Staggering Statistics

Take a minute to read through this carefully. It is mind boggling…

In Central and Eastern European countries alone (this would include Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania, etc, but NOT Russia), there are more than 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN who have been abandoned by their families for one reason or another and are living in "public care" (that's the nice way to put it). Some do not survive because of serious medical complications…some do not survive because of lack of medical attention, lack of food, and/or lack of LOVE. 
 

Major Challenges for Children:

• Many children get an unhealthy start in life
• Ukraine is the country worst affected by HIV/AIDS in Europe.
• Care and treatment for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS is poor.
• Of Ukraine’s eight million children some 96,000 live in state-run children’s institutions such as orphanages, boarding schools and shelters.
• A prevention-oriented juvenile justice system is yet to be established
• Ukraine is a source country for trafficking in human beings

The fate of an orphan:

96% of abandoned orphans will turn to alcohol Abuse

40% of abandoned orphans will use some form of illegal drugs

22% of abandoned orphans will use injected drugs (and share... the same needles)

80% of abandoned orphans will  turn to some form of crime

11% of abandoned orphaned will be raped

17% of abandoned orphan will enter (or will be forced) into prostitution

26% of abandoned orphans will contract HIV/AIDS

15% of abandoned orphans will commit suicide