In Ukraine, families with children are at high risk for poverty. During peaceful times, an estimated 250 children enter the orphanage system daily. There are 100,000 children confined to institutional care in Ukraine, one of the highest rates in the world.
Maya's Hope is helping an orphanage in the Volyn region of Ukraine. There are 150 children there, including 12 orphans and children deprived of parental care. All students are diagnosed with intellectual disabilities of varying degrees. There are also children with Down Syndrome. Some of the children have Autism. All of them have concomitant diagnoses.
( Photos are posted with permission. )
The first thing that greets you when you visit an orphanage is the smell: it is a specific stench, a combination of stale urine and delays in care. Child-to-care-giver ratios in orphanages are often badly disproportionate. Whether there are just a few children or many per one caregiver, there will inevitably be a delay in calming tears, feeding hungry bellies, and changing wet diapers.
State-run orphanages are the most neglected in Ukraine, with philanthropy being the main source of improvement for living conditions for the children.
The director of the institution understands that it is extremely difficult to solve all the issues at once.
At the moment, cleaning products are most urgently needed. This includes the purchase of washing powder, dishwashing detergent, toilet cleaner, window cleaner, liquid hand soap, and solid soap (can be used for hands / for delicate washing).
This is a list of basic things to maintain sanitary standards.
Due to the large number of children of a very active age, washing and cleaning needs to take place regularly.
Can you help purchase cleaning products to help with cleaning/disinfecting this state-run orphanage?
( Photos are posted with permission. )
Maya’s Hope helps disadvantaged children living in poverty and helps provide hope by instilling value and purpose in each child.