- 10 Days In America
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In March of 2007, Yuri (along with 7 other orphans) traveled to the United States for a 10 day visit. As part of an adoption program, Yuri and his friends stayed with Christian host families and experienced life as part of a loving family. They also attended a vacation bible school at a church in the Appleton, WI area.
This was an opportunity not just for Yuri, but also for the hosting families to have their eyes opened to the true needs that these children have. The adopion agency chose 8 children for this trip and God matched them up with 8 families. We were fortunate enough to be one of them.
- Russian Statistics
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In Russia and the Ukraine there are over 700,000+ orphans living in 2000 state run orphanages. This does not even count the estimated 2 to 4 million additional children living on the street and in railway stations. Here are some eye-opening figures:
- 80% of the children are behind in school by the time they reach 12 years of age.
- Children who do not get adopted generally leave the orphanage between 16 and 18 years of age.
- 50% of orphaned girls will become prostitutes
- 40% of orphaned children will become addicted to drugs or alcohol
- 40% will commit crimes
- 10% will commit suicide
- 10% will become a functional member of society 130,000 children are abandoned to the state in Russia every year. (up from approximately 67,000 in 1992)
- 4,640 Russian orphans were adopted by Americans in 2005
- 13% of children adopted by Russians are returned to the orphanage.
