iOrphan UK - Our Mission

Our Mission
100% of the money raised will be given to projects and programs that will have the most positive impact on the lives of the children, either improved living conditions, vocational training programs or other facilities that help prepare children to lead productive lives.

All children have the right to grow up and develop to their full potential in a safe and secure family environment, free from poverty and exploitation. They deserve the opportunity to go to school, have access to clean water, nutritional food, basic medical care and shelter. Russian orphans, through no fault of their own, are trapped by their environment of poverty, poor nutrition and illiteracy.

The goal of iOrphan UK for 2011 is to raise a target of £10,000 to help two separate orphanages meet the basic needs of a child and promote programs that will help children develop into healthy and independent adults.

How donations can help:

£20 would provide support so that a one child can receive one full academic month of schooling

£100 will provide a new bed for a child at an orphanage. Many orphans sleep on beds that were purchased 20-25 years ago and no longer meet sanitary or safety requirements.

£500 will cover an annual supply of vitamins for 70 orphans.

£1,500 will cover an annual scholarship for an orphanage graduate or will restore the life of a child with severe facial deformity (Russian Children's Welfare Society).

Kostroma Kids Program – Target £8,000
The Kostroma Kids Program began in 2006. Each summer, our program provides 4 – 6 weeks of activities and field trips for all of the kids at the orphanage, including museum visits, paintball, go-karts, bowling, shopping for new clothes, movies, and forest hikes. Orphans learn to use computers provided by the program, make arts and crafts, and spend quality time together helping the kids to realize how important and special they are. Kostroma Kids Program works with local contacts and the orphanage staff to provide for the year-round needs of the kids as well as ongoing support to orphans as they leave the orphanage to pursue additional schooling. The orphanage director's devotion to the kids and their needs is nothing short of amazing, and she leaves no stone unturned to find additional funds to provide for the 23 children in her care.

For additional information on how Ascent help the kids in the Kostroma Orphanage please take a closer look at who you will be personally supporting through your efforts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDYN33z44TI

Hope Family Commune – Target £2,000
Hope Family Commune is a private non-profit institution whose mission is social rehabilitation of orphans in St. Petersburg. Hope receives no regular financial support from the state. For four years in a row, Hope won first recognition prize at the international contest "Children's Destinies".

The commune includes Hope's main building complete with a cultural center, medical consultancy, home school, craft centers, gym and dining hall for vulnerable elderly and young people. The commune also runs temporary housing for the needy, as well as homeless children shelter for 12 kids.

During 10 years of its existence, Hope helped 36 orphans to graduate from the commune and lead independent productive lives. As the graduates of orphanages are taking their first steps in their independent life, it is up to us, the adults, to influence what kind of steps those will become. "This grass roots organization has saved from trouble and educated fifteen graduates of orphanages so far, teaching them labor skills and making them wholesome society members," said St. Petersburg Governor Mr. Yakovlev. Hope celebrated its 10th anniversary on May 25, 2003.

We kindly ask for your much needed support!