Educational Outreach: Our primary point of connection with recent orphanage graduates coming into the city from all over the region. We offer on-site life skills classes in twelve of the Zhytomyr trade schools attended by orphanage graduates. As we develop one-on-one mentoring relationships, we invite them to special group events and outings. Our youth often spend time at our Day Center in the downtown area, where we also offer legal assistance, help with housing, medical advocacy, counseling, and humanitarian aid.
Stop the Cycle: Assists orphan-parented families, especially single moms. We offer parenting classes, summer retreats, spiritual mentoring, a childcare co-op, and help with basic needs. There are times when orphan moms need to leave an abusive or unsafe living situation; through Last Bell’s Shelter Crisis Housing facility, a three-story house in the heart of Zhytomyr, we provide safe transitional housing. Our Mobile Unit takes supplies and medical checkups to orphan moms in isolated villages.
The Restoration Project: Many of our youth inherit uninhabitable property. The Restoration Project is an apprenticeship program, training a group of orphanage graduates to restore the apartments and homes of fellow orphans. Last Bell staff provide both construction oversight and mentoring. The young people who participate will become employable and able to participate in restoring their own communities. For beneficiaries, safe housing serves as a springboard for future success and stability.
Seasonal - Summer Camps: Camps lay vital groundwork for long-term relationships with local orphanage graduates. They quickly discover that camp isn’t just a nice trip to the sea or the mountains, but an opportunity to develop trust in adults who care about them. We offer camps for several groups including orphan students at trade schools, older orphans we know well, orphans of all ages who want to learn English, and Stop the Cycle, our growing community of orphan-led families. We see the fruit of these trips year-round.
War Relief: Since February 2022, Last Bell has been meeting the needs of those impacted by war. After the initial crisis and weeks of evacuations, we now support orphaned youth and families who've evacuated, collect and distribute humanitarian aid to affected neighbors, support soldiers, and provide practical and emotional support to our orphaned youth and families who have loved ones on the front lines.
