Facts about Ukrainian Orphans

Our future daughter is from an orphanage in Odessa, Ukraine. We have been told that this is a tourist town in the Ukraine and from what we can tell she is taken care of well in the orphanage that she lives in. However, as well taken care of as she seems, nothing compares to having a family around you that loves you unconditionally. Having a home and a family,  people that will tuck you in at night and  hug you when you are sad, all the small things that we take for granted, can mean the difference between success and failure in a child life. Here are some facts about Orphans in the Ukraine for you to think about:

• Ukrainian orphans “graduate” from the orphanage system at the age of 16 (This means that our sweet O only has a few years before she will be on her own. SO we would like to get her home with us as soon as possible!)

• Many orphans, after they graduate, will become homeless and alone. They will lack the education necessary to provide for themselves.

• 10% of orphans will commit suicide by their 18th birthday.

• 60% of the girls will end up in prostitution.

• 70% of the boys will enter a life of crime.

• Only 20% of orphans will find work.

• Orphans are the kids that human traffickers target and exploit.

• Typically, after the age of 5, a Ukraine orphan only has a 20% chance of being adopted (So our amazing kids have a very small chance of being adopted if we are unable to bring them into our home.)

This is O and her best friend Svetlana with M and L and their Orphanage director Melaniya.

We understand that we can not help all of the orphans in the many Ukrainian orphanages. If only life was that easy! We can however, with your help, change the life of one of them. It only takes each of us to do a little to help these kids. By donating time, money or even just your love and prayers, you make it possible for us to change the destiny of this young girl.  So Thank YOU!