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Bringing Life To Ukrainian Street Children
Crouched in a door step sat a boy less than 10-years-old. His stomach was too weak to rumble with hunger any more. The "high" that came with sniffing glue provided the only comfort available to this Ukrainian street child. Then one day someone cared...
Association Emmanuel has partnered with ninety-six children's ministers and churches across the country in beginning Superbook Clubs. In the Ukrainian area of Zaporozhye, a Superbook Club is a safe-haven to numerous homeless boys suffering
from toxicomania. After receiving godly counsel, seven have gotten better and returned to their homes.  In response to these children's overwhelming hunger for truth and acceptance, OBI's Bless-A-Child program sponsored a two-week recreation camp for Superbook Club participants last summer. Eighty-five children came from six Ukrainian regions by bus and train. Included in this number were the seven from Zaporozhye.
Tattered and dirty, free clothing, shoes, and personal hygiene items were given to the children upon their arrival. Plates were piled high with food during each meal. Little hands gripped onto camp counselors, eager for attention. Over 90% of the campers were from poor homes or were homeless, having little or no positive adult relationships.
"(Our goal was to) teach the children how to practice the Word of God in their life and preach the Gospel to others," said Association Emmanuel's Galina Kucher. Through watching episodes of Superbook, singing songs, playing games and participating in contests, campers solidified their new found knowledge of each days' lesson. Campers also made handcrafts, learned music, drama, modeled clay, and swam. Outtings to a nearby Ukrainian Navy base and aquarium were enjoyed by all. "Most of them had never been in such places of entertainment because they live in poverty," commented Galina.
Pleased with the results of this first camp, Galina and Association Emmanuel hopes to be able to provide the same life-changing experience for more Ukrainian children this coming summer.
More street children need to have the opportunity to be an unlikely guest at someone's table of hope. Help OBI Bless-A-Child somewhere in the world today...
Bless-A-Child today!
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