls since 2009.

This summer, Lena opened up to me especially, as well as her 12-3-1 mentors more than any previous trip. She never said much to me. She just walked up extended her arms up. I'd pick her up and her arms would go around my neck. I would lift her up and squeeze her tight as her skinny legs dangled and swayed back and forth.

These kids I see season after season are amazing. They're my friends. The life they live isn't fair. They deserve better. I know what awaits them when they leave the orphanage system at 17:  helplessness, hopelessness, loneliness, despair resulting in substance and alcohol abuse, probable prostitution, petty crime, victimization, prejudice, even violence and possible suicide.

LERA

In December, Christy Blazer and I are hoping to return to Simferopol to continue our work building relationships between our team's 12-3-1 Mentors and these three girls and many like them .

 Please help us get there. We need $3400 each. 50% by Oct 1 and another 50% by November 1.

Visit our TeamSim funding website today. Enter Christy's name or my name in the field and click "Search".

SASHA

You can also mail your tax-deductible check donation to:

YouthReach International
1911 Grayson Hwy, Suite 8-344, Grayson, GA 30017
(Please add a note with the name of the person you wish to sponsor.)

I believe there are those who are called to "GO" and those who are called to "SEND". Christy and I will go we're asking you to send.

Make a FOREVER difference in the life of an at-risk orphaned child TODAY!

Peace and grace
Joel

Just a Glimpse

Sometimes you get a glimpse of where you're going - where God is leading. He gave me such a glimpse.

I’ve been returning each year since 2008 to Simferopol to serve the orphans there but more importantly our 12-3-1 Mentors and YRI partners in Simferopol. It’s these dedicated people who serve orphans year-round. I’ve seen that orphan ministry is NOT about Americans going overseas to minister to orphans.

Rather it is about provisioning, equipping, preparing and spiritually maturing local Ukrainian Christians to serve orphans in their own language, in their own country, in the context of their own culture.

In 2008, I met three wonderful young women of God at a summer camp called Setera. It was located on the Black Sea, not far from the historic coastal resort city of Yalta. Since that time I have been so blessed by the friendships God established between Nastya Skovorodnykova, Anya Goliakova, Vika Vdovichenko and I.

We spent many tear-filled late-night hours talking about the best and worst parts of each day. They shared many of their fears about the kids we were serving and what would happen to them without the broad social network of friends and family to support them.

Since then, these three young women have emerged as community leaders in the orphan outreach ministry in Simferopol, the capital city of the Crimea; the southernmost region in Ukraine.

The December 2012 Mission: I’m actively recruiting a team to return to Simferopol in December, 2012. We’ll be ministering to the children living in two orphan facilities — Detskyi Dom (DD), a 50-bed children’s home and Gagarin School for Girls. We’ve worked in both of these facilities. The Gagarin School serves about 75-90 orphaned girls (ages 5-17) as well as girls from low-income homes. We’ll be focusing more on supporting this facility in the future.

Ourfunding campaign for this trip is, to say the least, aggressive.

Each team member will need to raise $3400 for the trip. We will need to raise 50% by Oct 1 and 100% by Nov 1.

Team Funding Site: Go to
http://youthreach.kintera.org/teamsim2012

In addition we’ll be asking for support for the expenses of one of our team’s Ukrainian 12-3-1 Mentors (more later on this).

I’m praying you will all be considering supporting us as we share Christ with approximately 100-125 at-risk and orphaned children at the start of this year’s holiday season in Simferopol, Ukraine.

Stay logged in! More news coming soon!

Peace and Grace,
Joel

TeamSim Update: The December 2012 Mission

TeamSim Update: The December 2012 Mission

Dear Friends,
After six years I’m just beginning to emerge on a hillside.From here I’m able to see not only where I’ve been but where I’m going. With each passing year and each passing mission to Ukraine God is revealing his plan — step-by-step. I can see where orphan ministry is heading in Simferopol, Ukraine.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing some exciting news about how God is changing lives and winning hearts in Simferopol.

The December 2012 Mission:  I’m actively recruiting a team to return to Simferopol in December, 2012. We’ll be ministering to the children living in two orphan facilities —  Detskyi Dom (DD), a 50-bed children’s home and Gagarin School for Girls. We’ve worked in both of these facilities. The Gagarin School serves about 75-90 orphaned girls (ages 5-17) as well as girls from low-income homes. We’ll be focusing more on supporting this facility in the future. 

Anya Goliakova (pictured here with me in June 2012) is
Director of education at Gagrin School for Girls in Simferopol.
Anya has served on our team in past years as a mentor.
Now it's our turn to serve her and the kids at her school.

NEXT WEEK: I’ll be establishing the team funding site for the 12/12 mission so that we can begin an aggressive funding campaign. I’ll be posting and sending a link in a few days so you can donate securely online.

Each team member will need to raise $3400 for the trip. The cost also includes support for the expenses of one of our team’s Ukrainian 12-3-1 Mentors. We will need to raise 50% by Oct 1 and 100% by Nov 1. I’m praying you will all be considering supporting us as we share Christ with approximately 100-125 at-risk and orphaned children at the start of this year’s holiday season in Simferopol, Ukraine.

Stay logged in! More news coming soon!

Peace and Grace,
Joel
Volunteer Team Lead - Simferopol, Ukraine
YouthReach International

Cheer Up! God is right there with you.

"When doubts began to fill my mind, your comfort renewed my hope and cheer" ~Psalm 94:19. Today, when doubts begin to overwhelm you remember this: God is always beside you to comfort you and bring you hope. Cheer up! // "Когда сомнения начал заполнять мой взгляд, ваш комфорт обновляется моя надежда и радость" ~ Псалом 94:19. Сегодня, когда сомнения начинают подавлять вас помнить: Бог всегда рядом с вами, чтобы утешить вас и принести вам надежду. Не унывай!

Ever wake up soaked in the morning?

"But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life." Psalm 42:8

December Outreach Mission Recruiting is Underway!

Recruiting is fully underway for YouthReach International's TeamSim December outreach mission to the orphans of Simferopol. Looking for able bodies who are willing servants. If you want to impact the lives of others...this is your calling. We'll spend 12 days on the ground with orphaned children in a day-camp setting in their orphanage. We partner with local Ukrainian Christians we call 12-3-1 Mentors who contnue the team's ministry throughout the year.

You can make a difference in this dark world for good. 1 in 7 orphans will not survive beyond the first year after leaving the orphanage system at age 16. many will succumb to prostitution, crime and violence. Some end up on the sex-slave black market. Many will take their own lives due to the hopelessness and "friendlessness" they feel.

GUYS NEEDED: The boys we minister to desperately need guy mentors. If you like hanging out with the guys, talking sports, hunting, auto-mechanics, kung-fu, getting dirt under your nails, etc. These boys need you. Don't be a chicken. C'mon!

No special skills required! Must love kids (heck, you don't even have to love kids (yet). However, must love eggs*

It'll change your life....and the life of a child.
make a friend today. change a life forever
visit www.youthreach.org for more information on 12-3-1 mentoring and our strategy. Besure and click the follow button.

Facebook: You can also find team updates on Facebook by searching "TeamSim".

DETAILS:
Dates: Dec 4-18 (We'll be home by Christmas)
Funding Required: $3400/person
Team Meetings/training begin Sun Aug 26 (Bi-weekly)
Our funding website will be available soon.

DEADLINES:
Deadlines:
Sign-Ups: Aug 31
50% Funding: Oct 1
100% Funding: Nov 1

(We eat A LOT of eggs....A LOT) ba-kaaaaw!!! Sorry. Flashbacks.

July 2012 Update

Dear friends,

Here’s a report on the team’s summer activities.

June 2012 Camp in Simferopol: In early june this summer US team members, Haley Harrell, Jordyn Harry and I,  traveled from Nashville through NYC and Moscow to arrive in Simferopol, Crimea (Ukraine). We flew directly to Simferopol as opposed to flying to Kiev and then going by train to SImf. This made travel faster and easier. We recovered from jet lag much faster. This summer we worked in 2 facilities.

Last year we taught a series of lessons called Guardrails. Last summer we started teaching the concept of an intentionally placed barrier that will cause use to self-trigger as we approach sin. Last year’s Guardrails pertained to our friendships (e.g. how to choose the right friends). This year’s Guardrails related to our attitudes toward these topics:

• Knowing who we are (God’s creation and His children)
• Giving (what we have and not being possessive)
• Lifting others up (instead of tearing them down)
• Serving others (like crazy)
• Obeying God fully (and following Jesus)

One of the most positive outcomes of the camp trip was a meeting held on Tuesday at Gagarin School for Girls. Attending the meeting were several representatives of organizations, a local church and a foster home, as well as several other individuals including 2 former orphans. These people represent those who are serving the orphans in the school. It was particularly exciting to see the network begin to form through the efforts of Dmitry Malashko of Simferopol SOS Foundation. Dima has completed the “Ukraine Without Orphans” course training and desires to establish a “Crimea Without Orphans” network.

Eastern European Missions delivered several boxes of Bibles to be distributed to the two orphanages upon the team’s request.

Gagarin School for Girls - this former internacht houses 99 girls ranging in age from 5-18. Most residents are from poor income families or are social orphans meaning they have no parents and may live with relatives or guardians or are wards of the state due to abusive or neglectful circumstances. A 20-30% of the girls are true orphans meaning no family. Most of the kids were already departed for the summer. However we worked with about 12 kids remaining at the school.

Even though the number of children was low it was a critical time for our team. We used this time to pave the way for future camps. By getting to know this small handful of kids we will have gained the interests of the other kids.

There was a set of twins in the older group, Yulia and Alyona. Both were very curious and wanted to know more about the grace of Jesus, why we struggle in life, why God allows suffering. They had many questions and concerns. Yulia was the first to engage us. The next day she brought her twin sister Alyona, who was 6-months pregnant. On that day we prayed over Alyona and her unborn baby boy. It was a very emotional moment for us as a team. It’s this type of situation that perpetuates the orphan problem.

On another day we were teaching about “serving”. Attending our group was a teenager named Marina and her younger sister Katya. As we were working on crafts for that day, I looked to notice Marina quietly helping her sister. I said to the team, “Guys, look here.  We are witnessing a ‘serving attitude’ right here.”

Detskyi Dom of Simferopol -  We have had a presence in this small 50 bed facility fsince 2010. The June camp marked our 4th camp in 2 years. We ate 2 meals each day at this facility and spent every afternoon working with the kids here. There were 18-20 new kids at the home this summer. As many as eight had been adopted by Ukrainian or Italian families the rest had either graduated or returned to live at home with relatives.

Personally speaking, one of the most impactive moments occurred on Thursday. After teaching about serving others, I decided on the spur of the moment to demonstrate how Jesus served his disciples by washing their feet. I asked for a tub, some water, a towel, and a volunteer. A young girl, Polina, was chosen. She came forward and sat in the chair. As I began to talk about how Jesus washed the disciples feet and its significance, she began to squirm. It took quite a bit of convincing her (thanks to mentors Nastya and Masha) before she allowed me to proceed. The funny thing is that several girls jumped up and ran. I thought they were looking for an opportunity of escaping what they thought was a boring class. Later I was told they were seen racing into the bathroom to wash their own feet for fear I would make them participate. They didn’t want me to see that their feet were dirty.

In addition one of the older girls, Adile, asked lots of questions and always said “Thank you for the lesson.” A couple of the older boys and even one very quiet girl opened up to Nastya toward the end of the week. While that might not seem like much, it represents a gigantic and imperative leap forward in building the relationships needed to mentor a child. We have to develop trust first before we can hope to reap anything from the seeds we plant. Younger children are easier to build relationships with. Typically with teens we use the phrase “closed to our friendship”. Often they have been left relationally empty-handed, so distrust is a natural emotional self-defense mechanism. Patience and unconditional love provide the best tactics. It’s not we get out of the relationship but more importantly what THEY get...LOVE.

Want to make a difference in the life of a child? Go with me!: I’m just now beginning making plans to return, most likely, in early December of the year. We’ll be home before Christmas. Contact me if you’d like to go. Costs are usually in the $3500/person neighborhood. We can talk about where the finances come from and I’ll get you fully prepared, don’t worry. Please don’t let the notion of money or work stop you. You’ll raise what you need and many will be blessed. Don’t worry that you family can’t do without you. they can survive. You and your family will be blessed in the time-sacrifice you’ve made.

PRAYER:
- Gagarin: Please pray over this facility and the resident girls as well as the staff at Gagarin School. There are chronic behavioural issues as well as alcohol use and promiscuity among the older girls. You may recall that a 14-year old girl took her own life this past spring. Pray also for Alyona and her baby.
- Detskyi Dom: Pray that we will be able to reach these kids. They are heavily influenced by the world around them, pop-culture, and the desire to fit in. In general, the kids at this orphan home are more socially  adapted. However, the home is not without its behavioral issues. Pray that the Holy Spirit will soften the hearts of these children to receive the story of God’s grace and lives will be changed.
- Anya Goliakova: She is a teammate who is on permanent staff as asst. principal at the school. She has a very difficult job with long hours and little time for herself. Even when on vacation or after work hours her phone rings continually with calls from the school. She is making strides in showing the girls the love of Christ. One girl, Tanya, has quit smoking and drinking. I also noticed on a Russian-speaking social network that she is listening to contemporary Christian music.
- Vika Vdovichenko: Vika recently joined a local college campus ministry as the social outreach coordinator. Her new role will be to recruit college students into their program in order to teach them about Christ. Secondarily, she will train them as mentors in a future program focused on reaching out to orphan graduates attending trade schools and underprivileged college students as well as institutionalized orphans.

- Social Outreach Center: Team member A partnership is being formed to fund and establish a social outreach center to be used as a meeting place for orphanage graduates, trade school & college students and a supported house church. Please be in prayer that God will provide the funding needed to build this vital outreach center.
- Nastya Skovorodnykova: Nastya continues to mentor to the children living at the Detskyi Dom of Simferopol in addition to maintaining her full-time job at International Institute of Intercultural Communication and Crimean-American College. Nastya spends a portion of her free time (at her own expense) to visit the children and maintain our connections several times each month. Lately Nastya has been asking the Holy Spirit to show her more ways she can serve. This August, she will serve an orphan outreach ministry at Gvardeskii village orphanage for special needs children as an interpreter for Americans from Southeast Christian Church in Louisville.

Other Highlights:

- Arthur conducted the June birthday gift program at Detskyi Dom

- Reunited with my old friend Igor form Gvardeskii whom I met in 2008 when he was an orphan

- Team member Haley Harrell conducted an orphan art project

- Our friends at home raised enough funds for us to locally purchase much needed flip-flops for the 50 children at Detskyi Dom. We had enough to also purchase sports equipment for Gagarin School.

- Team mentor Violetta Alimova graduated from college and received her diploma.

- Delivered 2 donated digital cameras to 2 of our mentors to use during orphanage visits

- Team Mentor Sasha Lifintseva participated in a camp held in Eastern Ukraine in July
Thank you for your ongoing support and prayer. Without your help these kids would never know the love of Christ or of god’s grace. You ARE making a difference.

Peace and grace.
Joel

 

 

 

 

 

"Social Orphanhood in Ukraine: Massive Child Neglect and Abandonment

(Tony Morrow-YRI)

Excerpt from a research paper presented recently (October 2011) by an Ed.D. Candidate (Alla Korzh) at the "Seventh Annual Danyliw Research Seminar in Contemporary Ukrainian Studies".  The paper provides a clear description of the orphan situation in Ukraine, and a solid foundation from which explains why  YouthReach International initiatives in Ukraine are so critically important.   

"Social Orphanhood in Ukraine: Massive Child Neglect and Abandonment 

Socio-demographic shifts accompanied by the economic crisis, unemployment, and labor migration have consequently affected the social fabric, where historically established family values and bonds were breaking down rapidly for the first time in Ukrainian history (Artiuh et al., 2006; Balakireva et al., 2000; Perelli-Harris, 2008). Such socio-economic instability led to an increase in divorce and single-parent families. Additionally, escalating unemployment and the absence of state assistance services drove many Ukrainian parents into dire poverty and substance abuse, which deteriorated social morale and parental responsibilities, pushing many parents to force their children to beg on the streets (Balakireva et al., 2004). Binge drinking, drug addiction, and physical abuse in the family triggered an increased number of troubled families, prone to abandoning or neglecting their children altogether (Artiuh et al., 2001, 2006; Balakireva et al., 2000). Seventy percent of parents leading such a life style – primarily from alcoholism – abandoned their children in 2006, up from 58 percent in 2004 to 70 percent in 2006 (Artiuh et al., 2006). In 2005, there were approximately 44,919 troubled families, where 93,548 children lived (Artiuh et al., 2006). In 2008, the number of such families reached 80,000 (Ukrainian State Statistics Committee,

2008).

An estimated number of biological and social orphans in Ukraine fluctuate from 103,000 to 115,000 due to inaccurate statistical data reported in Ukraine, where approximately 11,000 of those biological and social orphans are institutionalized in state-run orphanages until the age of 18 (Balakireva et al., 2010). Biological orphans are children who have no living parents. Social orphans are children with living parents, either abandoned by their parents or removed from troubled families – where one or both parents are alcoholics, drug-addicts, incarcerated, or missing – and thus deprived of parental care (Artiuh et al., 2006; Balakireva et al., 2000). Ninety percent of the entire orphans population are social orphans. In this paper, I will be using an “orphan” term for a biological orphan and a commonly interchangeable term “children deprived of parental care” to refer to social orphans. 

As a result of rough experiences in abusive families and later in highly-regimented orphanages as well as limited opportunities available to these youths when they enter 

adult life, many of them become susceptible to drugs, alcohol, crime, prostitution, and suicide. According to non-governmental organizations in Ukraine and the United States, 10 percent of orphans commit suicide after leaving their orphanage before turning 18. Moreover, 60 percent of girls end up in prostitution, while 60 percent of boys engage in crime (Home for Every Orphan, 2010; Ukraine Orphans Outreach, 2010). 

Orphanage schooling, substituting for families’ care and upbringing, falls short of providing Ukrainian orphanage children with knowledge and skills to survive on their own. Typically truncated curriculum, inadequately trained personnel working with many psychologically traumatized orphans and children deprived of parental care and low teacher and upbringer [Upgringer (in Ukrainian: vyhovatel) is responsible for supervising orphans' development in the orphanage, including their education and behavior. He/she holds a two-hour "prep time" daily after class. This time is designated for homework done in class.] expectations about children’s potential fail to provide quality 

educational preparation for further educational pursuits. All of this ultimately sets them up, at best, for a vocational track pipeline. 

Vocational education rarely leads to socio-economic stability in Ukraine. The quality of vocational education has deteriorated since the collapse of the Soviet Union 

(MESU, 2003). Many vocational schools are still teaching the curriculum designed for a centralized economy, rather than revamping it to meet the needs of a market economy (Hellwig & Lipenkowa, 2007; MESU, 2003). While vocational education is perceived as a fast and easy track for manual skills acquisition, it rarely serves as a platform for economic stability. Entering universities, seen by many orphans and children deprived of parental care as well as Ukrainian society as a whole as a means of social mobility and success, becomes virtually impossible for these children.

The difficulty of entering universities lies not in the outright denial of access to higher education, but rather in the quality of education offered in orphanages and the level of corruption in university admissions, all of which exacerbate orphans’ limited future opportunities. According to Article 52 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the government is responsible for providing free public secondary, vocational, and higher education on a non-competitive basis to orphans until 23 years of age. Although all public universities are required to give priority to these vulnerable youths, some universities do not abide by the law and keep the ‘free’ spots for those willing to give bribes. This further traps these children in structural inequalities and pushes them to succumb to the low-quality education of vocational schools."

You can read the rest of the research paper by clicking on the link below:

Korzh, A. (2011, October 20-22). Metamorphosis of the Role of Education in Ukraine Through the Prism of Ukrainian Disadvantaged Youths. Chair of Ukrainian Studies. Retrieved January 6, 2012, from http://www.ukrainianstudies.uottawa.ca/pdf/P_Danyliw2011_Korzh.pdf

Pray for the world's 100 million street children | Christian News on Christian Today

Pray for the world's 100 million street children | Christian News on Christian Today

Kseniya Simonova presents - Yana Korokhina "Faces" by Yana Korohina "Faces"

This is a must watch video. One of the kids we have the pleasur eof knowing, loving and mentoring was recently given a camera to capture images using her magical eye for photographic imagery. Yana K. Is tremndously talented. The host of this post Kseniya Simonova is a former winner of Ukraine's Got talent TV show. She creates temporary imagery using sand. She presents - Yana Korokhina "Faces" by Yana Korohina "Faces".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlEl56HSUMo

Yana K.