Featured Photo: Children’s Shelter Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
Today I visited a children’s shelter in Ivano-Frankivsk. I have visited this shelter a number of times and am always impressed with its concern for children. This is a “temporary” shelter and the children are here no longer than nine months. When I first started visiting it was only a three month stay but it has recently received State approval to extend a place for children up to nine months.
The children who are housed here are placed by the State because of parental neglect, parental criminality resulting in incarceration, or abandonment—some of these children were found just walking the streets after being left by parents. This shelter has a staff of trained professional in physical and mental health. Most of the children have emotional issues because of the way they have been treated. A few of the children have physical issues that require the rehabilitation services of the shelter.
The little ones come without a smile, some have probably never smiled. These are united by tragic similarities…they are lacking the security of a loving parent, are emotionally scarred and struggle with physical issues. They are frightened and cowering. Many have eyes that stare with emptiness. They have seen what no child should ever see. They have known only a parent’s self-centered actions and never the parental genuine affection. You will never hear the lilting laugh or a childish giggle. Basically, they are numbed in sensitivity and fearful of every person. They have been thrown into an unknown situation, surrounded by unknown adults, and are now a part of others who are equally unwanted.
The State pays the Shelter for 30 children but more are housed—the State places them here but gives no money for the children’s care. At present there are close to 40 children living here. Even though the State assigns more children to the Shelter, it does not pay for the extra and the Director has to find funding sources elsewhere. I asked the Director about the amount the State pays for the children to stay. His answer was shocking. The State pays 150 grivena a day for each child (this amount includes the child’s foods, required medications, schooling needs, shoes, clothing, and staff salaries). At the current exchange rate this means the State expects the facility to offer the child everything needed on about $5.75 per day! The State gives the Shelter 1.50 gr per day for the children’s meds (this is about 5 cents!). And remember that these children are here because they have been traumatized and brutalized by the world’s evil.
These children arrive burdened with having existence in environments with evils that most reading this cannot even imagine.
I am reminded of Naboth’s Vineyard…The city wants the complex and has tried to do everything to seize it. They have sent many inspectors. They have had the corruption officers fine the Director and keep him for working and getting a salary for three months. The complex is located in a prime spot where a new apartment building would make much money. But the Director will not vacate it. His mother started this shelter about 30 years ago. The current Director (Vasily) has worked in it for over 25 years. He is not in it for the money but he views it as a calling to help children.
The facility needs renovation in a number of areas. The State was to have helped renovate the facilities but that never happened. Without renovation the complex would have been seized. So, the Director and staff did the required renovation on their own. They began work on the kitchen and did a wonderful job in the work. All they lack is a sink section and I told Vasily that I had funds donated that could be used for this sink. They have a place already plumbed and ready but did not have the sink. I asked how much the industrial quality stainless steel sink would cost and Vasily said about 4,000 gr (this is approximately $153.00 USD). I told him that I was sure this could be done and by next week I would send the funds.
Since the State only pays for 30 children I asked Vasily how much it costs to feed the children (since they are currently about 10 over what the State pays). Vasily says the State calculates feeding one child per day at 70 gr—this is about $2.70 USD for ALL THREE MEALS! Vasily says they work hard to get people to help in feeding the children and through the kindness of many they now feed at 150 gr per day—so all they can spend is $5.00 per child per day for three meals. And some of the children are on a special diet because of their health situations! This is the product of socialism—you get a set amount from the State and no matter how absurd, you must function within that set amount! How can a child that is growing and developing physically and mentally properly develop on such a diet? It is impossible but these children, who have already been battered by the world are subjected to even more trauma!
We asked what the shelter needed most and Vasily immediately produced a list of medicines that will be needed during the winter. He gave us aa copy of it. Ivan is currently searching to see where we can get the best purchase price. Next week Ivan and Chip will take the money for the sink, the winter meds and some children’s shoes that Ivan has from shipments.
Before going we stopped and purchased a carload of items needed by the Shelter: disinfectant spray, laundry powders, toothpaste & toothbrushes, shampoos, cleaning and disinfectant liquids; hand soaps, toilet tissue, and many other items that were requested.
I visited with a bag full of the “Bears of Love” that Brian and Bekah Coggins are coordinating for orphaned children. I ran out of these bears and Chip will bring those he and Caleb are bringing to give to the children that did not receive one today. To be honest, I felt terrible as I ran out of the bears. The children were so excited when they saw them. And then for some not to receive a bear while others did was heartbreaking—I couldn’t help but think that here they are once again in an unfair situation.
Vasily presented a certificate to the Lord’s Church for its benevolent actions: “In gratitude to the Churches of Christ mission. The Administration of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Center of Social and Psychological rehabilitation of children would like to express their sincere gratitude for your visit and benevolent help given such as detergents, hygiene supplies, sweets for the children of the center. Thank you for your concern for the children who stay in this institution of social protection and for your benevolent work.”
I want to highlight the “bears” that you see in the photos. This is the work of my son-in-law and daughter in Columbia, TN. They have a cadre of dedicated Christians involved in this project. Thus far, the “bears of love” have been shipped into Moldova, Nigeria, and Ukraine. Here is the link to the site: https://bearsoflove.org/
Thank you for your prayers and financial support that makes this mission trip possible!
John L Kachelman Jr
Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
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