They are called,  Sasha, Anastasia, Elena, Igor, Dima, Misha, Marta, Marina…….They have one thing in common: All are born into poverty without any opportunity to grow up within a family and they are all registered as orphans in the Ukraine.

The Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe with a population of 46.7 million inhabitants, approximately 7 times larger than Austria. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Ukraine has not managed to build up a healthy or growing economic condition, nor a secure social framework for its citizens.
The big democratic change under Viktor Yushchenko (Orange Revolution) in 2004 brought much hope in the beginning but until now its citizens have not been able to profit from an economic upturn. Here the Children are the main victims. State orphanages in the Ukraine are in a deplorable state. The children who live there have practically no chance to a decent human existence. Prostitution, delinquency, suicides, this is the frightening destiny of these children of which there are approximately 160.000.

Our Partner
In the last 10 years Caritas-Spes Ukraine, partner of Caritas Europa and Caritas International  has achieved  hundreds of projects of  social nature including aid and support for abandoned and orphaned children. A family type home was opened similar to the SOS Children´s Village in Austria. Today there are 6 Family Hauses  for orphaned children and 5 Health care Centers for Needy children. So far  nearly 60 children ranging from the age  2 to 16 years  live in 6 of these family homes. Thanks to the dedicated and tender care they receive from Caritas-Spes, these children have now a real opportunity to a happy life under socially wholesome conditions in loving and secure surroundings.

Our Objective
kleine herzen supports this project to guarantee the further running of these family type homes despite difficult economic conditions to lay down the foundations for expanding future  projects, and  creating  necessary aid with extra projects.
At present, kleine herzen supports the project by sponsorship contributions/godparenthood as well as donations of material goods and financial support for new acquisitions.

Our Successes
With the help of OPEC  Opec Fund for International Development (OFID) and Raiffeisen Bank Aval Ukraine, kleine herzen has managed to receive  150.000 € aid for the completion of a Family House in Kiev. To this day, more than 70 children living in Caritas-Spes family homes have a sponsor in Austria. kleine herzen currently supports the construction of a new family home which will house 10 children.Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors: computers and medicines were purchased for the children’s home.