JEREMIAH PROJECT

IMAGINE GRADUATING OUT OF THE ORPHANAGE AT AGE 14 - WONDERING WHERE YOU WILL LIVE, HOW YOU WILL LIVE...

This party for Slavik - hosted by John and Julie Wright and sponsored by one of our sponsors - once again points to youth who need Jeremiah Project.

Julie Wright - our Assistant Director of Humanatarian Needs is here with a group of youth - each from a local orphange - and each needing a little support and encouragement.  Jeremiah House just might make the difference for them!

We got off to a fast start for this new project to help the graduating orphan and then we came to a wall. John and Julie found a house that appeared to be "PERFECT" and we were days from getting to see it and place the funds into their hands as a down payment.  Then without warning or a phone call, the owner sold it the day before we were to see the home.  We were so disappointed.

Well, we must trust Him for the right home and right timing.  Through a very strange event, the funds that were donated by a church in Ohio were sent over by LAMb and were over one  month in getting to Kyrgyzstan.  VERY STRANGE.  Yet, we were confident they would arrive and they did, but far too late to make the above purchase and then our on the ground team had to come home.

So, we are back to the drawing board.  We head over next week and will be moving forward once again.  We ask prayers for the right home.  The graduating orphans need this and we want to demonstrate a way to help them.  We have youth who are needing this home badly.

Here is a little snapshot of the project:

JEREMIAH PROJECT

Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan

·     Jeremiah Drop Center

·     Jeremiah House

·     Jeremiah Steps

Draft Project Model (summary)

PREMISE:  KYRGYZSTANI Youth are ageing out of the orphanages and are being forced into situations of poverty, homelessness and crime.  Statistics for success are dim – as only 1/3 of the youth graduating from an orphanage find success as an adult.  They other 2/3 end up trafficked for sex trade, into drugs and alcohol, found having committed suicide or end up in prisons.  Most youth are NEVER heard from again once they leave the orphanage.  This situation must be addressed and Jeremiah PROJECT is one small effort in helping youth who have been in an orphanage and part of our work while working in Kyrgyzstan - to be supported in those vulnerable years after orphanage graduation.  Since most youth are graduated at grade nine from the orphanage, they are too young to move successfully into adulthood.  We want to be there for those we can.  Therefore we have developed a project – called JEREMIAH PROJECT.

Jeremiah Project is an umbrella program to several other Jeremiah branches or strategies to help youth graduating from the orphanage;

Jeremiah Drop In Center,

Jeremiah House and

Jeremiah Steps.  With each project there is a distinct mission statement and activities that support the Vision of LAMb International Jeremiah Project.

Vision – Jeremiah Project:  It is the vision of LAMb International that graduating orphans from Kyrgyzstan become successful contributing members of society.    We envision the youth having strong moral values, a living relationship with their heavenly father and a desire to serve others just as they have been served.

Mission of Jeremiah Project:  The LAMb Team commit to developing a pilot project where we can demonstrate strategies, programs and activities which help youth become successful and achieve the vision of Jeremiah Project.  We will work with community leadership, churches, government offices and other NGO’s to further this project beyond the size and scope of just Jeremiah Project.

We see the project as a demonstration of what can be done to help youth through those vulnerable years after orphanage graduation.

Mission of Jeremiah Drop In Center:  The drop in center is a non-residential center which provides assessment, training, counseling and referral resources for youth from orphanages who have graduated or will soon be graduating from the orphanage and are in need of supportive services.  Jeremiah Drop In Center will offer crisis counseling, emergency support where available, referral services, and in extreme cases the center will offer crisis overnight supervised housing (when available). 

Mission of Jeremiah House:  LAMb International will work to meet the needs of graduating orphaned youth placed into the Jeremiah program, assessed to be ready and needing placement at Jeremiah House, a structured and supervised residential center for graduating youth.  LAMb will work to ensure youth are safe, nurtured and protected as they seek solutions of education and permanency for each youth.  Each graduating orphaned youth will find permanency in the program and will be guided to interdependent living through the teaching of critical Life Skills.

This mission will be accomplished by ensuring full assessment, Individual Development Plans, Life Skill training and building connection strategies are utilized from the day of placement and will continue until the permanency/independent living goal is achieved and implemented.

LAMb is committed to proving the most family like, community based, relationship focused program possible.  The foundation of the program will be to introduce and build upon a relationship with the heavenly father, thus ensuring each youth is given an opportunity for spiritual development as they move toward independence.

Mission of Jeremiah Steps:  :  To provide hope and dignity to institutionalized youth by helping them achieve independent living by “practicing” independence in Jeremiah Steps apartments. 

Through assessment from Jeremiah Drop In Center or Jeremiah House, youth will be identified who are able to function in a less restrictive environment than the more structured Jeremiah House.  These youth will be re-integrated successfully into community based living where they will live interdependently. 

Structure will be provided in the Jeremiah Steps apartments and youth will be guided to continue moving toward self-regulation.  Jeremiah Steps will guide youth to housing, resources and adult living separate from the resources of Jeremiah Project and Jeremiah Steps.

WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO OUR SPONSORS

YOU HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR IN THE LIVES OF MANY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS