Випускники – Your Help UA

записано на відео

Свідчення · ім'я приховано · аудіо 2026-01-28

«Під час війни ми ловили бездомних собак, щоб вижити»

Це не сенсація. Це реальне свідчення дитини, яке ми зафіксували на відео — і не одне.

Підліток розповів це спокійно — як факт. У їхньому селі тоді не було їжі взагалі. Він пам'ятає, як вони ловили собак цілою групою, щоб поділитися. Йому було 9 років.

Ми берегли цю історію, поки не знайшли спосіб розповісти її без сенсації. Це не «жертва». Це покоління, яке вижило — і тепер тримає в собі мовчазний шрам, з яким нам разом працювати.

Вік на заїзді: 10 Контекст: окупація · голод Робота: індивідуальна психологія

регулярна тема

Team collective testimony · teens ages 13–16

"In the families children come from before entering an orphanage, it is even worse, than in the orphanage itself"

This is the most painful truth educators share with us. An orphanage is a bad place. But the family a child comes from is often worse.

That is why children are not running from something worse, but searching for something better. They come to our center not for "social aid" — they come for the atmosphere: calm, an adult who listens, shared prayer, no shouting.

And that is exactly why they come back again — as long as we still have space.

They often return: ~40% What they ask for when they return: "one more week"

3 years of support

Kateryna · 14 years old · came twice

"I don't have parents — but I have a Heavenly Father. He is correcting my character"

The first time Katya came to a camp session from an orphanage — quiet, with her fists in her pockets. She barely spoke. Before leaving, she folded a sheet of paper and said nothing.

A year later, she returned — her foster father brought her (the family is not Adventist). She came on her own and asked to join.

Before leaving, she told her mentor: "I started praying. I stopped swearing. That means a lot to me." And she added the phrase we still remember: "I don't have parents, but I have a Heavenly Father. He is correcting my character."

Age: 14 Camp sessions: 2 Status: foster family

critical age

Teens ages 15–16 · every camp session

"In a year we will leave the orphanage. Could you adopt us?»

At the last camp session, several older teens asked the mentors directly: "Couldn't you adopt us?"

This is not a random wish. In 1–2 years they will age out of the system — without a family, without housing, without independent living skills. The future is frightening, and they understand that.

That is why we launched a separate initiative — Preparing families for adoption. We work with both sides at the same time: preparing families who can welcome them, and the teens themselves — so that a home is not just "formal," but real.

Age: 15–16 Request: direct request for a family Status: ~30% find a family

Те, що сталося після заїзду

«Під час війни ми ловили бездомних собак, щоб вижити»

"In the families children come from before entering an orphanage, it is even worse, than in the orphanage itself"

"I don't have parents — but I have a Heavenly Father. He is correcting my character"

"In a year we will leave the orphanage. Could you adopt us?»

These stories are the result of your donation.