Orphans in Ukraine raising their hands for help. A survey of their biggest fears when leaving a life at an orphanage.

What are children afraid of when they graduate from the orphanage?

76% of children are afraid to leave their institution

70 % believe that they will not be able to get a good education and obtain the profession of their dream

52 % are afraid that they will not have a place to live

54 % are afraid that they will not have enough money for transport, food, and other necessities.

50% think that they will not be able to find a job

30% are afraid that they will remain alone and have no support

27% are afraid they will succumb to bad influences

26% are afraid of the negative attitudes towards themselves in comparison to “home” children

10% are afraid to live with strangers (even if they are their relatives)

18% have no clue what it is to live independently

Abadoment of children is a serious problem in the Ukraine. Substance abuse, alcoholism, prostitution and financial hardships are some of the reasons parents leave their children on the steps of orphanages. Low incomes and lack of jobs makes supporting a family difficult often leading to neglect.

Meet Alex - the newest addition to the Alfa-Nik orphanage. He is 12 years old and was given up by his family, as they are too poor to look after him. Alex has been at the orphanage for 1 month and has a very limited education, poor health and needs lots of love and care.

This was Alex's bedroom. Sadly, this is the story of many social orphans, who live in dire conditions before they are given up.

All children have hopes and dreams. Children living in poverty are the least likely to realize their potential.
Alfa-Nik is working hard at changing the outcome for the most desperate of these children and has recently opened a pre-school on the orphanage grounds.

Different to other Ukraine orphanages, we nurture our children in a family based environment, involving them in all aspects of family life. This prepares them for life within their adoptive families and improves self-esteem.

Meet Pr Eugene, Alfa-Nik’s Managing Director. He is the man the children call Dad! He loves to get the kids involved in fun activities so they can see and do new things, as it develops their confidence.

To meet government regulations, we are currently constructing a cafeteria for the pre-school. We have knocked some walls down to make a bigger space and started work on the underfloor heating and plumbing.
The majority of our workers volunteer their time, skills and energy for this worthy cause

Many of you have asked what the needs are for the children home in Ukraine. I have posted a graph showing where we stand financially. I appreciate your prayers and want to thank those again for helping to finish up several major projects. Please consider helping finish up these additional priority projects with me. Who will join me in giving sacrificially from this years income tax return? Please comment with any matching challenges! You can give online at http://www.alfa-nik.com/

When adults have a problem they can protest. When young children are suffering they have to rely on adults to help them out. Orphanages are such a place that adults can help out children that have no VOICE ! Do not forget the kids in the Ukraine.

The city of Nikolaev where the Alfa-Nik orphanage is based is in the Southern Ukraine a good distance from the current fighting. The city also known as Mykolaiv has the Wikipedia image of the clean government building. But a short drive and the environment starts to take on a different shape. Nikolaev is arguably the main ship building center of the Black Sea. But in recent years not a lot of ships have been built and unemployment is very high. With high unemployment and little future some people have no place to turn but too send their children to orphanages like Alfa-Nik.

Many children in the Ukraine have lost hope for a brighter future. Because of the hardships they have experienced and the conditions in which they live, they have developed a feeling that they are doomed to a life of poverty, hopelessness, and an early death.
One way of changing this is investing in education. Education results in raising income, improving health, promoting gender equality, and reducing poverty. The Alfa-Nik Orphanage has started a school for its children and also those in the community to make this change happen.

Some days at Alfa-Nik you just remember its all about creating smiles.

Our Director Anatoliy (front left) with some of the gorgeous children Alfa-Nik is helping.

Through play, children use all the “tools” they have at their disposal—their bodies, their relationships with their family and peers, and the world around them. Play, more than any other activity, fuels healthy development of young children. It is through play that much of children’s early learning is achieved!

A Ukrainian boy named Seryozha lost his single mother when he was 10 and was sent to live with alcoholic relatives. Neglected in his new home, the boy begged neighbors for food and watched television through their apartment windows. The authorities removed Seryozha from his home last year and sent him to Adventist pastor Evgeniy Tkachishin.

“Today the boy is 12 years old and participates in outreach programs and collects offering in church,” Tkachishin says. “We see that God has carried out a big miracle in his life, taking him from a situation where he had nothing to eat and no one wanted him. Today he has everything he needs — and he has God.”

Alfa-Nik is continuing to make an impact on children's lives in their local community. There are so many children that need help due to the social problems in the region. Your support enables Alfa-Nik to make a positive change!

Our Alfa-Nik families. We have 26 children living at the Alfa-Nik orphanage, finally finding happiness at home.

The third floor of our building is starting to look good, but still under construction. It will be used for helping single mother's get on their feet. It will also give them a different option to leaving their child/ren at the doors of an orphanage.