Russia

There are 140 million people living in Russia which takes up most of Eastern Europe and north Asia. However, there is a prevalence of drug use and alcoholism, which may explain why such a large number of the country’s children are abandoned or under educated.

The Problem
• An estimated 1 million children live on the streets

• There are nearly 800,000 orphans in the country

• At age 18, Russian orphans are forced to leave orphanages and fend for themselves. A lot of these children end up homeless, commit suicide or sell themselves to prostitution.

• School completion rates are falling and fewer low-income children have access to education

• 40% of children have iodine deficiency disorders due to poor water sanitation.

What Buckner is Doing
Russia is Buckner’s first and longest-standing international partner to orphans for over 10 years. In 1995, Buckner responded to an invitation by Russian officials who sought its expertise to help overcome mounting problems in the country’s orphanages.

Today Buckner continues to help children in Russia through the following programs:

Spiritual Enrichment in St. Petersburg
A volunteer coordinator challenges local churches to develop an orphan ministry and care for children in orphanages through weekly mentoring programs.

Healthy Families Program
Provides education, professional counseling and social services to help keep vulnerable families together.

Humanitarian Aid
Local Russian churches are now collecting funds and purchasing diapers as well as other necessities to care for children remaining in the orphanages.Through humanitarian aid support and distribution of new shoes, Buckner has sent more than 235,881 pairs of shoes to Russia to date.

Orphanage Construction and Renovation Projects
In order to help serve the country’s high number of orphans, Buckner conducts projects that include kitchen renovations, sewage system installation and ventilation repairs. Cribs and other furnishings are also provided.

International Adoption
Through Dillon International, Buckner is able to facilitate Russian adoptions. Buckner has been placing Russian orphans in American homes since 1995. Buckner Adoption & Maternity Services received its accreditation from the Russian Federation in 2008.

Angels from Abroad
Angels from Abroad is an orphan hosting program which provides Russian orphans with an opportunity to spend 2-3 weeks living in North Texas. They get to experience American culture and share their Russian culture. It also helps raise awareness about the needs for adopting older children. Learn more at www.angelsfromabroad.org.

How You Can Help:
• Pray: Make a commitment to pray for the children and families of Russia.

• Give: Make a donation online to support any of the programs listed above or call 214-758-8050 to make a donation by phone.

• Be an Advocate: Share the needs of children in Russia with your church, community, family and friends.

• Collect Shoes: Host a shoe drive or give a pair of shoes to help orphans in Russia. Learn more at www.ShoesForOrphanSouls.org.