Creating safety, security and stability in children's lives
UNICEF reports 32,878 children who have been orphaned or do not have parental care in Belarus. About 12,000 are in state institutions. Our Belarus Supporting Orphans and Vulnerable Children program, operating in five communities in this country, strives to reduce the number of institutionalized children in Belarus by finding ways to return them to their families or live in alternative care structures. Another of this program‘s goals is to strengthen protective services and activities for these children so they feel secure.
Children are not the only ones who need our help. Parents also need guidance on proper childcare to create a healthy environment in which their children can grow up. By teaching parents clear, sound guidelines for parenting as well as nonviolent conflict resolution, we help them develop a foundation of discipline and respect within their families. Parents also have classes on reproductive health and child abuse prevention available to them.
We recognize that children are critical to social change in Belarus. For that reason, we support public schools that use programs such as life skills education, social interactive theater and youth volunteer activities to develop children’s ability to create social change.
We also help children build their social and leadership skills by empowering them to design and implement their own programs to help other children. These peer-to-peer programs are used in institutions, hospitals, prisons, and for children with disabilities.
Providing a safe, nurturing environment for children under age five is especially important to stimulate development. We create this secure place for learning through our local Early Childhood Development centers.
Our HIV/AIDS health programs in Belarus first focus on prevention of this deadly disease. But we also strive to provide the high-risk populations in this country with nongovernmental avenues for effective and sustainable HIV/AIDS services and education. We accomplish this through a network of organizations and community groups.
We work to give Belarusian children the safe and stable environment they need to survive. Help us give these young people every opportunity to flourish.
