Visit to the Potoki orphanage and Komsomolsk Vocational School (09/21/2009)

posted Saturday, 24 October 2009

Another visit by Elizabeth and Stacey:

After visiting the Kremenchuk Baby House and buying the medical equipment, we headed to lunch at a local market. Anya, the Vocational Coordinator for Potoki in the Poltava Oblast (Region), met up with us there for the afternoon visit to Potoki. This is a village internat...a school and home for kids 7+. It is in a rural area, so likely kids never leave the grounds. This home sits beside a river in a very picturesque setting. The main building was built in1898. It was at one time owned by a wealthy royal and was occupied by the Germans in WW2. It has been an orphanage since 1970.

After eating lunch and getting more money exchanged, Vika and Elizabeth shopped using OBS donations at the local market for snacks to take to the children we were visiting at Potoki. For each of the 35 children, they picked up enough for each child to have a banana, pack of gum, juice box, individual snack cake, and 4 to 6 pieces of candy.

We traveled to the Potoki orphanage in two cars. Anya and the driver Nickolay led the way to the orphanage as Pascal followed behind. As soon as we pulled up to the orphanage and Anya stepped out of the car, the children swarmed her with excitement with Anya giving them all hugs. You could see that the children love her. Next the driver Nickolay stepped out and again, the children swarmed him with excitement. Children are honest and their actions show that these children loved Anya and Nickolay. And, Anya and Nickolay felt the same about the children. Photos are being shared so you can see the joy and excitement of our arrival at the orphanage.

The children were directed to go inside and to their classroom. The classrooms were divided into 5 rooms between grades 6^th through 9^th grade. After they were situated, we proceeded into the orphanage by visiting the first classroom. One young boy assisted Nickolay with carrying bags of the items purchased at the local market.

Something to note is as we walked into each classroom, the children would stand-up. We were told that they are taught when an adult walks into a room they are to show respect by standing-up. Honestly, it may sound odd, but we did feel respected when they all stood-up because it was such a humbling experience.

They asked us about where we were from and if we had kids. Many were too shy to ask anything but you could see they were hanging on every word. We stressed that the grad. program was available to them and encouraged them to study hard. One boy had a sister already in the program and he was eager for a sponsor. It looks like next year's class could be 4 or 5 with 2 future auto mechanics in the class.

Money was left for the graduates from last year and this year. Anya will take the kids out to buy whatever they need for school, clothes, etc. Also, Anya asked that instead of buying something for the Potoki orphanage, that we leave money to buy the kids underwear and socks. It was such a humble, basic request that we could not refuse. So, if you ever feel like your donation won't matter, is not enough, etc. think again ! ANYTHING will help these kids that have almost nothing.

After Potoki we went to the vocational school in Komsomolsk. (abt. 20 min. away) This is the school the girls taking cooking attend. I could not understand why these programs take years and years until I met the girls and had the system explained to me. These kids are YOUNG and these vocational programs are really the equivilant of a GED program in the US (high school) plus some vocational training. That is why for example, it takes 2 or 3 years for plastering, cooking, cashier, etc. Without these programs, these kids would have little/no hope for a future. To all the sponsors, THANK YOU !

I met with Katya who is in her second year of the cooking school. She is a beautiful girl with the most stunning blue eyes. Donna is her sponsor. She was decked out in stylish clothes. She has a very close relationship with Nickolay and ran right to him. I was happy she has someone as her mom died last year. It was obvious he is looking out for her. Anya got another warm welcome too. Katya is doing her practical experience right at the school in their kitchen. The other 2nd year student is doing her practical experience at a bakery/coffee shop. Sadly we did not have time to go see her.

We toured the classroom and saw many pictures of fine foods they are learning to prepare and some diagrams about cutting meat. The teacher met with us and explained that the kids are her responsibility inside and out of the classroom. She is the one that sees that they follow the rules like no smoking, drinking, boys in the dorm, etc. She also told us that the newer students are struggling somewhat mainly b/c of the poor education they have gotten so far. I asked if we could get the girls a tutor but the teacher maintained that it is her responsibility and that she will make the extra effort for with these girls. Tutors did not seem to be an option. Going there at least let the teacher know someone is looking out for these kids.

Nastya and Tanya Dovzhenko are our newest students here. They are on the waiting list for a dorm room and in the meantime, they live in a one room apt. with about 5 other people. Let's hope they get into the dorms soon. They seemed very quiet and shy. Both admitted that this school is hard for them but they are working at it. It seems at Potoki they did not learn to memorize or study much so it is hard to be learning that now. They have each other to lean on and I hope they make it. One of them had a crossed eye and I am checking with Anya to see if that can be operated on.

These were the only kids we met in the grad. program. Our schedule was tight and hectic. We wanted to meet more but there simply was not time.

If you sponsor a vocational kid and wonder if it is worth it...IT IS !

Your sponsorship is likely the best thing that has ever happened to these kids. It is hard to explain what it means to them...if they don't write, it is because they probably don't know what to say or are too intimidated to do so. But please don't let that stop YOU from writing to them. Just a short note of encouragement is enough...it doesn't have to be long or eloquent. Just let them know you care and are hoping they will do their best.