Life Orphanage

Life Orphanage is a home to 20 children, and is open to children regardless of race or religion. It has a full-time medical doctor on staff. Upon entry, children receive a full medical exam and begin any medical treatment necessary. The treatment not only provides immediate relief, but also produces life changes that improve over-all health. Over the years, the orphanage has helped hundreds of children between the ages of 5 to 18.

These children not only live in a home, but they, also, receive education, vocational training, health care, and a nurturing environment to heal and to begin a new life. Over the past ten years in operation, the orphanage has seen many children grow , enter into advance studies and vocational training, and begin their lives as adults in the workplace.

Life Orphanage continues support of the young adults through hosting special weekends, holidays and camps. Thus, the influence extends beyone the walls into lives of many families and in the community.

Helena Kukushkina, a native Russian, is the Director of Life Orphanage for the past decade. She is considered a leader in the field and has received a medal of recognition by the Mayor of St. Petersburg. Police officers and city social workers bring needy children directly to Life Orphanage
because of its good reputation.

New Building Needed: Life Orphanage has been housed in a "virtually rent-free" apartment building for the past years. Due to real-estate development, the orphanage must find new housing immediately. Renting a building under the new development, the financial burden is too much for VOTC to sustain. We wish to purchase a permanent home for the orphanage and our goal was to purchase the building in the summer of 2007. Funding is needed to secure the home.