"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