Buckner International: Global Initiatives

Buckner in Russia

NGO Status:
Foundation Buckner Orphan Care founded January 2002

Primary Office:
St. Petersburg. Russia

Russia is Buckner International’s first and longest-standing international partner to orphans. In 1995, Buckner responded to an invitation by Russian officials who sought its expertise to help overcome mounting problems in the country’s orphanages. As a result, Buckner began providing an international adoption program in 1996 and sending large-scale humanitarian aid, including shipping container and emergency support, to the orphanages in 1998.

Officially Buckner began work in the Russian federation in 1999, including foster care in the Vladimir region. As a result of a change in law, the Foundation Buckner Orphan Care was established in January 2002.

Buckner has provided an annual training conference to approximately 100 social service professionals each year since 2005. Social service professionals arrive from various regions through out the Russian Federation. Buckner began a follow-up program to visit orphanages on a weekly basis and soon developed an Orphan Graduate Sponsorship Program in which a limited number of orphan graduates are able to continue with their education.

Buckner began the “Angels from Abroad” hosting program to raise awareness of the need to find adoptive families for older children.

Buckner services and country support include:

• Ongoing humanitarian aid such as shoes, winter boots, socks and other toiletries though volunteers on mission trips.
• Buckner follow-up staff visit children in orphanages providing weekly interaction, emotional and spiritual support.
• Transitional programs. Buckner works with young adults in a “transitional” period between graduation from the orphanage and moving to independent adult living.
• Foster care and adoption. Buckner has completed approximately 201 adoptions from the country of Russia since 1996. We also provide financial support, training and oversight to foster families.
• Church and Community ministries. Buckner has utilized individuals from local churches to provide follow-up services for children in orphanages. A Healthy Families program in St. Petersburg, Russia provides education services, health services, vocational training and professional social services to the local community.
• Assistance to our adoption program and support for in-country staff with interns during the summer.
• Follow-up workers focusing on an evangelical program in the Leningrad region. In partnership with Baptist churches in Russia, this ministry provides support to more than 400 orphans.
• Construction and renovation projects for several orphanages. Projects include kitchen renovations, sewage system and ventilation repairs and completion of the boys’ transitional home. Cribs and other furnishings are also provided.

You can provide change in Russia

In 2008, we hope to:
• Develop the Healthy Families program.
• Complete furnishing of Transitional Living Program.
• Develop Foster Care Conference in conjunction with University in St. Petersburg and Baylor University.
• Develop possibility of increasing number of mission participants through summer sports camps.

If you are interested in learning more about the ministries of Buckner and how you can change Russia, please visit our Web site at www.buckner.org/change.