Most orphanages or “internaty” for children with special needs exist in remote parts of Ukraine, where there is little public knowledge of them. The inmates of the orphanages suffer from disabilities and illnesses ranging from Cerebral Palsy and Downs Syndrome to tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Some are actual orphans, but many are half-orphaned (having only one parent) or abandoned.

High level of poverty, unemployment, alcoholism and other associated problems lead to the situation, when parents are unable to care for their own children.

Subsequently, they are left at the mercy of the state, but the state –owned child-care institutions can barely make ends meet. According to the statistics less than 25% of the governmentally allocated budget actually reaches these orphanages. Due to maladministration of funds frequently children residing in such orphanages live with insufficient plumbing, heating & cooling and electricity, combining their plight with the lack of nourishing food, adequate clothing and proper toys. Due to understaffing, ignorance or lack of interest, these children are often left lying in their beds unattended and without care for hours lacking physical or intellectual stimulation or simple affection. Many children develop and suffer from sensory disorders, retarded development, emotional and psychological disturbances.

These orphans' chances for survival are dramatically reduced even further, because of substandard medical care and little or no education for special needs orphans.

Heifer International Ukraine concentrates it's resources on tackling the root causes of the problems these children face. We are dedicated to identification and resolving critical issues, emerging areas of need and gaps in the lives of orphans in Ukraine. Our Orphans Program is designed to assist at-risk children by administering to their current needs while at the same time working on long-term solutions to improve their future. ?