Project Description
It is heartbreaking to see lonely children abandoned by their own parents. Without the example of a functioning family, these small children are institutionalized and then are unable to figure out how to live once they leave the orphanage. These boys and girls are very scared — scared of their future and unable to discern between hopeless temptations and valuable paths of development.
Our dream at The Harbor Kursk is to give every young man and woman graduating from an orphanage or raised by a family at risk the support network they need so they won’t feel all alone in the world. This will help these children from ‘hard places’ become independent, highly-functioning members of society, build healthy families of their own, support themselves and others in difficult situations. Most of the kids that the Lord has brought into our care have mental or physical health challenges. Due to their limited abilities, it is even more difficult for these young men and women to integrate well into society.
We teach boys and girls basic self-care, household chores, budgeting, paying the bills, cooking, and other essential life skills. We also provide career counseling, introduce them to foundations of family life, help develop creative skills and work through motivation and personal issues. We are always there for them whenever they feel scared or unable to handle a difficult situation.
We start working with the kids while they are still at orphanage schools, but they are in greatest need of support after they graduate. Our programs include:
- A residential post-orphanage transitional care program
- Workshops, art and cooking classes at orphanages and vocational schools
- Seminars, classes and group events for orphanage graduates, residential program graduates and other program participants and their families
- Individual help and support for orphanage graduates
- One-on-one meetings and support for orphanage graduates, other program participants, and residential program graduates
- Support for young mothers and families of orphanage graduates
Our vision is to break the vicious cycle of orphanhood to see an orphan grow into a good parent who loves and cares for their children. We want to see God’s love fill the heart of each lonely orphan boy and girl, giving them the gift of a happy and fulfilled life.