Report on 10 year of activities (eng)

Information Report

10 years of activity in the Ukraine

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Mission of organization Mission - to give hope to all children by enabling them to grow up with the love of a family and the security of a home, so that they can fulfill their full potential.

Vision of organization Our Vision is a world where every child feels loved.

Understanding where we come from is a core part of what makes us who we are. Families provide children with a sense of belonging and a unique identity. They are a source of emotional support and comfort, warmth and nurturing, protection and security. Family relationships provide children with an important sense of being valued and a vital support network.

Working in close cooperation with the national Government, with local authorities and with communities across Ukraine, Hope and Homes for Children is committed to helping to improve the conditions of care for vulnerable children. We are in Ukraine for the long term. We are confident that our team in Ukraine will play a key role in changing children's lives for the better, in the next 10 years and beyond.

Rick Foulsham CMG (Chief Executive)

Ukrainian team of ’Hope and Homes for Children’ have achieved so much during the last 10 years. But the most important is that they have given over 1000 children the most precious gift of the love of a family in the security of their own homes. I believe that in the next 10 years we will change lives of even more children and will give them a chance to fulfill their dreams.

Mark Cook OBE, Founder President of Hope and Homes for Children

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In 1994, Mark and Caroline Cook founded the charity Hope and Homes for Children. The organization has been working with children, their families and communities in Central and Eastern Europe and Africa. HHC representative offices do whatever is needed to prevent placement of orphans and children deprived of parental care in institutions, instead placing them in family care and helping vulnerable families remain intact.

HHC work in Ukraine began in 1998 and a representative office was registered in April 2001.

Dear colleagues!

Please, accept my heartfelt greetings on the 10-year anniversary of your work in Ukraine.

During all these years, you have been a trusted and resourceful partner. Projects you have implemented, starting from the creation and support of family type homes and proceeding to the development of a model of social support to families and children, are directed towards fulfilling the most precious right of any child – to grow up within the love of a family.

You have done a great deal to be proud of. Your innovative projects and programmes have helped Ukraine in its vital work of supporting and protecting its vulnerable children who need special attention, warmth and care.

Yuriy Pavlenko, Minister for Family, Youth and Sport in the Ukraine

We are happy that during the years you were near. Your initiatives set in motion the development and adoption of a range of legal and normative acts in child protection field. I am confident that we will continue to collaborate successfully to protect children at risk.

For the past ten years Hope and Homes for Children has provided invaluable support to vulnerable Ukrainian children, especially those without their own families. The passion and commitment to their work has always impressed me. UNICEF is privileged to have been working closely with HHC to implement innovative projects in the field of child protection.

Jeremy Hartley, Representative UNICEF Ukraine

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SUMMARY OR BEGINNING February 1998 – the first meeting with a representative of the international charity „Hope and Homes for Children” Bohdan Rymarenko. May – visit of executive director, Major Mark Cook to Ukraine at the invitation of the Minister for Family and Youth affairs, Valentyna Dovzhenko. June – the Beginning...

At that time, few people believed that a foreign charity would invest money not only in trainings for specialists but also in the purchase and furnishing of houses for couples who welcomed children in their families, providing love and family warmth. How else, if not by example, could you convince others and prove the advantages of family care over institutions to state officials and community at large. We hardly had any big ambitious plans towards development of our programmes at that time.

HHC Ukraine has been developing as we gain experience, form a professional team, understand the depth of child protection issues, search for like-minded persons and partners among authorities and representatives of other NGOs. Having started out in 1998 with a project on creation, support and development of family-type children’s homes, we realised that, while promoting and sharing awareness

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on family upbringing of orphans and children deprived of parental care, it was vital to work on the preservation of the biological family of a child. With this object in mind, we started a project in 2003 on the prevention of the abandonment of newborn babies at maternity hospitals and designed a model of mother and baby units. Another part of our work is aimed at reforming the procedures in state institutions and creating and providing good quality social services for children and families in the community.

Within the 10 years of our existence, we have created and supported the development of 65 family- type homes: over 750 orphans and children deprived of parental care gained not only homes but parents who love them - the support of loved ones and confidence in their future. We have created 2 Mother and Baby Units and through them have prevented 209 cases of the abandonment of newborn babies.

Thanks to the work of our social workers within the community, we have prevented 118 children from being separated from their biological families. To a large extent, our efforts have been aimed at sharing positive experience and becoming part of a national programme.

Among the key factors of our success, first place definitely belongs to the personal dedication of our team, their commitment to develop and grow as professionals.

We fully share our success and outcomes with our partners, in cooperation with whom we have been implementing all our projects. I’d care to mention the Ministry of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports Affairs and its regional departments, local authorities and UNICEF. We plan on the basis of the prevailing conditions for children and families. Thus, looking years ahead, we dare to say that the work of HHC will be needed for a long while. The current programmes will be continued and new projects started with a single goal – to create a supportive environment for the development of every child.

We would like to thank everyone who supported us during the past decade, shared their ideas, skills, and will to change the world - all the parents and children from our families; our partners, sponsors and the donors of our organisation in United Kingdom.

Halyna Postoliuk Director of Hope and Homes for Children in Ukraine

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t ril 4, 1988 bu p A on n or b s a Iw I was 4 years en h w ve li o t n only bega er took me out h ot m y m en h old w tion of the institu Yura, 15 years old

Poplavsky family

My life is like a fairy-tale. You know, there live d a poor urchin who found a f amily Bohdan, 12 years old Brashchenko family

The family attends to all the children just like it has to be. The parents are always interested to know about each of their children in spite of the fact that they have 9 kids in the family From the words of class-master of children who grow up in FTH, Khmelnytsk oblast During the training I received answers to many questions and became closer to parents-educators. But the most important is that I really got to know them and I now look at them very differently.

From the words of a social worker, Kyiv oblast

The level of professionalism of the experts is impressive. They helped us to see many things differently and gave useful advice, clarification, explanations. We needed exactly that kind of support and information.

From the words of mother-educator of Gorielkiny FTH, which has existed over 10 years

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CREATING, SUPPORTING AND DEVELOPING FAMILY FORMS OF

UPBRINGING A little girl is feeding pigeons. The birds are not afraid of her: they are picking up the crumbs near her feet.

A young woman approached the girl and the pigeons flew away. To stop the birds, the girl called out: – Coo-chi coo-chi, don’t be afraid – this is MY MOMMY! Mariyka, 3 years old

Understanding that the best and most natural thing for a child is to grow up in a family - that a family cannot be substituted by even the best institution - we launched a project on development of family-type homes (FTH).

In the late ‘90s, foster care was available only in the context of family-type homes of which there were, maybe, 25 in Ukraine and which had been A created still during Soviet times. family-type home is created when a married Thus, a child who had became couple or single parent takes an orphan, had little chance on 5 or more orphans or children to grow up in a family. deprived of parental care (Order Our organisation began its of the Cabinet of Ministers of work with a search for couUkraine dated 26.04.02 № 564 ples who were ready to wel„About approval of the Order on come orphans and children family type home”). deprived of parental care into their families and local authorities who had the desire to create FTHs. As it is said ‘A good beginning makes a good ending’. For us Kiev district was a good beginning. Here we created 16 FTHs and provided support another three that already existed. Later FTHs were created in Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the districts of Mykolaiv, Sumy, Odesa, Volyn, Rivne, Zakarpattia, Kirovohrad, Khmelnytsk, Chernivtsi, Lviv, and Poltava.

Prior to creating FTHs, we studied a family in its usual environment; trained prospective

parent-educators; purchased furniture and equipment for families. Based on agreements for collaboration between HHC Ukraine and the various local authorities, the obligations and power of the parties regarding functioning of any new FTH were established.

Having opened FTHs, we continued cooperation with the families. Parent-educators would often contact HHC Ukraine staffs to share experience or seek advice about problems. At that time, we had the idea of holding meetings for parent-educators so that they could share their experience, listen to experts: psychologists and medical specialists. The first trainings were held in 2000 and the outcomes proved its worth. Later, during 2003–2004 and in 2007 we initiated joint trainings for both parentseducators and social workers who guide the family-type homes. The goal of such trainings was to deepen cooperation between parent-educators and social workers and to improve their skills.

Based on the results from the trainings, a number of requests were sent to the Ministry of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports Affairs leading to the nation-wide solution of many urgent issues on how FTHs operate. In addition, our specific proposals regarding improvement of the current regulatory and legal base were adopted.

One of the vital directions of work for

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HHC Ukraine is monitoring of the families during which our specialists can study the living conditions of children and identify difficulties which the families may have.

Based on monitoring results, HHC Ukraine workers prepare recommendations for parent-educators, provide psychological and legal advice and amend guidance plans of the families in cooperation with social workers.

The final goal within the project framework was to create relevant conditions at national level for the development of family care. HHC Ukraine helped form the Law of Ukraine „On providing organisational and legal conditions of social protection of During orphans and children the 10 years of our deprived of parental work, HHC Ukraine creatcare” which was ed and supported 65 families adopted in 2005. in 12 regions of Ukraine. Through The Law defines the the years, as family-type homes priority of family have developed, the needs of care for orphaned children and their parents have children and crechanged on which basis the ates better living direction of our work has also conditions for them. changed and project Today, funding of FTHs tasks revised.

and foster families is provided from the state budget, child allowances are higher and the social protection of parents is guaranteed, etc.

Nowadays the institution of the foster family in Ukraine is constantly developing: based on statistics of the Ministry for Family, Youth and Sports Affairs, as at 1 July, 2008, there were 330 family-type homes (2202 children in them) and 1930 foster families (3153 children in them). This means that, at this point in time, more children are living by „formula of happiness”: MOTHER plus Father plus HOME. Results of project activity

1998 2002 Creation and support of 36 family-type homes; With the goal of creating social awareness of the problem of orphans and children deprived of parental care and alerting state authorities towards promotion of family care, we held a photo exhibition „In

As a maker of documentaries (‘There lived a woman in a shoe’, ‘Veronika and saxophone’, ‘Miracles happen’) I have been working in cooperation with HHC Ukraine for almost five years. I’m truly fortunate to have met these people who, compared to many others, don’t just talk about orphan children but do something effective - provide housing, hope, joy and a future for abandoned children. I wish them well!

Film director, Olena Fetisova

There were various moments in my creative life: both nice and not very pleasant.

Some time ago these people simply believed in me and my future. That is why they played a great role in my growth as musician.

Saxophone player, Veronika Kozhukharova

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Search of A Lost Past” in 20 regions of Ukraine, Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Simferopil and Kyiv, in the halls of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and Museum of Red Cross in Geneva. Over 30, 000 people visited the exhibition; 3 trainings for parents-educators of already-existing FTHs - 60 participants;

Training for prospective parent-educators - 30 persons; Exchange of experience and 11 regional skills improvement trainings for parent-educators of existing FTHs and social workers who guide them - 247 persons.

Published a newsletter, in which we described the work of HHC Ukraine, gave answers to many questions from parenteducators, provided advice from various experts and interesting information for children.

2003 2008 Creation and support of 29 family type homes; Health improvement of 370 children, consultations for parent-educators by various specialists during celebration of the 5th anniversary of HHC work in Ukraine;

The organization ‘Hope and Homes for Children’ has virtually achieved the impossible in the space of 10 years: break down stereotypes, make an impact on public opinion, direct the work of many state structures to achieve the most humane mission – to achieve the rights of children deprived of parental care to grow up with the love and care of parents.

Not every adult is able to give his heart to an unfamiliar child, especially one who has known nothing about kindness, friendship, honesty, gratitude or understanding from birth. Hope and Homes for Children was able not only find Parents with a capital ‘P’, but to help create real families and thus demonstrate the efficacy of the role of parent-educator. Due to their wisdom, experience, authority and own examples, this has set a fire and leads the way for others, affirming that a family is the most effective, Godgiven cell for child upbringing.

I believe that the biggest achievements and scientific findings are still ahead.

Professor PhD in Psychology, Institute of Psychology by Kostiuk, Tamara Hovorun

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Parents-educators receiving consultation by Galyna Piliagina (PhD in Medical Science, Head of Department on Aggression Science, Deputy Director of scientific and research institute on social and court psychiatry of the Ministry of Health Protection of Ukraine).

Opening of Kudelia FTH.

Joint training for parents-educators and social workers who lead the family type homes.

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Psychologist working with a child.

During monitoring psychologists organized a game for children of the Kravchenko family.

Psychologist has a conversation with class-master and teacher of chemistry of Poplavsky FTH children.

Roman from the Nenia family is doing Luscher colour tests (individual conversation of psychologist with the child).

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HOW does it feel to share your with somebody else

mother

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damaged was already broken or dismantled.

We moved to a new house where we found many new things to do. We got a puppy, a kitten, rabbits and a piglet. We would always get into trouble with that piglet. Misha found out that we could ride on its back, and that was what we all did together. The most important thing

I remember when Mum was mine only, and she loved me more than anybody else. Then some children that I’ve never seen before arrive: they sit on her lap and kiss her. My mother hugs them, kisses and cries for some reason.

Two days later, my new sister cuts one of my braids without hurting my head thank God. She does it because she has no hair I have two beautiful braids and two huge bows. I don’t just cry, I scream like a fire alarm. Lena cries; she is scared because she expects to be punished. My mum cries quietly and dad doesn’t know who to console first. He hugs us all together and tries to comfort all of us at once. Two hours later the wonderful bows sit occupy two almost bald heads, falling behind the ears all the time. We don’t cry. Only Mum looks at us, sobbing.

In the evening I cried again. Misha broke my toy furniture and took apart my mechanical toys. Together with Lena, I try to make a table using a small dumb-bell in order to feed our dolls. We listen with great delight to the howling of Misha who is being beaten up by Yehor and Zakhar because he had wanted to see how the toy railroad is made. It was given

was to close him in his pen before Mum got back home from the shop. For a long time, Mum and Dad couldn’t understand why the piglet didn’t get fat. Then one day Dad came home earlier than expected...

Also there was a pond. It was big, deep and close to the house. We used to catch tadpoles there. There also we sank a pair of Katya’s new sandals which were bought with a special coupon for her first day of school. Although Mum and Dad dug small channels all evening long to drain the puddle, the shoes were never found.

It seems great to have a big family.

Only now that I’ve grown up and Mum and Dad took the last children I understand that my parents have accomplished a heroic feat. They dedicated all their lives to children - not only their own, which is natural, but somebody else’s: abandoned children. When 3-year old Nadya crawls to Mum’s bed in the morning and shouts “Mummy!”, I just smile, remembering myself. I am happy for her because she has a mother, my mother.

I’m not jealous anymore. Well, almost not jealous.

This is how our big family lives.

to us by Did Moroz and was the only toy that was left intact. When Mum and Dad brought yet more children, it didn’t matter because everything that could be

Dasha, 14 years

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The social project ‘In Search of a Lost Past’ was started in May 2001 in cooperation with professional photographer, Oleksandr Gliadielov.

The photo exhibition contained 58 images which highlighted the life of street children, children in institutions and those in family-type homes. Over 30, 000 people visited the exhibition.

“But what can we do?” asked many others, having seen images of unhappy childhood in reality or in my pictures. “Well, you could at least do this!” I respond showing photos of family-type homes. Indeed, do you have another answer?Фотограф, Photographer, Sasha Gliadielov

Sincere thanks for your photo exhibition. Having seen the images, you can conceive the life of miserable children but most importantly you ask yourself: “What did you do to improve the life of such children?” I am sure that everyone leaves the hall with the same question in mind. Thank you once again ГHead of Vinnytsia oblast association of creative youth ‘Looking into the future’’ I would like to thank all the families who took in these children and helped them not only to survive but also to achieve something in life. Who knows, perhaps these are the children who will put Ukraine on its feet...

Svitlana, student

With the goal of promoting the experience of raising orphans and children deprived of parental care in a family environment, the ‘Interfilm’ studio, in cooperation with HHC Ukraine, shot three films.

One about a child who grew up in a family-type home and managed to realize her dream at 23 when she became a star of classic saxophone and two others about familytype homes created by HHC in Kyiv and Volyn oblasts

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HHC Ukraine has been regularly publishing a newsletter where we tell about our work, answer on questions of parents-educators, provide consultations of specialists, half of each issue is dedicated to children’s auditorium – it consists of contests, riddles, funny stories, etc.

Thank you very much that you send such great newsletters to us, with contests and I would like to ask you to write to us more often and we will respond to your letters.

Veronika, Kominy FTH

“5 years together” was the name of the holiday organised by HHC Ukraine in 2003 for children from FTHs created by the organisation. The children stayed at the Black Sea for two weeks and had an opportunity to participate in game – building fairy city of Hope. The event was dedicated to the 5th anniversary of our work in Ukraine.

Every year children of FTHs, created by HHC Ukraine, participate in contest for the best theme picture. Participants who win the first prizes, receive presents and their works are used for calendars, new year post cards, other printed materials.

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e, turn a blind ey o t sy ea oo t ll e it is a ve In a world wher others who ha m g n u yo g in t by mee but with the s I was inspired, ip sh rd a h s tremendou battled through n have come re d il ch r ei h t hey and right support t or each other f ve lo a d n a e h prid through it wit Michael Partridge, to all s ou vi ob is t a one of our guests th Thank you very much for explaining the actual issues, for created the requisite conditions and professionalism. I hope we meet again at the same kind of effective trainings and look forward to future cooperation.

Tsyptsiuk Oksana, Participant of regional training on prevention of newborn babies abandonment

My husband and I divorced when I was already pregnant. I had no place of my own and was forced to look for a place to rent. It was impossible to do back then and I had spent a few nights on the street.

After the maternity ward I entered the Mother and Baby Unit. I wanted to abandon my baby.

In the Unit I found support provided by both specialists and women who were in a similar situation. I was able to receive advice when I needed it about what to do and where to go to.

Now I am married again. I love my husband and my child. Now I understand that the most important event in my life was my son’s birth. The main thing is that he will be happy and healthy Svitlana, 28 years old

I always wanted to have … parents. I grew up in institution. Once I went to the birthday party of my friend and met a boy. We lived together for 2 years and I had a son. When I got pregnant again, my husband kicked me out as he doubted that this was his baby. For a while, I lived with a woman from my village. Then my baby was born prematurely in the woman’s house. I would never abandon my baby because I did not want to copy my mother, who left me in Baby Home. Direct from Maternity Hospital I was brought to the Mother and Baby Unit. The baby was too weak at that time.

In the Unit everyone treated me very well. We had a place to live. I learnt to sew and I enjoy it. Later, I was helped to purchase a house in a neighbouring village. Soon, I made it up with my husband and we began to live together again.

Nina, 23 years old

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PREVENTION OF NEWBORN BABIES

ABANDONMENT The most important event in my life is my son’s birth.

Svitlana, from Mother and Baby Unit Pregnancy, labour, taking care of a baby – for most women these are the most remarkable events in life.

Nevertheless, there are women who feel pain, disappointment, doubt and frustration after childbirth. Usually these are women who come from a socially and psychologically unprotected environment. ПDuring 2002, 2500 babies were orphaned because their mothers abandoned them in Maternity Hospitals. Such children are usually placed in institutions where they are brought up with little or no chance of returning to their families. This is why HHC Ukraine decided to study the main reasons for abandonment of babies in the city of Kherson. While there were many factors at play, most cases involved unemployment and/or financial difficulty, domestic conflicts, ostracism from the community and absence of social support.

Regrettably, at that time, there were no practical measures in place to provide urgent and qualified help to such women.

In 2003-2004, HHC Ukraine, in cooperation with UNICEF, implemented a project on prevention of the abandonment of newborn babies in the city of Kherson. We started by using social workers and psychologists operating in Maternity Hospitals where they provided help to expectant mothers who had expressed a desire to leave their babies in children’s departments of hospitals or Baby Homes.

In October 2003, having developed new techniques for working with vulnerable women, we created the first Mother and Baby Unit in Ukraine (in Kherson). Aside from preventing the separation of babies from their biological, the most important task

was to prevent the abandonment of babies in Maternity Hospitals. Social workers, a nurse, a psychologist and other specialists at the Mother and Baby Unit provide social and psychological support to young women whose circumstances prevent their return to their families with their babies.

They, therefore, need long-term and complex support. The staff at the Mother and Baby Units help women to learn how to take care of the babies and fend for themselves so as to make independent decisions despite their circumstances. This includes completing education, gaining a profession, repairing contacts with relatives and the father of the baby, understanding their personal rights and those of the baby and resolving issues regarding housing, etc.

As is known, 70 % women who enter Mother and Baby Units are not ready to lead independent life having been brought up in institutions themselves.

In April 2006, HHC Ukraine created regional Mother and Baby Unit working in cooperation with Kiev regional authority.

Since the creation of both Units, 96 % of women cared for have chosen to keep their babies.

The work of specialists in the Maternity Hospitals in Kherson, implemented within project framework, was adopted by the Ukrainian Health Ministry and the Ministry for Family, Youth and Sports Affairs. In order to help women in difficulty, consultations are provided at special desks in the centres of social services for family, children and youth or based at Maternity Hospitals and Medical departments. The main types of consultation are:

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- Prevention of the abandonment of newborn babies - Provision of psychological and social support to women - Encouraging responsible parenting.

In addition, the model of the the Mother and Baby Unit has been introduced to Sumy, Drohobych (Lviv district), Khmelnytsk and Sevastopol.

Based on their experience of work in Mother and Baby Units, specialists from HHC Ukraine and external experts have consolidated their work with women who intend to abandon newborn babies. We also developed an educational package for regional trainers and during 2008 we tutored regional trainers who will later train specialists for the consultation desks and staff for the Units. The work is done in cooperation with the social services for family, chil-

dren and youth and is supported by UNICEF. Based on HHC Ukraine project experience, we published a manual for social pedagogues, psychologists and other professionals concerned with prevention of child separation.

Results of project activity 2002 2004 We created 3 experimental reintegration areas for parents and children. They are based at maternity Wards, Baby Homes, children’s department at the hospital where new techniques are tested and implemented; We prevented 42 cases of abandonment; We created the first Mother and Baby Unit in Ukraine; We published manual on creation of reintegration areas “Will our fates

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meet…Reintegration of parents and children: first steps to awareness of the problem”; We made a documentary film, “Way to a Family”, that was widely broadcast on TV; We did 18 trainings for specialists on prevention of early orphanhood and development of family care – 146 persons.

2005 2006 We prevented 92 cases of abandonment; We undertook 3 trainings for health protection workers in Kiev region; We created the Mother and Baby Unit in Fastiv; We did 8 trainings for women in 5 Mother and Baby Units – 130 persons; We provided practical help at Mother and Baby Unit – 11 women with babies (4 women left the Unit and two of them received housing where they now live with the babies).

2007 2008 We prevented 48 cases of abandonment (both Kherson and Fastiv)); We did 15 trainings for women at the Mother and Baby Units in Fastiv, Chernigiv, Sumy, Drogobych, Kherson on responsible parenting, reproductive health, family planning and early childhood development – 124 persons; We ran computer classes – 32 women from the Mother and Baby Unit; We held 2 seminars for 20 regional trainers; We did 5 trainings for 100 specialists of MBUs and centres of social services for family, children and youth who work at consultation desks; We gathered data and published a manual “Prevention of institutionalisation of children at early age”.

Women with babies live in comfortable rooms where they have essentials like a bed for a mother, and a separate baby cot, a table, wardrobe, etc.

In addition, there are guest-rooms in MBUs where women may meet visitors or spend their free time.

There is also a sewing and computer room.

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Training for specialists of Mother and Baby Units (social pedagogues and psychologists).

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Training for specialists of consultation desks of centres for social services for family, children and youth and regional trainers on prevention of abandonment of children at early age.

An agreement on cooperation was signed by HHC Ukraine and UNICEF with the goal of putting into practice the project “Implementation of training system for specialists of Mother and baby Units and consultation desks”.

Actual aspects of child protection, reasons of origin and prolongation of orphanhood in early age are highlighted in this manual.

HHC Ukraine in cooperation with UNICEF published a manual “Prevention of institutionalisation of children at early age”.

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I will always have great memories of my time in Kiev - I saw things which made my heart bleed, and could so easily have made me feel complete despair, but I know that you are all doing everything you can to help those children, and I am full of hope for their futures, thanks to all of you. In my view, you are all angels.

I dream that some day we will have new furniture at home. It will be cosy and we will have enough chairs for the guests while serving tea or coffee.

When I am walking along the street with my three daughters I will hold my head high. I want my children to be proud of me.

Olena, mother of three children

Wendy May, Head of Communications, UK Zurich Financial Services

g I have never in in ra t is h t il Unt yone so much. n a h it w ed lk a t opinion and y m sk a ld ou w Nobody listen to me o t ed t n a w y nobod Mykola, care-leaver, participant in the training for young adults

Time and again I have to work for wealthy families. A few hours later when they’re gone, I really feel wretched and depressed. It is difficult to keep my faith in humanity after conversations with such people. And talking about so-called, ‘crisis families’, I feel slap-happy… Their life seems to be difficult but in spite of all their problems they continue to be optimistic and maintain their sense of humour.

Aliona, photographer

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DEINSTITUTIONALISATION

PROJECT

Neither ‘kindergartens’ nor ‘children’s homes’ nor ‘shelters’ nor any other substitutes for a family can give children what they need most. The essence of growing up is the mutual feeling of personal necessity which connects parents with a child and a child with parents by the only true bond – the magic bond of blood love. In a family and only in a family may a child feel that he is unique and irreplaceable...

Illin, philosopher (1883-1954)

Research done in Ukraine reinforced by international experience, proves that living in an institution has a negative impact on the development of children as the most important thing which children need – parental love – is absent.. On the basis of evidence published by the Ministry of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports Affairs, almost 20 % of care-leavers are not able to find jobs or continue their education and gain a specialty; 41 % have no chance of finding suitable accommodation while almost 20 % become criminals. There is a consistent pattern: the earlier the point of separation and longer a child stays without parental care, the more difficult it is for him to socialise.

During 2004-2006, supported by UNICEF, HHC Ukraine ran a series of trainings in the districts of Kiev, Khmelnytsk and, Kherson..

The projects were directed towards improving the state system of child protection, prevention of child separation and development of family-type care in Ukraine. For the first time in Ukraine, we provided a comprehensive, expert assessment of the physical, emotional and psychological profile of institutionalized children together with their social skills (214 children in institutions in the various districts). The specialists involved (psychologists, social workers, doctors) prepared written assessments and designed plans of individual work for every child. A wide-ranging assessment of the needs of children in institutions was published in a manual as recommendations for the relevant profession-

als.

In 2007 HHC Ukraine launched a new project: Reforming the ‘Barvinok’ Children’s Home and creation of a Centre of Social Support for Children and Families’. The goal was to pilot a complex model for reforming of the state care system through creation of family-oriented services for children and families in the community. The project is scheduled to last two years and is being carried out in Makariv rayon (Kiev district) in cooperation with the district administration, Makariv rayon administration and Makariv rayon council.

We focus on the following: - Work with children in Makariv ‘Barvinok’ institution, directed towards reintegration of children in their biological families (where possible), placement of children in family care. An important component of the work is the preparation of care-leavers for adult life. As a result of the work done during 2005-2007, the number of children in ‘Barvinok’ was reduced in two phases: it decreased from 60 (beginning of 2005) to 27 (beginning of 2008). 13 children renewed their relations with relatives and now spend their holidays and weekends with family members.

- Support provided to the families where there is a risk of child separation. The project is focused on family preservation.

Social workers design and carry out plans of work together with the families where there is risk of child separation. The goal is

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to improve e family circumstances. We provide support to help families overcome the difficulties of their own volition, help them take care of their children and work on conflict resolution. For the first time in the rayon, we have launched social guidance for families where children were separated already and placed in institutions and with families in which there is a possibility to reintegrate the children.

Our experience proves that if a family receives well-timed professional help (using new methods, namely: family group conferences, short-term therapy, etc), then there is a big chance of holding the family together.

The specialists involved in implementing the project received relevant professional training in higher education institutes and participated in 40 trainings, seminars and events during which experience was exchanged on the themes of social work with children and families and institutional reform. Our work is based on best practice in institutional reform and work with vulnerable families and children countries such as Estonia, Poland, Russia, Romania and Sweden.

During 2009, we will create a centre of social support for children and families ‘A Ray of Hope’ in Makariv rayon. This is innovative approach to the reforming of state care. For the first time in Ukraine, it is planned to close down an institution and develop a system of alternative services for vulnerable families and children. This should be done taking into account local circumstances and the best interests of every child.

To allow this to happen, an agreement on cooperation was signed by the Ministry of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports Affairs, Kiev district and HHC Ukraine in May, 2008. In addition, HHC Ukraine signed an agreement with Makariv rayon on the closure of ‘Barvinok’ institution, development of new social services for children and families and financing of the centre ‘A Ray of Hope’.

Results of project activity 2004 2006 3 trainings for media representatives and prospective foster parents on family care – 57 participants; 1 training for children of ‘Barvinok’ institution (Makariv) on development of life skills – 25 children; 12 informative seminar-trainings for representatives of rayon state administrations, specialists of social field and personnel of institutions (work with social environment of children, child’s needs assessment, etc) – 183 persons; Prevention of child separation – 24 cases; Reintegration in biological families – 15 children; Placement in family care – 38 children; Undertook comprehensive, expert assessment of physical, emotional and psychological state / social skills of 215 children from institutions.

I admire your organisation, its work and the important fruit of its labours! It is fantastic to help children to find parents, a home and family, and to help parents to improve life in this home, in this big family! I wish you strength! Inspiration! Dreams and their fulfillment!

PhD in Medical Science, Head of Department on Aggression Science, Deputy Director of scientific and research institute on social and court psychiatry There’s a great deal you could say about the results and imporof the Ministry of Health Protection tance of the work of HHC Ukraine specialists in our rayon. To my of Ukraine, mind, they succeeded in doing the most important thing – Galyna Piliagina change approaches to child protection in each community which have now learned to understand and accept each child as a unique personality who needs individual approach to meet his rights and interests.

Head of Makariv rayon state administration, Volodymyr Horbyk

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I met Natalka when she was in the maternity ward of Makariv rayon. She decided to abandon her newborn baby as she did not have any housing and couldn’t take her daughter with her when she left the hospital.

Natalia herself grew up in institution. For 10 years she went from place to place throughout Ukraine, trying to make enough money to survive. She had neither relatives, nor education. To make matters worse she lacked the necessary documents (no passport, ID code or work record book). For six months she lived in a hospital, earning money by selling herself and was addicted to alcohol. Now she has all her documents registered, she does not drink any more, works at a decent place where she is respected and praised. She receives a good salary. She currently rents an apartment but she is registered on the list to receive her own apartment soon. Her child attends kindergarten. Now Natalia is trying to reunite with her older daughter whom she has not seen in four years.

HHC Ukraine social worker, і оч івн оп о ьк Olha Moroz из бл нувала о будинку зателефо : ко Випускниця дитячог і Онищен икові Організації, Інн соціальному працівн

I’ve told you so many r te af y, wh k as to g llin - I am ca lled at me? things you have never ye

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2007 2008 9 trainings for social workers, heads and secretaries of village councils, pedagogical and medical workers, personnel of ‘Barvinok’ institution; on work with families, involvement of community to support families at risk, development of family care – 250 participants; 2 trainings for parents of the vulnerable families– 15 participants; 2 trainings on life skills and preparation for independent adult living – 13 careleavers fromf ‘Barvinok’ institution; Entered colleges and vocational and training schools according their abilities and desires – 14 care graduates; Prevention of child separation – 94 cases; Reintegration in biological families – 33 children; Placement in family care – 23 children; Recipients of of support in kind – 534 persons; Preparation and publishing of manual ‘Social work with families who are in difficult life circumstances’ (based on experience).

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Complex assessment of children’s needs in Kherson Baby Home: for children with damage to the central nervous system.

I thank God for enabling me to love such children.. I am neither psychologist nor educator or mother – I am only a student. I cannot provide materially for them but I do not want to be indifferent, because charity starts with me. All I can give to the children – is my attention, desire to be their friend, helper.

Volunteer, student of Kyiv Slavic University, Yevheniya Mazurenko,

Open discussion on implementation of complex model of social services for children and families taking into account community needs of Makariv rayon.

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In January 2008 a few volunteers – 2nd year student of Kiev Slavic University Yevheniya, Mykhailo and Roman – started to come to ‘Barvinok’ institution.

The children look forward to weekends when Zhenia comes to paint the girls' nails, do their hair, or just act as an older and wiser friend.

Misha and Roma will definitely come to play football and other games with the boys.

Round Table ‘Development of a system of social services for children and families in Makariv rayon’.

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A Miracle to be aFamily again I don’t know what you think about this but I am confident that everyday a miracle has happened somewhere. It does not necessarily have to be something incredible, fantastic or extraordinary. Sometimes a miracle can be something very simple like a touch, a smile or a gesture of trust – things that seemed to be impossible and almost unreal even not so long ago… Such miracles seem to me most penetrating and beautiful. In miracles there is a special mystery and light which cannot be put into words. You can only feel it. And you are

delighted if you happen to see it.

I often think about it. My recent visit to a delightful family also reminded me.

On a warm day in the middle of June, I got organised to visit the Bondar family who lived in the small town of Kodra in the district of Kiev. It probably took me an hour to get there and part of the way lay through a gorgeous pine forest. The world was full of sunshine and it was peaceful. And I believe it also was thankful. While driving I was trying to imagine what will they all look like? What was the-

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family like that I was going to visit? What kind of relationships did they have? How would they feel, sharing the story of their family with a stranger like me? How do they remember their past?

I knew little about their story, and was longing to finally meet the family. I wanted to meet Olena Bondar and her three daughters, two of which – Mariya and Rita – stayed in institutions for a long while and had been growing up without maternal care. It was entirely possible that they could have lost their faith in ever returning to their family and living with their mother. Rita would often go to Spain (it was a benefit for children in institution where she stayed) and she even started talking about her ‘new’ Spanish family. Given time, she could have totally forgotten about her biological family.

But it did not work out like that: the children were wonderfully reunited...

Lost in thought, I hardly noticed how time passed and was surprised to arrive in Kodra. We approached the 5-story building and stopped. While getting out, I heard the birds singing wonderfully. The entrance door was ajar – as if someone opened it just for us. We went upstairs to the third floor and rang the door bell.

And there was that beautiful moment of meeting for the first time. The door was opened by Olena, the hostess, who welcomed us in – and I immediately saw the girls. They were still preparing themselves and were not yet ready to accept guests, but they already looked festive.

Perhaps this was due to their open smiles.

It was very easy to speak with Olena.

Sitting in the kitchen and sipping coffee she simply related he life story – very frankly, not trying to justify her behaviour and not condemning anyone. She told about her travels to other countries and about her early addiction to alcohol. She recollected how, shortly after the birth of her first daughter, Mariya, in 1997, she made an adventurous trip to Holland where she intended to give birth to her second daughter Rita in 1998. She recalled how she felt unready to take care of the baby. She hardly considered her daughters at that time and told me about the terrible living conditions they

endured and how the heating system and electricity was cut off because of her debts. She remembered her apathy, total indifference, when she was not interested in anything, nothing would worry her or cause concern. She did not care when her two daughters were taken away and placed in separate institutions: Rita – in the town of Bila Tserkva while Maria was still in Makariv rayon. She imagined she would die soon leading such kind of life and it should be better for her children to be in institutions as at least there they were cared for...

Both Olena and the children have suffered a lot. Once, Olena could have indeed perished, when , being drunk, fell she out of a window. But, perhaps, at that moment the first miracle came into her life: she was not hurt at all. Soon, being drunk again after another party, she suddenly felt that something inside her had changed. She felt she would drink no more. The world seemed to turn back to the beginning, and Olena seemed to start living again.

This led to a torturous wait before she could finally have the children back home. Even though Olena was not deprived of her parental rights, the reintegration process was rather tough. She had to visit many agencies, find the means to improve living conditions in her apartment and fix the heating system.

Otherwise, the children wouldn’t be permitted to live there. Actually, no state officials believed that Olena would take care of her children from that point in time. They all doubted she had quit drinking. Nobody made the effort to help the woman to plan her future. Rather they condemned her for what has happened in the past... Who knows if Olena’s desires would be have been answered had it not been for Hope and Homes for Children and a single social worker – Olga Moroz - who cared enough to help the family reunite. She acted as guarantor for Olena at the department of child affairs and soon Mariyka was returned to her mother. A little later her second daughter was

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returned, again thanks to Hope and Homes who provided funds to buy fuel for the heating system, do repair works and get a cot for the child. Thus, one more miracle took place. Whatever happened in the past, nowadays the family lives in peace and harmony, taking care of Olena’s yongest daughter – Katia who was born in January. Hopefully this little one will have never have the experience of her older sisters When I look at Olena, Mariyka and Rita, and when Olena talks about her youngest girl Katia, who is sleeping peacefully during my visit, I can’t believe there was time when the family was separated. It’s hard to believe that people who, you can tell, deeply love each other, have suffered so much. At the same time, I am pleased that they are all together again. I want to share in their joy: the joy of a family that is finally reunited.

The girls still remember their lives at institutions but they have no desire to talk about it. Perhaps it seems like a nightmare or a terrible fairy tale like those used to scare children. Luckily, it fixed in

the past. Ahead of them is a different life in which Olena truly cares for her children and every day is dedicated to them. „I will do everything for them, – says this brave young woman and adds: – I am both a mother and a father to them“. I suppose she has also become their friend, in whom they can trust. To tell the truth, Olena will still have to answer all the girl’s questions – which can be difficult. Actually, they already have been asking questions but Olena says: „I answer them sincerely, not hiding anything. They have the right to know everything“.

Mariyka and Rita now study at a local school and are catching up with the other pupils. At home, they help to take care of the baby and do some housekeeping – such help seems to be easy for them. The most important thing – I can imagine them saying to one another - is that we are at home again.

Unfortunately, Mariyka’s has asthma, but God willing, it will also pass. When it’s time to part, I look at the smiling faces of Mariya, Rita and Olena and the words of Yan Tvardovsky, the Polish priest and poet, come to my mind: „It is said, that the most beautiful smiles are of those who have suffered a lot“. I am not sure if its true but their smiles are truly beautiful.

I wish to remember them and I hope that this family will never experience the same pain they had to go through already. It’s my desire that their smiles will last because of love. I am also thankful for this great miracle, which all of them experienced and which contains a wonderful mystery. The miracle of finding each other. The miracle of finding trust.

The miracle to say the word ‘mommy’ again and be a family...

Bohdana Matiyash

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If you wish to become parents for a child from an institution, please look at our tips on simple psychology, mentoring and health care. Learn how to treat simple children’s diseases, teach them to be tidy, learn how to solve conflicts, etc.

The leaflets have information on family forms of upbringing.

The manual has concentrated information on the project work ‘Development of deinstitutionalisation based on complex individual expert assessment of social state and needs of children and individual care plans of every child’.

In 2008 we published a manual ‘Social work with families who are in difficult life circumstances’ (based on HHC Ukraine experience).

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FINANCES Income (1998 2008)

Hope and Homes for Children

15 558 000 UAH

UNICEF Private persons

1 454 000 UAH 133 000 UAH

Total income 17 145 0 0 0 UAH

Project

expenditures (1998 2008) FTH project

Total expends 16 881 0 0 0 UAH

11 248 000 UAH

Prevention of abandonment of newborn babies

1 700 000 UAH

Deinstitutionalisation project

1 695 000 UAH

Administrative expenditure

2 238 000 UAH

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Expenditures on other activity (1998 2008) House purchase, reconstruction, furniture and equipment for families (FTHs) Building and equipment for Mother and Baby Units Trainings, seminars (for specialists, beneficiaries, parents) Support to families (FTHs, mothers with babies, families at risk): food, clothes, presents, involvement of specialists to provide consultations, medical treatment, trainings, etc)

Informational campaign (photo exhibition, published materials, video-shots, promotion of family care, search for prospective foster parents)

11 211 000 UAH 1 280 000 UAH

1 208 000 UAH

528 000 UAH

416 000 UAH

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HEARTFELT

THANKS

We would like to thank our partners for cooperation, attention and understanding and to thank all of you for your constant support and participation in HHC work in Ukraine..

Thanks to our joint efforts, over 1000 children in Ukraine have found parents and became happy.

We believe that together we will be able to do more to help all children feel the love and warmth which only a family can provide.

OUR

PARTNERS

Ministry of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports Affairs UNICEF State Department for Adoption and Child Protection State Social Service for Family, Children and Youth District administrations: Kiev, Sumy, Kirovohrad, Volyn, Chernivtsi, Khmelnytsk, Zakarpattia, Rivne, Lviv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Poltava and Autonomous Republic of Crimea Municipal Councils: Makariv, Starosambir, Zhovkva, Liuboml, Boryspil, Brovary, Fastiv, Bila Tserkva, Rokytne, Baryshivka, Skvyra, Mykolaiv, Voznesensk, Novoodesa, Ovidiopol, Tatrbunary, Balta, Vilshanka, Khorol, Bilopillia, Sumy, Rivne, Vinkovetsk, Dunayevets, Putyla rayon state administration, Simferopol, Feodosiya, Sudak, Yevpatoriya, Volodymyr-Volynsk, Novovolynsk, Kovel, Irpin, Bila Tserkva, Slavutych, Rzhyshchiv, Odesa, Kirovohrad, Sumy, Romny and Rivne.

Every Child in Ukraine Child Well-Being Fund Holt International in Ukraine

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Our team today

Mid 90s. The state is in a deep economic and social crisis. The number of orphans, street children and children deprived of parental care is constantly growing and the authorities are not able to solve the problem. A few family-type homes spend the lion’s share of their efforts not on child upbringing but on the simple act of survival.

These were the conditions when the international charity, ‘Hope and Homes for Children’ (HHC), came to Ukraine. For all of us, parents and educators, the moment of meeting representatives of HHC was like the beginning of a new stage in life.

Solutions to the most difficult problems, organisational and moral support, good advice – all this we received from our new friends. As a result – many new families, hundreds of children, now have love and care and homes.

HHC representatives were able to help change the prevailing situation not only for individual families but at a national level as well. Thanks to the active cooperation of HHC Ukraine with state authorities, a law was adopted in 2005 which constructively solves main structural and organizational problems in FTHs and foster families.

Nowadays, HHC Ukraine continues its fruitful work, defining new directions and tasks.

We would like to sincerely thank you, dear friends. We are in your debt! Let God help you in your good work!

Parent-educator, priest Myhail

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If the poignant experiences we had over the last few days gives us reason to talk about this great cause more often, or even at all, then there's a chance that the work of Hope and Homes will remain in the imagination of all those that hear our stories. I have seen a great fire burning in the Ukraine - a fire of hope and a fire of warmth that I'll spend the rest of my life doing whatever I can to keep alive!

Casualty Claims Director Zurich UKGI, Iwan Borszcz

The ‘Magnolia’ organization recommends and supports the projects of HHC Ukraine because our missions are the same: we work to give hope to every child and the possibility to grow up with the love of a family and the security of a home, so that they can fulfill their potential.

President of Ukrainian national charity ‘Magnolia’, Yevhenia Tkachenko

Hope and Homes for Children in Ukraine is one of a few organizations which achieves what it sets out to do showing how to work for the best interest of children. Despite being self-sufficient and having significant resources and the necessary experience and knowledge, HHC Ukraine demonstrates the importance of coordinating the efforts of all parts of society in order to make changes in Ukraine for every child to live and grow up in a family. We are proud that we have such a partner and that we have reached a high level of mutual understanding and support.

Director of ‘Every Child’ Ukraine, Volodymyr Kuzminskyi

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The 10th anniversary of HHC’s work in Ukraine is for me a special, personal celebration because I have been lucky to have worked shoulder to shoulder with unique people for whom to do good work is a regular thing.

‘Hope and Homes for Children’ is where I also learned about caring and humanity.

The network of family-type homes created and by the organisation has provided hundreds of children with warmth and care. They taught both children and many adults – from average persons to high officials – to be sincere and merciful.

Children who have grown up in such families and play a role in society – they have talent, persistence in achieving their goals, respect for other people and a love of life.

It is difficult to count all projects of the organisation. They were all different.

However, one thing was always the same: all the work of HHC Ukraine was always designed to provide happiness for children and adults.

Director of State department on adoption and child protection, Liudmyla Volynets

I joined the organisation in 28 May 1998 and am proud of what we have achieved to create new life for hundreds of Ukrainian children.

Director of Programmes ‘Hope and Homes for Children’ in Central and Eastern European countries in 19982006, Bohdan Rymarenko

The joint-stock company ‘Obolon’ used to support parents who brought up both their own children and those who had been deprived of parental care. Systematic supported started when we got acquainted with HHC Ukraine. Regularly providing support in-kind, we saw and knew how the money was spent. We were glad that ‘Obolon’ has contributed to the growth of the younger generation in Ukraine.

Especially pleasant for us were our relations with representatives of HHC Ukraine workers who were intelligent and, as professionals, helped us to work directly with families.

Head of joint-stock company ‘Obolon’, Serhiy Bloshchanevych

When Hope and Homes for Children UK was founded in 1994 our first project was to rebuild a bombed- out orphanage in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, through talking to the children that lived in the home we found out that all they really wanted was to be part of a loving family. Over the last 14 years, Hope and Homes for Children has become the leading organisation in closing institutions and establishing alternative, family-based care services.

At Hope and Homes for Children, we passionately believe that every child should grow up within a caring family environment where they have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Our new logo, which clearly puts children at the centre of our work, is a reflection of how we have developed as an organisation and our commitment to enabling every child within our reach to grow up within the love of a family and the security of a home.

Materials are prepared by HHC Ukraine workers, edited by Bohdana Matiyash.

Photos are taken by UNICEF, Oleksandr Gliadielov, Costa Anastasakis, Liubov Krushelnytska, Aliona Antonova, HHC workers.

Our contacts: Hope and Homes for Children in Ukraine 4, Baggovutivska St., Office 57 Kyiv 04107 Tel: (044) 483 77 83 Tel/fax: (044) 483 29 79 e mail: office@hopeandhomes.org.ua www.hopeandhomes.org.ua

Bank details Account number: 26005962480687 (KI5-602565-USD-3044-01) Beneficiary: Hope and Homes for Children in Ukraine Bank of beneficiary: First Ukrainian International Bank, Ukraine, Kiev Branch; SWIFT: FUIBUA2X