It’s hard to imagine that in a country as ostensibly rich as Russia there could be such devastating poverty endured by so much and leaving children, in particular, vulnerable.
From a partner who has been working in one town for ten years we have received these, very recent, accounts of children that they are in contact with:
Sergei and Dmitri (aged 11) climbed into a large potato storage box to sniff benzene. The lid shut down and the clasp locked the box. Trying to get out the boys lit a match to help them see – the resulting fire from the ignited benzene fumes killed both boys.
Anya was forced into slavery by a “gypsy” man and made to sell narcotics.
Maria lived with her invalid father, alcoholic mother and grandmother. Her father was beaten so badly that with his disability he was unable to stand and froze to death in the snow. The relatives forced Maria’s mother out of the home onto the streets. Shortly after when her grandmother died, the relatives also forced Maria out onto the streets – at just 10 years of age. Her mother didn’t want to know her. Maria found shelter with one of our partners and is now rebuilding her life – but her eyes are always sad and she rarely smiles.
Sasha was severely beaten and suffered a fractured skull and a serious blood clot on the brain. An operation saved his life but he now needs expensive medicines costing more than their monthly income. Sasha lives with his mother, father, two teenage brothers, uncle, aunt and grandma in a single room with a tiny bathroom, toilet and kitchen.
Daniel has very limited education and so is regarded as “retarded”. The government do not expect him to work so give him a small “pension”. He wants to have a decent future and doesn’t want to lie around getting drunk. He is being trained in our partner’s workshop.
Dima is also considered retarded due to his poor vision brought about by being beaten as a child in a children’s home and he was placed in an old people’s home for the rest of his life – he is 18. He left the home and he too attends the workshop.
Anya is retarded and receives US$120 per month from the government – her family takes all but US$10 and in return gives her just a few meals. She comes to the workshop to clean it and our partner buys clothes and the like for her instead of giving wages – if they paid her the family would take that as well.
Valentina is an orphan with no state funding support (to which she is entitled) as the children’s home did not fill out the paperwork to give her documents without which survival in Russia is impossible. Our partner is working to get papers so that Valentina can find a job and somewhere to live.
As well as offering shelter and a wood or sewing workshop for vocational training our partner also carries out regular classes on hygiene and life skills, advice and support on legal rights and obligations and social activities such as trips to museums, galleries and sports events.
The vast majority of the children also voluntarily attend one or other of the churches, which the staff attend and this is having a major effect on their outlook and behaviour. Breaking the habit of addictive smoking is a challenge but many have already stopped drinking!
The work of this project continues to grow as the needs still grow (32 new youngsters attended one of the centres last year – making 355 in total in that centre alone). Costs increase and with the Lord’s faithfulness some of this is met through increased support.
Through God’s eternal glory more children can be broken from their bondage of addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Through pray, steadfast commitment of our partners and financial support we bring a hope and a love into lives that have known only sorrow, pain and abandonment.
Through your support we can give prevent so many children rejected by families and government becoming a Bomj (a person without a residence) which opens the door to a life of crime, prostitution and trafficking.
Please do contact us for ways in which you can help support the forgotten children of Russia.
0208 460 6046
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