Snezhnoye Orphanage - Ukraine

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The Snezhnoye Orphanage is located in a very poor town in a remote region of Ukraine. As a result, this orphanage has many unmet needs. Snezhnoye is home to 45-50 children ages 2-17. There are 35 staff members at the facility to care for the children. It is clear that the Director loves the children and that they love her very much!

Until the mid-90’s most of the people in the community depended upon the coal industry for employment, but then the mines were closed. Unemployment and poverty were so serious that many families had to abandon their children for survival. In 1996, the effects of the economic decline in the community resulted in the opening of the Snezhnoye Orphanage. Some people took in older children, became their guardians, and then forced them to dig coal in the closed and dangerous conditions of the coal mines. They made them work at night so that nobody could see it and report them. Some of these children were rescued and are now residents of the Snezhnoye orphanage.