After the fall of communism in 1991, the Ukraine like most of the FSU suffered from economic collapse and the disintegration of social services. The extreme hardship that followed has impacted the most vulnerable. In 1993 Tikva Odessa was created to seek out Jewish children in need. They come from abusive family situations, state orphanages, or live on the street.

Tikva operates homes and educational programs in the heart of Odessa serving over 300 children. When Tikva's children turn 16 years of age, Tikva provides the opportunity for relocation to Israel offering a wide range of financial and emotional assistance. Due to the traumatic past of the majority of Tikva's participants, ongoing care is needed to ensure they continue their path into adulthood as healthy, happy and self sufficient individuals.

Tikva Israel was founded in 1998 to provide support for those deciding to live in Israel. The student center opened in 2006 offers a unique, tight knit community that provides a wide array of social and educational programming to encourage a smooth acclimation into Israel. Among activities offered there are Jewish studies, art, cooking, parenting, and general guidance counseling. Since the first young adults arrived in 1998, graduates from Tikva's Homes and Schools in Odessa have successfully enrolled in higher education, are serving in the IDF, working or self employed.

Poor dental health is a pervasive problem facing many of the children that Tikva cares for. Dental health is given low priority in poverty stricken homes where energy, by necessity, is focused upon the struggle to survive. At Tikva Homes the children are taken to local dentists where, unfortunately, the care is sub standard and many problems are left to fester, sometimes for years.

Dental care is not free in Israel and although it is subsidized by Health Insurance, the cost of more complicated treatments can still be costly. Our goal is to raise $25,000 for these new immigrants orphans to live healthy and pain free. Click here to give.