Easing the Hardship: The Children's Initiative in FSU

Hungry, cold, isolated, impoverished and in need of medical assistance: these words describe many Jewish children in the former Soviet Union (FSU) today. The situation is desperate: hungry Jewish children have been seen hiding beneath tables in soup kitchens to share their grandparents' meals. JDC has recognized the need to confront and address this challenge.

During the 1920s, JDC mobilized to feed over one million hungry children during the famine in Ukraine. Since the collapse of the Soviet regime and its social welfare structure, JDC has worked tirelessly to ease the suffering of the Jewish community. Today in Israel and Argentina, JDC supports thousands of vulnerable children, with customized programs to meet each child's needs.

JDC helped to establish the infrastructure that today provides assistance to more than a quarter of a million impoverished elderly Jews across the FSU. JDC is now poised to address the welfare needs of Jewish children in the region. Jewish children are in distress: JDC and the global Jewish community must come to their aid.

JDC's Response: The Children's Initiative
Too many children in the FSU go without food and basic care and are in need of critical emergency assistance. JDC's three-pronged Children's Initiative seeks to provide a better life for these children and their families.

The Children's Initiative pioneered by JDC will provide urgent humanitarian relief to children by addressing three areas:

• Deitsky (Children) S.O.S. Emergency Assistance (D.S.O.S.);
• Community Support for Children - Pilot Projects; and
• Support for Independent Jewish Children's Homes.

Deitsky (Children) S.O.S. Emergency Assistance
The impoverishment of children in the FSU impacts not only on their health- but also on their entire well-being. Many families lack the financial means to provide for their children's most basic needs. The situation is even more dire when unanticipated, emergency situations arise. Children in need of medical procedures, critical medicines, or those who live in uninhabitable conditions, simply learn to go without many of life's basic necessities.

The D.S.O.S. program aims to alleviate the urgent short-term needs of Jewish children. Any Jewish child up to age 18 who falls within the eligibility criteria set by a community committee will receive assistance. The types of aid that will be offered will vary depending on specific needs, but typically will include:

Medical Services - Children who cannot afford medical care will receive one-time assistance such as medicines, treatments, tests, medical and rehabilitation equipment (such as prostheses, wheel chairs, eyeglasses and hearing aids), hospitalization, emergency surgery and dental care.
Emergency Winter Relief - Blankets, warm clothing and boots will be distributed to protect children against winter's sub-zero temperatures.

Community Support for Children - Pilot Projects
In September 2002, JDC introduced a pilot nutrition project in Moldova to supplement the diets of needy Jewish children. The project aims to alleviate inadequacies in their diets, including a severe lack of vitamins and nutrients, which may cause growth deficiencies.

JDC distributes fresh food packages, which are rich in dairy and fruit foods, to the majority of recipients. Children living in isolated areas receive dry food packages. The packages are age-specific: older children typically receive dried fruits, sugar, oil, chicken, fish, butter, eggs, cheese, fruit, biscuits and dried milk, while infants receive pureed vegetables, fruit and porridge.

The Moldova project is the first of a number of pilot programs to be developed with communities in partnership with JDC. Regions across the FSU are identifying needs and developing pilot programs. As the project expands, JDC will target and assist children across the FSU who are suffering from malnutrition, hunger and other critical problems. Children will receive relief through community-based services, such as Hesed welfare centers and JCCs in order to reduce the stigma attached to receiving assistance, while encouraging Jewish families to become more involved in Jewish communal life.

Supporting Independent Jewish Children's Homes
In response to the needs of Jewish children that became apparent over the past few years in the FSU, local Orthodox communities have established Children's Homes to house orphans, "social" orphans and other at-risk children. Unfortunately, many of these facilities are overcrowded and in need of repair, while their committed staff members may lack the formal training needed to fulfill their roles in the most effective and professional manner.

JDC is beginning to reach out to these independent homes to offer opportunities for professional enrichment and financial assistance for physical improvements by:

• Establishing a staff-training program
• Creating a support network among professionals
• Garnering financial support for capital improvements

Guiding Principles
The Children's Initiative will employ the following principles:

• The answer is community: Programs will embrace the notion that children and families' complex needs require many responses. The programs will emphasize the value of the holistic support provided by a community.
• Working with children and their families: Programs will offer aid both to children and their families to ensure that fundamental problems are addressed.
• Utilizing existing resources: Jewish children and families will be made aware of services already provided by local NGOs. Projects will not replicate services already provided by governments.
• Utilizing and creating local expertise: Programs will utilize existing local expertise, alongside the creation of new expertise.
• Encouraging Volunteerism: Programs will be designed with opportunities for volunteerism by children and their families - both those who receive services and for members of the broader community.
• Generating local funding: Local philanthropists will be encouraged to play a role in this effort.

Many Steps, More Partners
JDC is moving fast to address the growing needs of the FSU's children. Regional community forums and coalitions are now being developed in preparation for this effort, covering eleven time zones, to care for children and their families.

JDC is mobilizing many resources towards this effort. JDC-FSU is leading the initiative. ASHALIM is sharing its expertise in working with children at risk, JDC World Welfare is looking for possible sources of support from Jewish communities in other parts of Europe, JDC-Brookdale is providing research support and JDC-ELKA is assisting in developing volunteerism opportunities. In addition, the Israeli Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will provide input, and discussions have commenced with the International Jewish Healthcare Organization and Jewish Healthcare International.

Nevertheless, JDC is seeking more partners to ensure that this critical effort is launched successfully. It is our responsibility to move forward and provide care and hope for Jewish children in need. You, too, can play a role in this historic effort. It is not yet too late.