In the poorest region of the poorest country in Europe, with more than 50% unemployment, a high level of alcoholism, and many able-bodied adults moving abroad to find jobs, many children in Transnistria are left to fend for themselves or placed in overcrowded and underfunded government-run children’s homes.
The founder of our partner organisation was heartbroken when he realised the plight of these children and immediately set about asking for donations of warm clothing and shoes for them.
From those small beginnings, this work has expanded to address many different needs in the community. They place particular emphasis on providing life skills and vocational training for young people who leave state care at eighteen years old without ever having been shopping, or washed clothes or dishes in their lives. These and many other projects are largely funded by running a chain of second-hand shops that provide employment as well as cheap, quality goods for nearby residents.
Crossroads’ continuing shipments to this group provide items ranging from computers and household goods for training centres and group homes through clothes and toys for those in state care to wallpaper, baby care items, and furniture.
The Yakimenko family, with 4 young children, were living in a broken-down hovel. Our partners supplied them with paint, wallpaper, cement, carpet and helpers to transform the place into a comfortable home.
In the chronically underfunded government-run children’s homes in the break-away region of Transnistria, Crossroads’ continuing shipments go a long way to providing good clothing to the children in state care.
Lyuba grew up in a state-run children’s home and was delighted to “get her freedom” when she turned 18. Like many such young people she unfortunately lacked necessary skills such as time management, budgeting, or how to find a job. She went down a very dark path, became pregnant, and when she gave birth to baby Alexander, he had some physical deformities.
She wanted to abandon him, but one of our partner’s workers (who had also grown up in a state home) was able to encourage Lyuba and put her in contact with various agencies who could help her. Alexander had a surgical correction and is now happily attending kindergarten. His mother continues to receive skills training and psychological support from our partners, and is enjoying being a mother.
A place in one of our consignee’s vocational programmes, such as this sewing class, is greatly coveted! Crossroads has provided much of the furniture as well as fabric and haberdashery items.
