KIDS GET HELP AROUND THE WORLD

            UNICEF reports that there are over 140 million orphans in the world, over four million are in Russia.  After communism failed and during the transition to democracy, families were placed in terrible situations, creating homelessness and homeless children who in turn perpetuated an ongoing tragic orphan situation in many locations throughout Russia; at one time there was over 70% unemployment.  Many children, after leaving orphanages at ages 16-20, live on the streets; 50% are at high risk, 40% are on drugs or alcohol.  Hughes first came to Vladivostok in 1997 and couldn't help notice the great number of children living in horrific conditions wander the streets looking for food.  She began to help, first just giving them food, and then finding shelter for them.  Over the next decade, this eventually led to the formation of LIVINGHOPE, now a recognized children's charity which is expanding to other parts of the world.  Much of their work is dealing and counseling with the children's family.

            Roberts, initiated a program, Orphan Act, that provides on-going supplemental aid to orphanages, homeless children's shelters, hospitals for abandoned babies, and other facilities for children-in-need.  It starts with an in-country Rotary club participating in the OrphanAct Program that has an on-going relationship with a children's facility.  An OrphanAct Children's Action Team (CAT) is established to facilitate projects and programs with the in-country club and target facility.  Each CAT works with the facility and raises funds to pay for the facility's needs, such as the hostel located in Vladivostok, Russia, that run children's camps each year where the children learn to make decisions to give up drugs, return to school or go back to their families.  Seventeen Russian Rotary Clubs have established CATs and helped orphan facilities by providing playground equipment, medical supplies, food and bedding, etc.  One such program focuses on the children's birthday by recognizing them and giving them a present, many times for the first time ever.  Orphan Act currently works in Russia, Philippines and Romania.  For further information, learn how to donate or volunteer and assist these important programs, visit the following web sites: www.livinghope.org.nz   and www.orphanact.org .