Hearing Health International Inititative

We ask prayers for the Ukrainian people and children, especially those in refugee centers (about 1.5 million) that struggle day to day for existence. We also pray for the orphanages that have taken in so many children whose parents cannot even feed or cloth them. The infrastructure for so many of these orphanages has come light years from where they were in 1999. But now, the Ukrainian government is bankrupt due to the Russian invasion and there is very little money to feed and clothe these children. We sponsor two orphanages: a baby orphanage for children 6 months to six years old, with a population in October of 116 (it was designed for 36 babies). Plus another orphanage for older children, 6 to 17 years of age, with 44 residents. We also support a shelter for battered women with a fluctuating population as the need arises. The most critical need at this time is for basic living necessities such as heat, food and clothing. These facilities have been were operating beyond capacity for several years and the additional children are creating a situation where the staff (many whom have not been paid a salary in months) cannot even provide sufficient food or beds.
We need continued support for the hearing aid program. We have provided hearing aids for children in need for over twenty years now. To date we have provided over 1,500 hearing aids, in Ukraine alone, without cost to either the student or the facility. Annual expenses for the hearing aid program are between $30K and $40K. Neither program of H.H.I.I. has paid staff. All volunteers cover their own living and travel expenses while in country. We seek to provide top level technology to meet each student's individual needs. This is a proven program with over 1,000 hearing impaired students and twenty years of success stories in facilities for the deaf and orphanages. We are the only group that we are aware of, providing hearing aids for these needy children. The statistics are grim for Ukrainian orphans anyway; however, the deaf children face an even harder road. Children "age out" of the orphanage system at age seventeen. The sad fact is that these children have an 80% probability of being dead, a prostitute or a criminal by the age of twenty two. It is even worse for the hearing impaired child. If a child cannot hear, they cannot learn at grade level nor can they speak. With a poor education and inability to communicate the options are very slim for these children. Hearing aids change lives a

Our Needs

Funds for basic subsistence needs of these children. Funds for Hearing Aids and supplies. Funds to purchase needed medical supplies and pharmaceuticals locally. Usable clothing for children infant to age 16 of both genders. Funds to purchase winter shoes locally for children. Fund raising assistance, presenters and copy editors. Used and demonstrator hearing aids. Texts on speech pathology. Hearing Aid batteries and accessories. Testing and maintenance equipment for hearing and hearing instruments. Legal assistance for international adoptions. Individuals interested in international adoption of special needs children. Donations of frequent flyer miles. Individuals or groups willing to make recurring donations to sponsor a child in need (see website for details).