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| ORGANISATION: | ODESSA CHARITY FUND "THE WAY HOME" |
| AREA: | ODESSA, UKRAINE |
| GRANT PERIOD: | 2006-2007 |
| BENEFICIARIES: | 650 STREET CHILDREN PER YEAR |
There are an estimated 3,000 children living on the streets in Odessa,
with new children arriving every day from rural regions of Ukraine and neighbouring countries. Drug abuse is rampant amongst these children and research by the Regional AIDS Centre shockingly showed up to 40% prevalence rates of HIV and Hepatitis B & C. Almost all the chldren also had some form of sexually transmitted disease.
These children typically build ‘communities’, where older members co-opt younger kids into stealing and prostitution in return for shelter, money, food, drugs and protection. There are estimate to be over 100 of these 'communties', yet very little of the information produced on HIV/AIDS or drug abuse is accessible to street kids.
The Odessa Charity Fund “The Way Home” have been providing a drop in centre and services to adult drug users in Odessa for over 10 years. When they expanded their work to include a shelter for street kids, they realised the extent of the HIV/AIDS issue amongst street youth.
EJAF funded them to develop a programme to reach children on the street and in government institutions via their (rehabilitated) peers, together with a social worker, psychologist and doctor they provide information on HIV/AIDS and HIV testing and counselling. They also distribute condoms, food, soap, and provide referral to a range of services at the project’s new drop in centre.
Adult volunteers within the community are also trained to act as lay social workers, identifying children at risk and following up on those who have been through the programme.