Street Children's work in Odessa, Ukraine

Odessa is a tourist city located on the Black Sea and it draws many homeless children from other territories of Ukraine and also from Moldova. Our street patrol began a regular work for these children in early 2000.

In winter the children live in basements and underground heating pipe chambers, in summers they sleep in parks, often on bare ground, and on trees. There are many drug-addicted teenagers and youths.

Our Odessa activities are led by Valentina Patsula (on the picture). The street patrol that visits the children five times a week is led by Alexander Osipov (on the picture above)

The street patrol makes outings five times a week, visiting three locations and serving hot meals. Many children and youths are given medical treatment and taken to hospital, some of them in critical condition. Children and helped off the street in different ways.

A building close to the bus station is being renovated to serve as children's day center, night shelter and office space. Day center was started in the spring of 2005. In this facility we also can offer the children a possibility for bath.

Articles:

> The Brothers. A shocking story of a poisoned boy
> Lyuba waited for death among the garbage
> Day activity center opened
> Fear of the Unknown - Maxime's Story
> Sveta's Story
> Street children’s baths begin in Odessa
> The youth of the basement
> Ruslana and Alla - two withering lives
> Working as a nurse on the streets
> Peacemakers in the war of the clans