‘Footprints in the Snow’

                                   Registered Charity Number 1113337

Alan with some of his large ‘family’ in Tomsk, Siberia

‘Footprints in the Snow’ was established in 1997 and became a Registered Charity in 2005.

Alan Young, CEO of the charity, and a devoted Christian believer, lives in Bideford in North Devon. He has been working for many years helping to provide humanitarian aid and to bring Christian teaching to the needy orphans and poor children in Tomsk, situated in the heart of Siberia.

Alan, together with small group of Christian helpers from churches in North Devon, helped to establish a much cherished relationship with the churches and the directors of the local orphanages, while at the same time working alongside the governing Social Services department in Tomsk.

Many improvements to the welfare and lifestyle of the 800 orphans have been evident over the years since the first visit to Siberia in 1997. Two shipping containers of humanitarian aid collected and sent from North Devon to the orphanages in Tomsk proved to be a life saver for the suffering population.
The directors, who run the orphanages, were so grateful for the gifts of clothes, shoes, bedding and toys, they proclaimed that it must have been a miracle from God!

Thankfully, the children are now beginning to enjoy a better way of life with more food, warmth and medical care.

In Tomsk alone, there are more than 8oo children living in twenty or more orphanages/shelters for orphaned or abandoned children. Sadly, the figure is increasing! Statistics show that up to 60% of children who have to leave their orphanage homes at the age of 16 die after only 6 months due to being involved in prostitution, and drugs abuse. It is too easy for these cold and hungry vulnerable teenagers to accept food, shelter and money in exchange for providing the many dubious services on offer in the larger towns and cities in Russia.

‘Footprints in the Snow’ is embarking on a project called ‘Snowflake Village’ in order to investigate the possibilities of providing a more safe and secure family life for orphan children.
 

‘Footprints in the Snow’ is a Christian charity, helping to meet the Christian needs of orphan children in Siberia

            'When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.'   Psalm 27 verse 10