Two years ago a unique training center was opened by Operation Blessing in Berdyansk, Ukraine. This training center was created to meet the needs of the aging out teens from the local orphanage, as well as other at-risk youth in the area. This May brought the culmination of a two year program for 40 graduates of the center, and through the graduation celebrations the center’s impact on these youth was made evident.
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Nastia Solomina, from Berdyansk Ukraine, spent her entire childhood growing up in an orphanage. Nastia always dreamed of living an independent life, however upon exiting the orphanage, Nastia felt completely lost and lonely. She entered a professional school but the studies did not interest her. She then turned to smoking and drinking. Nastia was setting herself up for a grim future, but thankfully she found Operation Blessing’s Training Center just in time. At the Training Center Nastia’s life completely changed. She developed real friendships that she can turn to for help and she also came to personally know the Lord, who has helped her heal from past hurts and establish an identity in Him. No longer is Nastia Solomina an orphan.
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In September 2007, Kiev and Berdyansk Training Center opened their doors to meet their new students. For the next two years about 90 graduating orphans from Kiev and 40 orphans from Berdyansk will be studying computer skills, English and Life Skills. This year three “off-site” Training Centers were opened at three orphanages of Kiev region. The teachers from Kiev Training Center will be visiting these children and bringing the knowledge to the orphanage. Total of more than 2000 orphans will have a chance to start their additional education this year.
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On May 13 we celebrated the first Graduation party of the Training Center with 110 people attending (students, teachers and volunteers). 80 orphans have received certificates of completion and 35 more will continue their studies since they have studied only for one year. 70 orphans from Kiev and Kiev region have signed up for the next year.
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When Ukrainian children age-out of orphanages somewhere between the ages of 15 and 18, the future that awaits them is bleak, as they are given virtually no assistance to begin their independent life. Statistics point to a life of prostitution, crime, and a higher probability of repeating the orphan cycle. But thanks to your support, the orphans in the southern city of Berdyansk have been given a new hope for a brighter future.
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On February 16, 2007 the students of the Kiev Training Center for graduating orphans and vulnerable youth celebrated the day of love with a “Love Party” devoted to St. Valentine’s Day. The purpose of the evening was to share about the endless love of Jesus Christ and for everyone to praise the Lord together. The students sang praise songs, danced and actively participated in the event. Every student received a Bible and other special gifts.
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In January 2007, Christmas parties were held in the two Training Centers for graduating orphans sponsored by Operation Blessing. The purpose of the parties in both the Berdyansk and Kiev centers was to tell the youth about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Celebrations like these help the students to feel loved and accepted, and the training center is a place that continually tries to provide this for the students.
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The first year of studying at the Training Center is about to finish. There were a lot of interesting events during this year. The children have become one year older and we have learnt a lot from them too. It is time to look back and see what has been achieved in this year. We thought that our students would be the ones who will have to evaluate our efforts. At the end of the school year we asked them to write a composition on what our Training Center meant for them. And we were very happy to see the results!
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The idea of organizing the Business Club leaped in the process of communicating with the children. We paid attention to the fact that most of the students believed that God and money are incompatible phenomena. They believe that money is evil but all of the children want to be successful and well provided for. They think that to be rich they have to steal or to do something bad. They also believe that working honestly and in their own strength they can’t make “big money”. They also know that they can’t inherit anything from anyone that’s why they believe that being rich and successful is not for them. To break this stereotype, we decided to organize meetings with successful people. These meetings are designed to help the children understand that prosperity is not the status of their wallet but rather the status of their hearts and minds.
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Most of the students of the Training Center are graduating orphans who will have to leave their “sweet home” in the nearest future. Very often these are not “real” orphans but children who have living parents who refused to take care of them. Often these parents abuse alcohol and lead an immoral lifestyle. One of our students, 18-year old Alyona Dudka, lives in an orphanage in Burty village in the Kiev region. She got into a real trouble and the staff of the Training Center gave her the helping hand.
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On November 28, we celebrated the first party in our Training Center, and it was an integral part of the training process. This meeting was our pilot project, our attempt to help the children to come to know each other and the teachers in a relaxed atmosphere of fun. This attempt was very successful.
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In September 2005, Operation Blessing opened a Training Center for graduating orphans in the city of Kiev. In the framework of the project, the graduating orphans living in the orphanages of Kiev and Kiev region as well as orphans living with their guardians will be studying computer skills and English. “School of Life” is another subject that they will be studying. Discussing such important things as friendship, sexual relationships, money issues, building career and other vital topics, the children will be learning to build their life on biblical foundation.
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