The staggering statistics from Japan of the horror of the earthquake and tsunami are, of course, not just numbers. They represent thousands of dying, injured, hurting men, women and children. Some of the survivors are still sorting through body bags for lost loved ones. There are going to be many orphans in Japan--sadly adding to the number of orphans worldwide, 163 million children, who if they were all in one place would be the seventh largest nation in the world.
Statistics do tell a story. In Russia, for example, it is an ongoing and tragic tale. There are approximately 650,000 orphans and two to four million street children--far more orphans than the total number of Russian military personnel. Of the approximately 15,000 children who graduate every year from institutional care, 33% end up unemployed, 40% homeless, 20% with a criminal record and 10% commit suicide. As many as 50% of the girls become involved in prostitution and only 10% of the orphan graduates lead successful lives.
It may seem that the horror is so huge, how can those of us who want to help make a difference? How can we not feel overwhelmed as we
see the magnitude of suffering in the world? But as Solzhenitsyn wrote, "One word of truth does outweigh the world." Even one act of kindness does matter.
For more information about how Home for Every Orphan (HFEO) is trying to help one orphan at a time please take some time to browse the stories on this site.
Anita Deyneka
Coordinator, HOME FOR EVERY ORPHAN
Russian Ministries
Wheaton, IL 60187
www.russian-ministries.org
www.asr.ru
630-462-1739
