|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
To donate to this Family Care Foundation Project, please note Project NAME and then click here. State of the Poor in Russia and Eastern Europe
Several of the groups most affected, and least able to adapt were the aged, the physical and mentally handicapped and orphan children. In the past these individuals were provided for by state funding, funding which has either dramatically decreased and in many cases has ceased entirely. To complicate matters many qualified staff and administrators of institutions have quit their profession to seek employment elsewhere as a matter of financial necessity.
The term “orphans” has taken on a new meaning in the countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. This term does not apply only to children who are parentless, but to the estimated 4 - 8 million children who have lost one parent, and because of problems in the home, usually related to alcohol and/or child abuse and economic hardship, the children are placed in a state institution.
Another group, “street children”, also falls into this category but are without the benefit of any state care. These children are most often the victims of criminal groups. At present only private charity and mission organizations provide any hope or assistance for the vast majority of these children.
In Russia today, seventy-five percent of the children who leave state orphanages, at the mandatory age of 18, become prostitutes, drug dealers or are involved in other types of crime. Many have a hard time finding employment because a large number of them have been wrongly diagnosed as being mentally handicapped. Institutions do this in order to get more money from the state for their care or, more commonly, to give the children medication, thereby keeping them sedated and thus easier to care for. (The prospects for the truly handicapped are even bleaker.)
According to statistics compiled by Médecins Sans Frontières,
about 5 million beggars, including 2 million children, make their living
on the streets of Russia alone. These people are without the protection
afforded to most citizens and are often the victims of organized crime
and criminal gangs. Handicapped children especially are forced to beg
and turn the money over to others. There are many places in the larger
cities where handicapped children can be bought or “rented”.
The more physically disabled a child is, the higher the price.
The situation is likely to continue for some time. Many of the charity organizations that were helping in different programs are now themselves handicapped by the enforcement of a law passed in Russia in 1997, directed against new religious organizations operating in the country. Western companies which were working in the CIS and which made significant contributions to various charity related programs in the past have closed or greatly reduced their presence due to the continuing economic decline. Thus we see an ever-increasing need coupled with a decrease in available funding. The Challenge
There is a growing awareness that local groups of concerned individuals may be the only ones to meet the challenges outlined above. We believe that hope lies with the local indigenous programs which provide not only the immediate assistance required such as food, shelter and clothing, but education and training programs that offer hope of gainful employment.
Thus, we feel the biggest challenge that will produce lasting results is twofold: In the short term it is to encourage and provide assistance with material aid to these local, indigenous programs. And to provide educational assistance and organizational skills to these individuals and institutions that have effective programs with real potential and which can be sustained locally in the long term.
From the remnants of the former state network of hospitals and institutions, various individuals and groups of concerned people have united to form an alternative. These are private “family orphanages” that encourage the placement of orphans and the handicapped into homes of private individuals. These provide a better, family atmosphere to children and give them a better sense of security, personal care and individual worth.
Several institutions and private orphanages have also formed, which exist
on private contributions and which sometimes receive a small allotment
from the state. These centers have a higher sense of motivation and are
more concerned about the individual children in their care. Most of these
are places with a real sense of mission that are sincerely concerned about
the children.
In the past, 95% of all children born with handicaps were placed in state
institutions that often provided only rudimentary care. The statistics
remain basically the same today although there is a growing awareness
in the public of both the needs and the possibilities of the handicapped
living an independent and productive life. More needs to be done to encourage
the successful programs, which provide training and opportunities for
the handicapped. The Objective of Norrøne Kristne Hjelpeorganisasjon
The stated objective of Norrøne Kristne Hjelpeorganisasjon is to provide assistance to those programs and individuals that are involved in active work, which constructively address the issues outlined. Our aim is to provide the assistance and aid, which will help indigenous
programs to succeed. We intend to do so by the following: B) To collect, transport and distribute humanitarian aid and gifts to provide assistance to organizations and institutions, such as orphanages, prisons, needy families and people in extreme circumstances. C) Providing educational materials and contacts with groups, institutions and individuals that can provide training that will benefit the handicapped and disadvantaged.
Norrøne Kristne Hjelpeorganisasjon is a Norwegian-registered,
non-profit organization. (Registration number 980 191 389) It also operates
as a project of Family Care Foundation, a tax-exempt charity in the USA.
Norrøne Kristne Hjelpeorganisasjon personnel have lived and worked
over the last 7 years in Russia, Poland, and Latvia, as well as carried
extensive work for several years prior in Estonia, the former East Germany
and the Czech Republic.
Doing Best By Doing Good
Recommending a Strategy Companies that associate closely with nonprofits - that genuinely adopt a nonprofits cause and measurably help its work - find that an interesting thing happens. What happens Supporters of the organization begin to look favorably on the company, even to buy its products if it will help the cause. The public at large may see the company in a different light - as one that cares about people as well as profits. The company’s image is softened; its appeal to consumers grows. Partnerships can also help strengthen relationships with employees, who want to feel proud of their employers. Partnerships also help a company stand out from the crowd. Goal and Objective To collect, transport and distribute humanitarian aid and gifts to organizations and institutions such as orphanages, prisons, needy families and people in extreme circumstances. Provide educational materials and contacts with groups, institutions and individuals that can provide training that will benefit the handicapped and disadvantaged. Today’s Situation We have extensive contacts and good working relationships with both government officials, as well as numerous non-government (NGO’s) in receiving countries. Network of highly motivated workers with experience. . Advantages and disadvantages Benefit To Sponsors In some cases costs can be cut or reduced, especially in warehousing and additional handling. Markets can be protected from “dumping” or undercutting prices. Good publicity. Sponsors will be seen as being involved and making a contribution to society. To view an Adobe Acrobat version of our brochure, click
below: To donate to this Family Care Foundation Project, please note Project NAME and then click here. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
