Ukraine Orphan Statistics:
- Ukraine has over 100,000 orphans.
- Only 10% of these are orphaned due to death of a parent; the rest are social orphans – due to alcoholism, abandonment, or imprisonment of parents.
- Many social orphans have experienced abuse and violence from parents who were drug addicts or alcoholics.
- Orphans typically grow up in large state-run homes which may house over 200 children.
- Many children run away from these homes, preferring to live on the street.
- Children usually graduate from these institutions between 15 and 16 years old and are turned out, unprepared for life outside the home.
- Many girls will end up in prostitution. Those who run prostitution rings target orphaned girls who are especially vulnerable due to their lack of options and lack of people who care about what happens to them. Though promised good jobs, they end up on the streets and brothels of cities across Europe.
- Once leaving the orphanage, most of the boys will commit crimes. Many of these will violently die young or end up in prison. Most inmates contract TB in prison.
- Ukraine is now encouraging long-term foster care in private homes as an alternative to large state-run orphanages.
Source: World Orphan Project Inc.