Fontanka, the Black Sea and Some Thoughts

Well, It's been quite a trip so far. Our videographers (and fellow English-speakers) left today and I still have one week to tackle what needs to be tackled here. It's been a very educational trip, for sure, though also quite difficult at time. We've been able to do a tonne of research on at-risk youth here in Odessa, which has been incredibly interesting, though often heartbreaking. I was furious at a pair of mothers who, after neglecting their children for years, still reveal no emotion when the government forcibly removed the children from them, placing the children in an orphanage. Though I can take comfort that life will very likely be better for them in the orphanage than in the homes, these kids (5 and 6 years old) will grow up institutionalised, spending more than 10 years in an orphanage lacking parental love and care.

The mama and her beautiful little girl, Sveta. I had a hard time leaving that little girl at the orphanage. Her problem seemed so solvable: a mama who cared about her.

Most of our girls here, despite parental neglect or drunkenness, living on the street or in an orphanage, expressed their dream to be reunited with their parents and family and live happily together. One girl in particular here, will graduate next years and is hoping to go live with her mom. However, her mom doesn't want her and has called Sergei asking him to keep her here at Hope House, not letting her return home. How do you explain this to her: "Sorry dear, I know you want some kind of real family and parental love, but your mom doesn't want you." However, I feel very thankful that I have been able to work with these kids, seeing the successes and playing some minute role in helping improve things. There's not much we can do about replacing their biological family, but we can provide them with people who love and care about them, people who act as a good family should.

Hadya and Tanya, two girls from Hope House. I love watching the girls mix, mingle and laugh together

I'm not sure of this one's life. He was chilling on the street with some friends (who sang me the Spleen song). No one seems to be working with boys here in Odessa... perhaps something for a future project...

Two street kids that knew Kostya, but continue to live on the street

A boy in the orphanage. He was very keen to have his picture taken. These kids swarmed me when they saw my camera. I'm a total sucker for these kids... :)

A little girl, also delighted to have her photo taken :)

A boy in the orphanage, the keeper of the keys. 

One of our Hope House girls, Nadya, with her sister, who is still living at the orphanage (she is too young to be taken into Hope House, who can only accept kids once they age out of the orphanages at the age of 16).

One of the main things I've learned here, though, is that it is next to impossible to help kids who don't want to help themselves. No matter how brilliant the program, the kids have to choose to improve their own lives first, then find the ways (such as these programs) to do so.

A boy at First Step Centre grabbing a bit and having a chat with the Director, Tatiana. Living on the street is the way they've decided to survive. Tatiana's task to to show them alternatives and encourage them to choose an alternative.

On a very different note, I ventured out to see the Black Sea today! :) It's a mere 20 minutes from where I'm staying, so I was a bit surprised that I hadn't ventured there yet! :)

I had no idea that some of the houses around here are around 100 years old! I was under the impression that Fontanka, the town where I am staying just outside of Odessa, was quite new and still developing. Some look quite new, though, it seems they are, in fact, quite old, but have undergone some degree of repair.

My first glimpses of the Black Sea. 

Strangely, this prime real estate is held by transient workers from Moldova who come here to work construction in the warmer months. It was nice, however, to be able to access the water front without worrying about tresspassing!

Walking the fairly treacherous path down to the waterfront :) 

The air was fantastic here: a crisp autumn day with that fine, fine smell of salt water :) 

Alla, the cook of Hope House, whom I've become quite good friends with, despite the language barrier :)

Lina, the Mama of Hope House and for sure a big player in its success! 

And that beautiful body of water, the Black Sea :)

 So, it's been quite a trip so far. I have a lot of work to do yet here in the remaining week, though I don't think we will have a problem working through everything. I hope I'll be able to return quite soon. It's a long and rough road for these kids. I'm happy to be apart of making something a little bit easier... for some of them, anyway...