What About Education? Part 9

Graduation without computer skills )-:

Great beginnings!

In 2006, I planted a seed of inspiration. MUCH completed the Sweet Dreams II mattress and bedding project and now it was time to think of another project that would motivate the children to reach for higher goals. While meeting with the administration at the orphanage, I asked if they would be interested in starting a computer laboratory for the children. I suggested that it would take some time to raise enough money for to buy three or four computers. They began the investigation process.

When I returned on my next visit three months later, I had approval of my Board of Directors to begin the project. To my surprise, they had purchased six computer systems. The federal government had given grants to the orphanages of Ukraine, thus, they decided to use some of that money to begin the computer program. When they confessed that they did not have any money in the budget to pay a teacher, I asked what it would cost to have someone teach one computer class a day. I was told $20 a month would be enough.

This spark of encouragement, agreeing to provide this stipend, moved the idea into second gear. One of the teachers found a class to learn how to teach computer skills to mentally challenged children. When I asked this man about his background in computers, he told me that it was limited. I further asked where his aptitude would come from. He answered, “I am a teacher. I will learn it, and then I will teach it.” I later learned that his degree was in teaching the Ukrainian language. Yet, he had been hired to teach art and woodcraft. He is truly a man who lives who he is, a teacher.

They now have seven computers and a PowerPoint projector and screen. They are teaching the children graphic art, word processing and other Office programs, and a number of other skills that will help them compete in the 21ts century. They are also using the computer classroom to facilitate other classes and programs.

Our part in the computer classes for the children remains small, although we continue to sponsor this program. We are seeing great changes in the children. Instead of going outside and getting into trouble, or sitting in front of the television for hours, many of the children are going to the computer room to practice their skills. Games are available, and, of course, many of the children like to play the games. Even so, for these children, hand eye coordination, speed skills, keyboard skills, and organized thought processing, will develop abilities that will make them more marketable in the job market.

What About Education? Part 10, we will look more deeply into the benefits of computer skills and knowledge for these children whose parents, if they have parents, are lost in this emerging country.

What About Education? Part 3

Waiting to be used!

Basics in graphic art.

In What About Education? Part 2, I wrote that we would look at life in Ukrainian orphanages and compare them to other orphanage in other countries. We will begin by looking at a definition with some examples and statistics in different parts of the world.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphan

PBS portrays the America orphan in this story about the orphan train.  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/orphan/  In an earlier time, orphans were looked at as a social problem. They gathered them up and shipped them off to a facility.

After WWII, America changed its view on the institution of the orphanage and began to create a new answer to an old problem. Group Homes, a family setting with professional staff, created an environment where children could experience nurturing on a more personal level. In addition, Foster Homes provided a real family that would take one or more children into their home for a short, or extended, period of time.  http://people.howstuffworks.com/adoption5.htm

On every continent, the problem of children without parents is without a solution. Many programs are created with powerful goals, but in the end, few children leave the different systems of care, orphanages, or the various other facilities, and become successful in life.  http://www.sos-usa.org/about-sos/what-we-do/orphan-statistics/pages/global-orphan-statistics.aspx  There are many reasons such as fear in society, limited education, limited life skills, and the list goes on. There is no complete solution for the masses of orphans.

A little closer to my new (ten years) home in Ukraine, the story is equally sad if not tear jerking. Here are some statistics that prove the current system is not working.  http://ukrainetoutah.blogspot.com/p/facts-about-ukrainian-orphanages.html  The mentality in this country is somewhat different from what I am used to in America.

Sveta and I are helping two orphanages/boarding schools (the Ukrainian internat system). Both are set up for children with physical and mental disabilities. Our program focus is different for each, but we see education as the main player that brings change.

In both orphanages, computers are available for the children to use. In both cases, the government gave grants to purchase computers, but was not willing to add money to the budget for a teacher to teach computer classes. One orphanage moved forward, with a little incentive from my organization, while the other waits for money in their budget.

In one orphanage, after I realized that some of the children were sniffing glue, we encouraged a local church to expand their program on morality and drug and alcohol abuse to include the children at the orphanage. The orphanage no longer has this problem.

In What About Education? Part 4, we will look at the post-orphanage problems that the children face and what we can do to better prepare, (educate), the children. In Ukraine orphanages the percentages of failure are devastating.