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ORPHANACT - A BEACON OF LIGHT
(Submitted by Steve Moksnes)
Did you know that there are 4 million orphans and homeless
kids in Russia? Thousands die on the streets every winter. Did you know
that after leaving the orphanage, 50% fall into the high risk category, 40%
become drug users, 40% commit crimes and 10% commit suicide?
In orphanages, there is one adult caregiver for every
thirty children. These children do not understand the meaning of love and
affection, as the first two years in the orphanage confines them to a crib.
During their time at the orphanage, the children get little or no physical
affection or mental excitement. They leave the orphanage at age 16 with
almost no technical or social skills. A life of crime, drugs and prostitution
awaits them.
With the collapse of the Russian economy, there is little
money to support orphanages and homeless shelters. So, in the Spirit of
Rotary and its long tradition of helping children through international
projects, OrphanAct, sponsored by The Rotary Club of Kihei-Wailea, was
founded. OrphanAct has become a beacon of light in an otherwise very dark
part of our world.
Its founders Steve Moksnes and Kira Bogouslavski met when
they were involved in separate organizations, each helping orphans in Russia
and other countries. Steve, a member of Rotary, contacted Kira and proposed a
Rotary Project to help orphans. Kira said, "Let's do it"! He joined Rotary
and together they began to work on the project concept and created
OrphanAct.
OrhanAct’s goal is to help orphans in Russia by providing
humanitarian aid projects via the Internet. In April 2004, Kira Bogouslavski
debuted OrphanAct at the Russian Rotary Conference. After the conference,
District Governor Vladimir Donskoy of District 5010 (eastern Russia, Alaska,
and Northwest Canada) gave his letter of support. Rotary International
President, Glenn Estes, who was also at the conference, voiced his support
and the Rotary Clubs of Russia were ready to move ahead.
The process begins when Russian Rotary Clubs identify
projects at local orphanages, children’s hospitals and homeless shelters. The
Russian Rotary clubs take photos of the projects, the children and the
facilities. The photos and text are posted on the OrphanAct website. U.S.
Rotary clubs access the website, see the photos and may then choose a project
for their club to support. OrphanAct volunteers facilitate the processing of
the project by communicating with the U.S Rotary club and the Russian Rotary
club. Photos and receipts of the completed project are posted on the
OrphanAct website.
Projects vary in size and type. Some of the projects that
are currently underway are: $25,000 to provide heaters, appliances,
furniture, fixtures for 100-bed children's hospital in Magadan, $2,300 for
sports equipment and $963 for 450 Sweaters for Vladivostok orphanages.
Through the Internet, clubs have a unique opportunity to track, audit and see
their club sponsored project.
Club funds are transferred directly from the U.S Rotary
Clubs to the Russian Clubs to support the project. Gayle Knepper, the
District 501 International Grant Chairperson, assures that Rotary has had
excellent success with funds being used for their intended purpose. Since
1991, 16 million dollars of Rotary funds have been used for various projects
in Russia.
To learn how your Rotary Club can be part of this exciting
project, please contact Steve at steve@orphanact.org
, phone him at 808-874-8518, Kira at Kira@orphanact.org
or log on to their website at www.orphanact.com.
Leanna Roberts
Rotary Club of Lahaina
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