My name is Anya and I am 13 years old. I live in a small village in Ukraine. My relationship with my parents has been the most difficult part of my life. They have abused alcohol for many years and when they get drunk, they often turn their anger on me. I have suffered verbal…
Between 1932 and 1933, 8 to 10 million Ukrainians were starved to death in an event called the “Holodomor” or death by starving. Many say that the “Holodomor” was caused by Stalin and the Communist regime, who deliberately targeted Ukrainians, depriving them of food because of their nationalist views and their opposition to the communist…
Not long ago, it was hard to imagine that the Republic of Armenia would become a new frontier for Tomorrow Clubs. Then, one year ago, our very first English camp in the country was run by a group of Americans. It was successful launch, and soon after 15 Tomorrow Clubs were begun throughout Armenia. This…
An English camp held in the town of Step Sochi was an event that proved meaningful to the entire local community. Step Sochi is a village of about 2,000 residents, whose economy is based primarily on agriculture. Most people work at several large farms, while some grow grapes. The town is located along one of…
More than 25 Tomorrow Clubs operate in Ukrainian orphanages. Some of the children in these orphanages don’t have parents, but the majority have been removed from their homes because of abandonment, alcoholism, drug abuse, or imprisonment of their parents. Olena, pictured above with one of the Tomorrow Club leaders, is one of about 200 children…
Zaporozhye, Ukraine has been flooded by refugees forced to leave their homes by the fighting in the nearby war zone. Refugee camps have been set up and in March, a Tomorrow Club leader saw a Facebook post about one of these camps that read: “There are many children there who just wander around – can…
One’s first impression when entering a Roma community is shock at the poor living conditions. Shelters seem to be constructed of anything readily at hand, and multiple families with children may share a single room. Most of the people do not read or write well. The vast majority are unemployed. With little food, one wonders…
For many years, Tomorrow Clubs have worked in orphanages across Ukraine and Russia. In past newsletters, you may have read some of the stories of these children. Despite some improvement in the government child welfare systems, there are still hundreds of thousands of children living in orphanages. These children either have no parents, or their…
The little city of Békés, Hungary, is similar to many other small towns in eastern Europe. High crime rates, alcoholism, poverty and unemployment contribute to discouragement and despair in much of the population. The widespread social and economic issues are huge stressors for families, and as a result many children are living in single-parent households.…
In Eastern Europe, the Roma people (formerly called Gypsies, a term now considered disrespectful) are often treated as outcasts. They are typically stereotyped as fortunetellers, thieves and beggars. Historically, they have been forced into slavery, denied housing, employment, healthcare, education, and have been targets of discriminatory laws. Under Nazi Germany, Roma people were interred and…
