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ASSIST Europe Projects
Feb 08 - Laska Special Needs Orphanage, Vladikavkaz, Russia
A number of ASSIST Europe ministry teams have visited this state-run orphanage in Vladikavkaz, Russia. ASSIST Europe has provided a number of resources for the orphanage working alongside the local ACCR Church and Russian Ministries, including bedding, toys, a DVD player, medical equipment, sports equipment and playground equipment. It’s our desire to continue to provide resources that will stimulate the children and improve their lives, while demonstrating God’s love to these precious kids.
Feb 08 - Christian Community Youth Center in Beslan
The Community Youth Center in Beslan was originally established as the Heart to Heart Christian Counseling Center for families traumatized by the September 2004 terrorist attack at School No. 1. This facility functioned as a counseling center for about two years. During this time, an estimated 1,000 adults and children met with counselors at the Center and received the emotional and spiritual support they so desperately needed in the aftermath of that horrific attack. As the years went by, the Counseling Center staff realized that the youth in Beslan were faced with another threat to their well-being: lack of a place to spend free time and engage in constructive activities. As a result, the community saw a high rate of teenage alcoholism, substance abuse and crime. The decision was then made to convert the Counseling Center into a Community Youth Center.
Today the Community Youth Center in Beslan has a staff of seven people and is equipped with modern computers, a sound system and a Christian library. It accommodates a youth club, the “Antioch” Bible school, and holds “School Without Walls” training seminars for pastors and small group leaders. It is also a place where Christian couples have their weddings and local Christians organize birthday parties. The Community Youth Center is more than a building housing different activities. It is a meeting place where all youth in the community can benefit from Christian interaction and training, educational activities, and fun. Every week an average of 100 youth participate in activities at the Community Youth Center.
Pastor Gennady Terkun, the Association for Spiritual Renewal ministries’ coordinator in the region, reports that the Community Youth Center is making a great impact on the young people in Beslan. They now have an opportunity to spend their free time in a Christian atmosphere and see the example of other Christians.
God has blessed the Community Youth Center and its staff, and today it enjoys great favor with the surrounding community. This is especially important for the Northern Caucasus region, where the level of distrust is very high. As a result of the work of the Community Youth Center, several young people have been baptized or are now preparing for baptism. These include 19-year-old Fatima who was baptized on January 19, 2007.
ASSIST Europe has partnered with Russian Ministries to begin providing funding to carry out much needed building work on the centre and your continued support is vital for this work to be completed.
Feb 08 - Hearts of Love Special Needs Centre, Konotop, Ukraine
ASSIST Europe has just recently partnered with Eastern European Outreach to support the Hearts of Love Special Needs Centre. The property was purchased thanks to funding from EEO, and provides much needed support for several families with special needs children, including day care to enable the mothers to go to work, and counseling. The centre is run by local Christian mother Lena Vuschenko, who’s vision is to develop this facility to extend its impact on the community.
An ASSIST Europe team plans to work alongside Lena this summer to begin to help her to fulfill this vision by providing activities for the special needs children as well as a number of local kids, as well as visiting the homes of these families to assess their long-term needs. Practical work is also planned to begin the groundwork for a playground. Would you consider partnering with us as ASSIST Europe plans to raise $5,000 (2,500 pounds) for this playground to be completed.
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