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Cochabamba, Bolivia - Casa de Amor

Casa de Amor, "House of Love" in Spanish, is an orphanage founded to reach out to children in need in the impoverished South American country of Bolivia. In response to the great need in this area of Bolivia, Casa de Amor's focus is on younger children and sibling groups. Since the orphanage is committed to quality care for birth family members, the capacity is kept to a number that our staff can adequately provide care with excellence.

But, the need is tremendous! Over 20,000 children in Bolivia call the streets, or one of many crowded institutions with an estimated 6,000 in Cochabamba. Several factors contribute to the problem, including deep poverty (i.e., 70% of the population), lack of basic medical care (e.g., one in three women will die during childbirth), and the breakdown of the family unit.

Children generally come to Casa de Amor one of two ways:

  1. A referral from the government of Bolivia (e.g., a child who is abandoned, removed from an abusive situation, or orphaned)
  2. A referral from another group (Casa de Amor is one of only a few homes in Cochabamba equipped to care for babies)
Whenever possible, their desire is to provide the support necessary to keep families together. These children and families need our help!


St. Petersburg, Russia - The Harbor

The Harbor currently operates from three apartments (two residential and one office/vocational training center). They would like to purchase five apartments, allowing them to house and work with 50 orphans. The cost to purchase one apartment is approximately $210,000.

Today, Russia has more orphans and street children than after World War II. Estimates indicate that there are 800,000 orphans and 1.5 million street children. Around age 16 or 17, orphans are forced to leave the orphanage system and enter the world with limited education and minimal support. Most are not even capable of living an independent and productive life.

Within the first five years, almost 90% of the orphans end up in crime, prostitution, drug and alcohol addiction, or commit suicide.

Furthermore, since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia is one of the leading countries in the AIDS epidemic and the third leading country in drug addiction.

The Harbor is a residential transitional program which helps orphans build character and become valuable citizens in society. Their two-year program provides temporary housing and trains orphans in the core areas of education, vocational training, basic life skills, counseling and spiritual formation


Kiev, Ukraine - Safe Haven

Orphans in Ukraine face countless obstacles in their lives, such as:

  • Rejection and abandonment
  • Abuse
  • Poorly educated and unequipped for jobs
  • Ill-prepared to handle independent life
  • 90% of orphans in Ukraine end up either in jail or involved in prostitution

Safe Haven Home reaches out to teenage orphans in a family-like transitional living environment to, meet physical, emotional and spiritual needs of orphans in Ukraine through long-term, committed relationships.

Their goal is to help each orphan into some sort of post-high school academic institution. For some, this means a one-year low-level trade school and for others it means a 5-year university. Following graduation, Safe Haven helps place young men and women in good jobs.

Within the next two years, their goal is to raise funds necessary to purchase, remodel and furnish a home for boys. Currently boys and girls live in one facility, and Safe Haven would like to expand our ability to help as many children as possible.


Additional Needs

Orphan World Relief can only grow as donations increase. Your valuable contributions can help us expand to other areas in the world. Please click on the Make A Donation link to begin changing lives.