Orphan Outreach

Special Report: June 14, 2023

Today marks the 478th day of the war in Ukraine.
Air raid sirens sound often in Dnipro, the home of Orphan Outreach’s Aging Out Program. Since January, missiles and drones have hit two residential areas, a clinic, several businesses, a veterinary hospital, and an emergency call center.

IN UKRAINE
For the 27 young adults who continue to receive support in the Dnipro program, they find comfort in gathering together for Bible Study, meals, game nights, and quiet weekends hiking in nearby mountains. The staff is tireless as they provide counseling, mentoring, and emergency assistance to both those who have been in the program for years and those who have recently aged out of traditional orphan care. When meeting in person isn’t possible, phone calls and Zoom meetings become a lifeline. Nastya serves as a mentor for the younger women and helps to tell stories of hope for Eastern Europe. Part of the global marketing team for Orphan Outreach, her photography, and videos are often shared on social media and in special reports like this one. Today, she turns the camera on herself to share what it has been like to live in the midst of war. Watch her video below.

Orphan Outreach continues to serve not only the young adults in our Aging Out program in Ukraine, but children and families who are unable to leave the country.
What began as the emergency provision of meals to more than 300 families has become on going care for physical, emotional, and educational needs. And a partnership with the International Leadership Development Center(ILDC) continues to provide mental health support and training to thousands of children and adults in Ukraine, filling a critical need for qualified social-emotional counselors and caregivers.

IN LATVIA
Three Ukrainian young women remain in Latvia, establishing their lives with the ongoing support of the Orphan Outreach Aging Out Program. Sasha is now married and has given birth to a baby girl, and her son Timuris discovering the joy of being a big brother. Anya is training to be a hairstylist. And Julia is eager to join the staff at the Family Support Centre, where classes are provided for young moms and their little ones.

Ukraine Program Director Andrey and his family also remain in Latvia, now serving not only the young adults in Ukraine but also helping young adults in the Latvian Aging Out Program navigate the complexities of life. He and his wife Anna share this update.

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Special Report: February 24, 2023

February 24 marks one year of war in Ukraine.

It has been a year of loss, grief, pain, confusion, frustration and so many other emotions. Through it all, we have witnessed God’s beauty in brokenness. We have been able to fulfill our calling to shine brightest where the world is darkest. Amidst many tears, we have seen hope restored in the lives of the orphaned, vulnerable, and refugees. Thank you for joining us on this rescue mission throughout Eastern Europe.

Blessings,
Rey Diaz, Orphan Outreach President

Orphan Outreach has walked with our young adults in the Aging Out programs throughout Eastern Europe, providing individualized guidance, mentorship, counseling, and prayer. Our staff and young adults stay connected, even as the war has resulted in many young adults relocating to other countries. A few of our Ukrainian young adults have moved to Latvia and are receiving care and support as they adjust to a new home. We are also investing time with teens and younger men who are living in technical and vocational school dormitories—offering activities ranging from sports and fitness to cooking classes.

Orphan Outreach has served additional ministries in response to the war:

• Maximum Foundation, a community center in Dnipro serves at-risk families, foster families and guardianship families by providing food, educational and recreational activities and professional services.
• International Leadership Development Center (ILDC) provides individual counseling, support groups and training for social service professionals and volunteers addressing the overwhelming trauma that every citizen in Ukraine is facing.
• Humanitarian relief, as we support the transport of humanitarian aid relief to various parts in Ukraine.

Through it all, these things have remained at the heart of Orphan Outreach’s care:

• We continue to walk alongside 32 young adults who have aged out of traditional orphan care in Ukraine, serving them and their families no matter what the circumstances.
• Our office in Dnipro has served as a safe haven for young adults.
• Our staff’s faith, resolve, resiliency, and commitment to the children and families in Ukraine and across Eastern Europe has not changed.

“The war in Ukraine has impacted each country, each staff member, child, and young adult we serve in Eastern Europe in various ways, and it has reminded us all of the brokenness of this world. The uncertainty and unknown that they wake up to each day has caused the staff and graduates to experience His new morning mercies, as each day is a gift from the Lord, and to lean more heavily into one another for community. In the midst of chaos, they are grateful for the global family that surrounds them." Katherine Cheng, Orphan Outreach Vice President of Programs

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Update: August 26.

Six months. 

While the war in Ukraine no longer leads the headlines in U.S. news, Orphan Outreach continues to meet the needs of individuals caught in the midst of conflict. Through our Eastern European Emergency Relief Fund, families in Dnipro are continuing to receive hot meals, groceries, essential supplies, as well as trauma counseling, mentorship, and daily psychological and spiritual support.

In addition, Orphan Outreach has partnered with ILDC ministries, providing people across Ukraine with counseling, support groups, educational classes, and additional training for specialists, psychologists, social workers, and ministry leaders. Through these efforts, over 250,000 individuals have had access to online webinars and blogs featuring topics like “how to talk to children about war” and more than a dozen support groups have been formed for both refugees and caregivers.

Orphan Outreach President Rey Diaz shares, "I’m excited about this partnership because I feel like there are some basic human needs like food and water that we’ve been able to provide, but as holistic beings, that’s simply not enough. They’re going to have deep wounds that we don’t want to ignore so through faith and training we want to be able to offer support for that. And thanks to your generous donations and continued partnership, we have been able to do just that."

You can continue to help Orphan Outreach bring this holistic care to those affected by the war in Ukraine by donating to our Eastern European Emergency Relief fund.

Update: May 15.

Care continues for the young adults we serve in Dnipro and western Ukraine. In-person gatherings remain a constant source of comfort, and our staff provides counseling, food, and supplies. And ongoing care continues for families unable to flee the country. We are now serving nearly 300 families (representing 600 children) with food, water, supplies, and Christ-centered counseling. 

The young women who originally traveled to Romania are now settled in Latvia, where Orphan Outreach has an aging out program which can provide the full scope of care needed. A number of other young women in our Ukrainian program have relocated to other EU countries where they are staying with host families and friends.

In addition to the ongoing work to provide physical care for children and families, Orphan Outreach has partnered with ILDC ministries, providing people across Ukraine with counseling, support groups, educational classes, and additional training for specialists, psychologists, social workers and ministry leaders. Over 250,000 individuals have had access to online webinars and blogs featuring topics like "how to talk to children about war," more than a dozen support groups have been formed for both refugees and caregivers, and classes have started to help children with learning loss due to school closures.

And in Russia, food shortages and job loss continue to affect the most vulnerable young adults in our aging out program there. All are struggling to cope with an unknown future, and our staff is working diligently to offer wraparound care.

Your generosity continues to provide essentials like food, safe shelter, and loving support, and offers encouragement as our in-country leaders assess long-range ministry plans for all whom we serve.

Update: March 16.

The young adults we serve in Ukraine remain safe and sheltered. Those in Dnipro have had the opportunity to gather in person for a meal and prayer (and to celebrate a birthday), and those in western Ukraine continue to volunteer their time to help others who are fleeing the ongoing conflict. The young women in Romania continue to be treated with great care as they find temporary respite, and discussions are in progress about the best way to bridge language barriers and provide longer-term care.

In addition to our young adults, we are now providing ongoing care for 130 families (representing 300 children) in eastern Ukraine who are not able to flee the country. This care includes food, water, supplies, mentoring, and Christ-centered counseling and prayer.

Update: March 4.

The young adults we serve in Ukraine are all safe and sheltered. Most in our aging out program remain in and around Dnipro, where they are receiving ongoing care. Four young adults are now in western Ukraine, where they are volunteering to help others who are seeking refuge and rest. And six young adults are being provided respite in Romania for the present season. Continue to pray for our boots-on-the-ground team in Ukraine and Eastern Europe as they work tirelessly to care for each and every one in their charge. Pray also for wisdom and discernment as we continue to work in an ever-changing environment to provide stability for these children.

Your generosity is ensuring our young adults in Ukraine have the essentials they need – things like food, safe shelter, and loving support -  in this time of crisis. And your donations are doing even more. You are now restoring hope to vulnerable children and their families in Ukraine by providing urgently-needed food. 

Update: February 26.

Yesterday (February 26th), approximately one-third of the children in the Orphan Outreach Aging Out Program began the journey to seek refuge in Western Ukraine and neighboring countries offering safe haven. Though they have been provided transportation and essentials, the trek is slow and risky. Churches have been opening their doors to offer respite along the way, as the group adheres to curfews set in place by Ukraine, and the group is close to reaching their first destination where local ministries await to welcome them.

The remaining young adults who have opted to stay in Dnipro at this time have been provided food, water and supplies, and the Orphan Outreach Ukrainian team remains in constant communication with them all, responding immediately to meet ongoing needs.

As we've shared, we are working to ensure these young adults continue to have the essentials they need during this crisis. You can help greatly in these two ways:

• Pray for protection over all the graduates, the Ukrainian staff team, and their families. Pray that in the midst of chaos and so much uncertainty, the peace of the Lord would fill their hearts in place of fear. Pray for wisdom in the many decisions being made. Pray that those traveling would safely reach Western Ukraine. And pray for God’s glory and renown to be seen in such dark times.
• Give to our Ukraine Crisis Fund. Your generosity goes towards meeting the immediate needs of the young adults we serve in Ukraine.

On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine.

The young adults who are in our Aging Out Program are safe and are doing as well as can be expected. They are praying together as the Russian attack commences, and our Orphan Outreach team is praying alongside them as they and all of Ukraine face an uncertain future. Our Ukraine team currently has provisions to provide for their care—including food and shelter. Of course, this situation can change at any moment.

Our Aging Out Program provides a safety net of support to young adults who have transitioned out of traditional orphan care. To these kids, we are family. We help them navigate the complexities of life.

Including life in the midst of war.

Our mission is to make sure these children continue to have the essentials they need. You have asked how you can help. Here are two ways:

• Pray for our global team, the children we serve, the country of Ukraine, and the children throughout Eastern Europe who are being impacted by this crisis. 
• Give to our Ukraine Crisis Fund. Your generosity goes towards meeting the immediate needs of the young adults we serve in Ukraine. 

Our global team is in constant communication to stay apprised of this rapidly-changing situation, and we will continue to provide updates as they are available. We will also keep you posted on opportunities to provide care for the children we serve, not only in Ukraine but throughout Eastern Europe.

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