Project description
Addiction care in Ukraine looks only at the physical condition of addicts, with all its consequences. Together with Margreet van Beest, former missionary diaconal worker, the local church built shelter 'Het Anker' to help drug and alcohol addicts. With your support, Margreet's successors offer these people perspective in a professional way: from rehab to independent living, working and building social contacts.
Why this project?
Integral care for addicts is virtually absent in Ukraine, making it easy for them to relapse. At Het Anker, on the other hand, a personal treatment plan with agreements is drawn up together with the client. Thus, clients actively work on their own problems underlying addiction. Through this conscious development process, Het Anker aims to achieve that they will eventually be able to return to their home situation.
Impact
An average of 10 residents stay at The Anchor per year. One offers them emotional stability, physical health and psychological counselling. The Church of the Nativity of Zhytomyr provides spiritual support. Most clients complete their treatment, a few relapse. Several discover the Christian faith and join the church. Through handing out leaflets and making visits to other addiction centres, Het Anker recruits new residents. In this way, it keeps giving other addicts real perspective in life!
What can we learn?
Care given out of genuine love and complete professional treatment can offer recovery in hopeless situations. Do we give 'hopeless cases' a chance - with the right help - to climb out of the pit? Do we give them space in our hearts, prayers and actions?
