In 2007 we returned to orphanage/shelter #1 in Odessa. The shelter is under the management of Tatiana Alexandrovna Zhadan who has been the director there for about 8 years. We were pleasantly surprised at all the positive changes at the orphanage and are happy to report that Tatiana Alexandrovna has done a terrific job in updating the place. It looked considerably different from our initial visit in 2005. We could tell that the funds (public and private) were properly allocated toward the right projects. The kitchen at the orphanage was completely rebuilt and a brand new quarantine wing was added to the building. The walls of the orphanage have been re-painted and decorated with paintings to instill a sense of beauty in the children. The children’s beds had brand new orthopedic mattresses – something we have never seen in any of the other orphanages. The orphanage looked comfortable, cozy and truly felt like a home. Most importantly the children were really happy and given the circumstances, well adjusted.
While the orphanage was improving on a bigger scale, the need for basic necessities remained the same. We followed the direction of Tatiana Alexandrovna to provide shoes and basic clothing for the children. As in the previous year, we separated the kids into 2 groups (by age) and returned to the same vendors. We wanted everyone to choose their shoes mainly to ensure the right fit and style. The children chose their own items, including shoes and clothing. Some were shy in the beginning but once we returned to the orphanage, we saw the excitement escalate as they showed the new purchases to the staff. In addition to the shoes, we loaded up on other miscellaneous items as advised by the director. As always, it was a great experience and we felt very comfortable at orphanage #1. It was wonderful to see the kids from previous year as well as to meet some new faces.