Kyiv GAP Program Contact: Leslie

An Orphan Smiles is very pleased to be able to provide an avenue of hope and relief for many older orphaned children who are soon to “age-out” of the orphanage system.

Kyiv is a special institution for orphans with minor learning disabilities such as dyslexia or dysgraphia (writing disorder). There are 49 children aged 8 through 16 currently at the orphanage. The children live in 5 groups and attend a special school located within the orphanage compound. Each group operates as a 'family unit' and consists of 9-11children of different ages.

Kyiv does not provide secondary education to the children. After leaving the orphanage at the age of sixteen the children are not academically eligible for most trade schools, let alone colleges or universities. The children are considered mentally retarded and 'unfit' for further education. Out of more than 30 vocational schools in Kyiv only three accept graduates of Kyiv. Click here to read more about the realities of what life has been like for these graduating orphans.

Program Description and Objectives for Kyiv:

• Find a sponsor for each child who is due to graduate from Kyiv and is eligible for vocational training. This need is generally in May of the year the child turns 16.
• Maintain sponsorship for grads for one or two years after leaving the Orphanage. Government operated vocational programs run for one or two years.
• Provide an allowance of $50 a month for living expenses.
• Keep the grad enrolled in school for the duration of the program.
• Keep the grad safe, off the streets and away from a life of crime.
• Provide the feeling that someone cares about them and their future.

Program Details:

The Gap Sponsorship Program for the graduates of Kyiv is under the direction of Bogdan Bashtovy who also runs the Graduate Support Center.

Sponsorship consists of $50.00 per month ($51.43 (US) or $51.96 (International) via paypal) over a period of one to two years.

Payments:

Check Donation:

Mail your check to (in memo field please enter Graduate's name):
An Orphan Smiles, Inc.
PO Box 175
Kimberton, PA 19442-0175

Paypal Donation:

(To set up a recurring payment for your student)

Donation Amount:
Number ofMonthsYears:

Graduate name:

 

Click here to visit our Donation Page to make a one time GAP Paypal payment or to help with other programs.

Expectations:

The students typically attend a monthly meeting on the first Saturday of the month held at the Graduate Support Center. This meeting serves many purposes. The students will sign for and receive their monthly allowance. Students who have not yet mastered budgeting may receive their allowance weekly. Various topics are also covered with handout materials including money management, computer training, employment, housing, safety and medical issues.

Bogdan keeps close contact with the graduates in the program and the students must provide proof of enrollment in school/training and provide copies of grades.

Once or twice a year Bogdan will provide our GAP program coordinator an update on each student enrolled in the program. Generally, photos accompany this progress report.

Correspondence:

Letter writing is such an integral part of this program. The students yearn for this type of interaction with their sponsors who provide them with a tremendous amount of needed encouragement and friendship. We encourage our sponsors to write as often as they wish. An Orphan Smiles has a Translation Team who will translate sponsor’s letters. If students write to sponsors, we will gladly translate their letters which will be emailed directly to the sponsor after translation.

Click here to view helpful guidelines about writing letters for translation to your sponsored child.

Sponsors can send translation request directly to our Translation Request Center at:

On average, each translation request will take seven days for completion, and will be emailed back to the sponsor.

Care Packages:

Sending parcels are not a requirement of the Graduate Assistance Program. However, if sponsors would like to send their student a care package, please refer to our GAP Care Package Guidelines page.

Additional Monetary Donations:

An Orphan Smiles does not encourage sponsors to regularly send additional funding beyond the $50 monthly assistance. Part of the intent of the program is for the students to learn to budget their money. However, small monetary gifts for special occasions like Birthdays, Christmas, Graduation, or possibly a pair of shoes or school supplies are reasonable and are acceptable for sponsors to consider. A general donation to the Graduate Support Center is also another way to help these children.

For more information on this program and the students that are available for sponsorship please contact Leslie at LeslieR@AnOrphanSmiles.org.

Sponsor a Graduate Orphan. With your help, An Orphan Smiles.