History

Early Work with Disabled Children in Crimea
PROP Programs from 2001 to 2006
Success Stories of PROP's Most Disabled Children

Success Stories of PROP’S Most Disabled Children

With very limited resources, but with the help of many volunteers both in the US, Russia and Ukraine, PROP had the opportunity to help over forty-five children each year, improve their health and outlook on life, get a better education, secure housing, learn to defend their rights, fight bad habits, gain confidence, expand their circle of friends and steer them to support groups. The PROP children also learned that they are not pitied but loved and as a result, they, in turn, have become more generous to others, especially other children in need.

Most of the children PROP has had under its wing have now reached adulthood and have left the orphanage. Many are now living with distant relatives, on their own or in dormitories.

		Masha, the girl with no feet and only one working hand today designs clothes and sews beautifully. She goes dancing in her new outfits and no one can tell that she has prosthetic feet.
		Alexander, now twenty-two, whose spine literally collapsed, is greatly improved as a result of Chinese medication. Not only did he leave his wheelchair, he now walks up five flights of stairs. Without any outside help Alexander was hired for a bank job as a computer programmer.
		Vasya, had several surgeries, was brought to the US for his last operation and is almost fully recuperated. He is actively helping PROP in Petrozavodsk with less fortunate children than himself. He will be entering the Forestry Institute in the fall.
		Valya, the girl with fifty surgeries was so fascinated by the computer program that she continued on to get a degree in computers and is working as a bookkeeper. Although she will never be able to walk without crutches, her spirits are high and she is enjoying an independent life.
		Katya, an A student, is studying film and helping to support herself with her computer skills. With the help of a PROP lawyer, she managed to get back the apartment which was taken away from her illegally.
		Sasha, now seventeen, has no fingers, is missing his left foot and has half the right leg, yet is a talented artist. At fifteen he won a national award competing with healthy teenagers. Although still in school, Sasha teaches art to children at the Maria's Children studio.
		Andrei, who after sixteen surgeries, finally had his leg amputated, has been studying computers at Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund (ROOF) and finally has a comfortable prosthetic device, so comfortable that he dances and runs.
		Vanya, confined for years to a wheelchair, was near death as a baby from kidney failure. Thanks to one of PROP's volunteers he survived and after six years of treatment in Evpatoria and Moscow, Vanya was actually walking in braces and riding a special bike. Last year he was adopted by an American family with fifty other disabled children and now lives in California.