During his working visit to Rivne, Victor Yushchenko has opened a social rehabilitation center for orphans “Children’s Town” in the village of Oleksandriya, Rivne region, president's press office reported.

In his speech, the President said the government knew they were responsible for thousands of children deprived of parental care and thus were trying to open more children’s family homes and carry out policies encouraging adoption.

“Our goal is to help such children integrate into families and society, and to give them the chance not to be socially isolated,” he said.

Yushchenko described the newly opened complex as “a good example to build a new model of education.”

“It is a great honor for the oblast and its community to have such an example when the government is profoundly revising social policies,” he said.

The President praised the local officials, which had had little money to implement the project, for “demonstrating a cooperative effort and understanding priorities.” He thanked the Youth and Sports Ministry for resolving the problems of homeless children and orphans.

Yushchenko inspected the site and then gave keys to new residents of a children’s family home. He also visited the Rivne Center for Social Employment, which is located in the “town.”

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