Ministries in and around Kerch

Here is the latest addition of the "News from the Hope Center" emails that Andrey sends out monthly.  Unfortuntely I don't have any pictures of the specific programs that are mentioned but since it's about friends and neighbors in the villages I'll put in my favorite picture I've taken - this one in Prezaornia (?... I'm bad at transliteration).  This report shows yet another way in which the HopeCenter ministers holistically and uniquely in the Kerch area.

Last October we mentioned our program "Around Kerch" which includes activities conducted by Hope Center staff and volunteers but takes place outside of the camp territory.  We highlighted five surrounding villages and on-going projects such as distribution of clothes and shoes, wheelchairs and walkers for the handicapped, feeding programs for hungry children and humanitarian aid to the needy.  We also provided informational presentations on drugs, alcohol, smoking, human trafficking and HIV/AIDS in the village schools.  This fall we are expanding this program by taking the next step to talk to parents and adults.

In early June we distributed 200 questionnaires in the village of Bagerava to learn what that community saw as its most serious social problems.  94% of the residents responded that alcohol was a major problem, followed by drugs (42%) and HIV/AIDS (7%).  Global Action used this information to create a specialized presentation for that village.  We first talked with 60 students over the age of 12 on alcohol abuse and provided a booklet which outlines the dangers of alcoholism.  The students then invited their friends, families and neighbors to a larger meeting on October 9th which drew 100 people.  The presentation was followed by a forum in which attendees could voice concerns, ask questions and suggest solutions.  This year we will do the same in four other villages around Kerch in an effort to have greater reach and effectiveness in the communities where we work.