Graduation. Salute the accomplishment! A day of pride. Of joy. Even laughter. Then, of course, a lump in the throat. Maybe some tears. Maybe lots of tears. The graduating orphans will soon leave home. Their house-parents will feel all the emotions of biological parents. Their siblings, too — including biological siblings. Some of these kids have been living at the Children’s Village since they were tiny. It’s the only home they can remember. But technically, this is a state i

Ordinary kids in an ordinary school, in the Belarusian village of Ilyushyna, near the Russian border. This was the motherland of Liudmila Kozovaya, the co-founder of our “Response of the Heart” team. Such a humble woman, I jokingly called her “The Great Kozovaya.” Members of our team were there in Ilyushyna to honor Kozovaya’s memory; she died 6 years ago, in the first wave of Covid. (Here are my photos from the last day I spent with her, at a shelter for abused and abandoned

Kids grow up. Orphans are kids. Friends of New Thing have been helping the orphans at Children’s Village for 10 full years. Our dear friend Oleg Yarovenko took this photo at the orphanage long ago. Which of this year’s graduating orphans left their shoes here that day? Today, they’re on the verge of becoming young adults. Before they leave home, we hope to give each one a Life Starter Kit: Blanket, pillow, towels, linens, dishes, electric kettle, saucepan, frying pan, table

Maybe your little brother makes you crazy ... your little sister annoys you... But when it comes time to head off to college, something changes. Orphans at Children’s Village in Kobryn, Belarus, are counting the days till graduation: Some will leave, some will stay behind. So these days, they’re all making memories. We hope to send off all 14 graduates with Life Starter Kits ...so they’ll be on a level playing field with the young people who come from their own biological fam

Every year, friends of New Thing have the joy of providing Life Starter Kits for graduating orphans at the Children’s Village orphanage in Kobryn, Belarus, near the Polish border. Here are the 14 youngsters preparing to leave home, photographed by our dear friend Oleg Yarovenko.... Veronika is a budding poet. She has Type 1 diabetes, and is heading toward a nursing degree. Kristina, in a school program for students with learning difficulties, loves singing and dancing. She’s

Now in his 3rd decade of volunteer service, our dear friend Oleg Yarovenko was at it again this week. His beloved wife Luda died less than a month ago. But Oleg was eager to travel to Kobryn, near the Polish border, to photograph this year’s graduates at the Children’s Village. (Once again this year, as always, we hope to provide Life Starter Kits for each orphan leaving for school.) I have always been impressed by how industrious the Belarusian people are. Regardless of pol

13 years ago this month, something amazing happened in the town of Dzerzhinsk, about 25 miles from Minsk, in Belarus.... Americans actually came to visit! Kristina and I spent a beautiful day with the Association for Families of Children With Disabilities. It was the start of a lovely relationship. In the years since then, friends of New Thing have provided humanitarian aid to these families. We’ve supported the Association’s campaign to erase the stigma of disability that ha

Look at her now. She won’t be here long! Next time you see her, she’ll be loading her new dishwasher! This is the kitchen worker in the boarding school for blind and visually impaired children at Shklov, Belarus. I’m delighted to report that 20 households gave generously to provide funding for a brand-new dishwasher. God bless all who gave! And thanks to all for journeying with New Thing. More adventures to come! Much love, Doug Brendel (Photo by our dear friend Oleg Yarovenk

Just a brief photo report ( here )... You’ll meet some of the kids at the boarding school for the blind and visually impaired at Shklov, Belarus. And there’s an update on our effort to buy a dishwasher for their kitchen worker. (I think it’s good news!) Thanks for journeying with New Thing! Much love, Doug Brendel (Photos by our dear friend Oleg Yarovenko)

We’ve been reeling with grief since we learned of the sudden death of our dear friend Luda, wife of our beloved New Thing photographer Oleg Yarovenko. I asked Kristina to share her heart with you as soon as she felt she could. Her quiet tribute is here, along with a few photos . Much love, Doug Brendel