Teenage orphans find refuge at OBI training center
Older orphans like 17-year-old Victor, a gifted artist, often lose their government support before they are capable of supporting themselves.
The Orphan’s Promise Training Center equips students to find decent jobs and housing, and succeed in supporting themselves.
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UKRAINE - When he was six, his mother died, his father disappeared, and his grandmother – who couldn't afford to feed him – dropped Victor and his two little brothers off at an orphanage in Berdyansk, Ukraine.
Now, at 17, Victor is about to be "dropped off" again – this time on the street.
Older orphans like Victor often lose their government support before they are capable of supporting themselves. It doesn't matter that Victor excels in his studies, is a gifted artist, or that he is president of his class.
With no parents to protect him, groom him for a career, or prepare him for independent living, he'll be hard-pressed to survive in a few months when he loses his home at the orphanage and must leave his younger brothers behind.
Fortunately for Victor and so many other teen orphans, Operation Blessing is establishing an orphan training center in Berdyansk this Christmas through a unique program called Orphan's Promise, which works to promote the well-being of orphans and vulnerable children around the world.
The Orphan's Promise Training Center will be a welcome refuge for these young people who need more assistance than most children as they make the difficult transition to adulthood without practical job skills or knowing the basics of independent living.
Current statistics show that 70 percent of the young men who leave Ukraine's orphanages end up in crime and prison. Also, a large percentage of the young women become prostitutes
As an alternative to the streets, OBI's orphan training center equips students to find decent jobs and housing, and succeed in supporting themselves. By offering courses in English, computers, and life skills training, OBI's Orphan's Promise gives these kids a fighting chance in a difficult job market.
Modeled after the training center that OBI has already established in Kiev, the Berdyansk center will be located in a building recently purchased through the generous donations of OBI partners.
Victor says he is thankful to have this opportunity – not only for himself, but for his younger brothers. "I didn't want them to be in the same [vulnerable] position that I'm in now."
How You Can Help
Orphan's Promise is a unique program of Operation Blessing International working to promote the well-being of orphans and vulnerable children around the world.
Your financial gift will help provide training for orphans soon-to-be-released from state orphanages and institutions – many of whom are unprepared to face the challenges of independent living. Make an online
donation today, and be part of the promise for an orphan.
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