Annual Report. PATRIARCHAL CURIA UGCC 2019

48 Youth and fami ly mini st r y block "My good friend — patronage of adolescent from orphanages" program has been successfully implemented in 9 orphanages and family houses. Apart from the qualitative indicators of the success of the project, its main achievement is the improvement in the quality of life of one of the most vul- nerable groups in Ukrainian society — children/teenagers in orphanages. We have many success stories of our children who had received support and guid- ance from our mentors. It was very beneficial for orphans to have mentors from well-established families, inspiring them to establish healthy families of their own in the future. Many mentors continue friendship relationships and commu- nication after the children have grown up and left orphanages. Several children from the mentorship program became mentors themselves. Support groups provide families with adopted children with safe space and a possibility to share their experience with people they trust. These meetings have special importance for troubled families (such as single mothers) or families in precarious situations, when, for example, parents are at the edge of giving back adopted children to the orphanages. Moreover, by participating in support group meetings, parents were able to avoid burn-out conditions and to receive spiritual support and comfort from our team members as well as from each other. People in Ukraine tend to have more trust in Church organizations than private psychologists. Successful mentorship program for orphans "My good friend" providing support for families with adopted children We have been able to achieve the following results in the period from October 1, 2016 through January 1, 2020: 650 mentor-child pairs were established in the UGCC eparchies/exarchates for "My good friend — patronage program" giving hope, education, care and better future to the children from orphanages; 150 families with adopted children within the sub-project "Groups of sup- port" in 3 regions of Western Ukraine were provided with support and care which helped them to overcome difficulties in their families and prejudices of society and finding a safe space for sharing and communication; 17 children were adopted by mentors as a result of our program; 3 annual conferences were organized by the Commis- sion on family for those working in the field of helping orphans and parents who adopted children; 10 children received assistance through corporate mentorship program (the program was launched in 2019); 14 children received support in "One parish — one child" program. There is a great need to continue the “My good friend” project as there is a huge need in society, which receives great support from our partners and shareholders to continue bringing hope to the life of orphans.