Fred Ilyin, our partner in Russia, dropped in to Watford on his way back home to Canada after another trip to Perm, Siberia. He gave me another fresh batch of deeply moving pictures of street kids struggling to survive in extremely harsh conditions in Perm. Many live in sub-zero temperatures under tenement blocks and in sewer ducts. These youngsters do not survive long, perhaps a few years, and most resort to solvents and drugs to escape reality.

Fred and Sasha, a former street boy, visit these places and offer basic food, clothing, some warmth and an invitation to clean up. Many accept readily, grateful that anyone cares, but tragically many are almost too far gone to rescue.

Starter homes – a new approach to rehabilitating street kids
Fred explained to me a better approach to orphan rescue in Perm, in conjunction with local families, which impressed me. The previous New Manna Centre was expensive to maintain and has somewhat institutionalised rescued street kids and orphans. Many have become dependent on aid and it has become difficult for them to re-adjust into ‘normal’ life from a place where almost everything has been provided.

The centre has been sold at a good price and the money reinvested into smaller tenement apartments where teenagers, those being released from orphanages, and recovered street kids can live with adult supervision in their ‘own’ home.

By providing a starter home and assisting with living costs, we can help a family take in an extra youngster or provide accommodation for a supervised group of youngsters. One of the greatest needs has been helping girls of 16-17 become integrated into a safe home directly from their official government release from orphanage care.

The girls feel valued, have their own address, and a possibility of getting employment without the ‘orphan’ stigma. Without this, many are forced to resort to street life and prostitution to survive. This is a big commitment for Fred and New Manna Ministries. The state requires them to take legal care and ownership of each youngster for life.

Poverty – not only in developing countries
Many people in England are shocked to see white faces in Eagles Wings’ publicity and presentations, hardly believing that in our so-called civilised Western nations that such deprivation exists. We have become desensitised to the poverty of Africa and maybe this information will touch your heart to support us financially in this essential work in Siberia.