How much does it cost to keep a child in a boarding school?
On average, it costs between 15,000 to 25,000 hryvnias (390 to 650 US dollars) per month, totaling around 250,000 hryvnias (6,450 US dollars) per year.
And in a foster family? It can be as low as 10,000 hryvnias (260 US dollars).
However, there is currently a struggle for the child depicted in the photo, almost four-year-old Anechka from Shcherbynivka in Cherkasy Oblast, to remain with her biological family. To achieve this, it is necessary to create suitable living conditions for the family in their home and provide support to the parents, Natalia and Vitaly Bardysh. Approximately 100,000 hryvnias (2,580 US dollars) are needed for the reconstruction of their house. This amount is 2.5 times less than the cost of keeping a child in a boarding school for a year. The family will be able to live within a Christian community and receive the necessary assistance.
As mentioned in previous posts, Vitaliy and Nataliya themselves require support due to their disabilities and their past experiences living in psychoneurological boarding schools in the Zaporizhzhia region. Having conversed with Ani's parents, it is evident how much they love their daughter, and likewise, how much she loves them. I firmly believe that our society can and should offer them the necessary support to enable the family to stay together and live in decent conditions.
Our construction progress is gradual; recently, we poured an insulated floor in the house. Heating equipment has been acquired, along with doors, plasterboard, sanitary ware, and tiles. However, additional funds are required to purchase materials and cover labor costs.
