Month: February 2020

Now that Christmas break is over, many orphan students are back in trade school or college for the semester. But what does a “trade school” look like in Zhytomyr? And why is education is so difficult for orphanage graduates?

In Ukraine, all students graduate after 9^th or 11^th grade. Most go to a trade school, college, or university. But these terms are a little different in Ukraine. (Consider that an orphanage is called a “boarding school,” which in the States is associated with wealth and prestige!)

On the surface, there are a few similarities. Both countries have four-year colleges, with some colleges feeding into universities with master’s and doctoral programs. Both countries have technical schools, or “trade schools” in Ukraine.

Beyond that, the Ukrainian system still feels post-Soviet in many ways. Few students, even university graduates, work in the fields they studied. Where tech schools in the U.S. often provide streamlined access to employment in high-demand fields, trade schools in Ukraine are really just the lowest level of the state-run system, the default option for low-income families and those who aren’t strong academically. Trades can be irrelevant or outdated. Those who study to be cooks or wait-staff may find entry-level jobs, but those who study tractor-driving never do. A trade school certificate in Ukraine is like our high school diploma.

Many of our youth come from poorly-run orphanage schools, so only trade schools will accept them. And the selection of trades is even more arbitrary for orphans, who may be placed wherever there’s an opening, without reference to their desires or strengths. Good students may progress from trade school to college to university, but orphanage graduates often struggle even with basic studies.

So how does Last Bell help orphan teenagers succeed in their education?

• We intervene at the beginning of trade school or college and offer life skills lessons, tutoring, guidance, basic study skills like using Word, and lots of encouragement.
• We welcome all students at the Day Center, and they visit after school to use the computer lab, have a snack and a hot meal, and do their homework.
• We offer Ukrainian language/lit classes, English lessons, and English camps.
• We assist academically promising students with university entrance exams and tuition.
• If their strengths are in other areas, after trade school or college we help them seek out work opportunities, and prep them for interviews by role-playing.
• Through the Restoration Project, some youth are learning the home renovation trade.

We’re passionately seeking new vocational opportunities to help our youth overcome their disadvantages in a difficult system. For example, we’ve helped several students begin studying Information Technology at Hebron Academy. Already we’ve seen many inspiring successes! But this is an area of deep need for our youth, and we appreciate your prayers as we seek new ways to meet it.

Dear friends,

In a recent video chat with staffers Yulia N. and Sasha T., I learned about Ukraine’s education system, and the story of Denis, an orphan student. Denis happened to be at the Day Center, so he came into the office for a few minutes at the end of the meeting. He shared a special dream that surprised everyone!

Before Denis joined us, Yulia and Sasha described the disheartening state of the Ukrainian educational system. Everyone wants to go to university, but few Ukrainians, even university graduates, find work in the field they studied.

Education is even more challenging for orphans. After 9th or 11th grade, most orphans go to trade schools, where some trades (like tractor-driving) offer no job prospects at all, and they may be placed in a trade they didn’t choose. Many don’t know how to study well, research, or use a word processor. And every message since childhood tells them they have no worth and won’t succeed.

Denis’s mother (now deceased) left when he was a toddler, and at six he was removed from his father’s care. He grew up at the orphanage in Berdichiv, which has a better school than most. Many of his classmates went to college or even university. Denis studies auto repair at a Zhytomyr college that feeds into the National Transportation University in Kyiv.

Denis is a strong student. But without family, he still needs support. His many health challenges include otitis, eye problems, and bronchitis that turns into pneumonia. Last Bell donors helped pay for eye surgery. We provide medication, clothes, and hygiene supplies.

Denis has attended the Day Center every day for the past two years. Like any teenager coming home after school, he has snacks and a hot meal, and uses the computer lab to research and print assignments. Staff members have become his closest friends.

When Denis joined the video chat, he squeezed in shyly but comfortably beside Yulia, who translated. I asked how Last Bell helps with his education. He shared a list: English lessons; upcoming Ukrainian language/lit classes; the computer lab; having a quiet place for homework. He loves singing, and talked about singing at Last Bell gatherings.

Then I asked if he’ll be more successful because of Last Bell.

“I can study better,” he said, “and I realized I can enter the university – and not just for my profession (to be a mechanic). I have a new dream. I want to be a teacher. I see the leaders of the Day Center, and I see a good example of how I could talk to students.”

We know you share our hope and excitement that Denis and other orphans will beat the odds, thrive in their education, and give back. We’re working hard to find or create practical educational opportunities, so our 2019-2021 Strategic Plan includes exploring vocational trade certifications, building relationships with the restaurant business, equipping vocational mentors, and pursuing corporate partnerships in Ukraine. Please pray with us as we meet this need!

-Emily Millikan