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Orphans of Alcoholism Editor’s Note: “Orphans of Alcoholism” is a phrase to describe a big problem throughout Eastern Europe, especially in former Soviet-bloc countries. The ravages of atheistic-communism can be seen in this part of the world through the many children abandoned by their parents. These parents are usually alcoholics, without hope, and lacking any initiative to take care of themselves or those around them. Miles Jesu’s Boys’ Towns and Girls’ Towns are places where these children not only receive the care, love, and attention they need, but are also places of Christian formation where these youths can become the leaders upon whom their own nation can depend as building blocks for the future. There are many street boys who come every day to our soup kitchen. They are often dressed in ragtag, tattered clothing, and, at first look, you cannot always distinguish between girls and boys. Pasha is one of them. I knew him for a long time since we started helping the street boys on the streets. Robert Delogu, one of our members here, asked me, “Who is that girl you were talking to?” He was standing right next to us but Pasha resembled a girl in his features with his long hair and a hat that is usually worn by girls. He also had oversized, dirty clothing and a strong odor. His story is pretty common for the many of those who come to our soup kitchen. Pasha Muhin is 16. He said you can call me “fly” (his name means “of a fly”). He is the only child of his parents. So far he has finished (as he says) nine classes of secondary school. The problems began when he was 11. He could not get along with his father who drinks and they argued a lot. Since then, he began living in the streets. He would come home only one or two times a month. The nights he spent at the home of one of his friends or in abandoned buildings. Pasha says that living on the street makes him wild and he feels the need to go home to get rid of the “wildness.” Then he goes back to the street which attracts him and where he has all his friends. In winter, when it is cold, he visits home more often. Once Pasha’s father put him into a psychiatric clinic because of his street life but Pasha said that his mother took him out of the clinic after four days. On another occasion, his father got so furious that he struck Pasha's mother in the head with the phone. Pasha reacted strongly in retaliation by getting three of his friends to beat up his father. When i asked him what he does to get food, he said that now he visits our soup kitchen. Before, he had to beg for money on the street. Pasha said that when he honestly begged for the money for a piece of bread and a beer he used to receive more then if he just asked for money for bread. Pasha says that he doesn’t sniff glue, like many others, but that he likes alcohol: “Yesterday we finished one bottle of vodka for five people.” He said it was common for the street kids to share the spoils. In summertime, Pasha earned money doing some minor jobs: he was the busboy in a restaurant for two weeks, delivered newspapers, and worked as a courier, earning several dollars a day. Some of the boys he knows are earning money from prostitution but Pasha said that he won’t stoop so low. His parents do not believe in God and Pasha doesn’t know about religion. But Pasha said that he visits the church from time to time, especially at difficult moments of life. He said that people there are very kind towards him and he often receives the money without even begging. Pasha’s present hope is connected with a divorce process which his mother is pursuing. He said when his mother divorces his father, they will exchange their three-room apartment for two separate apartments and he will be able to live at home with his mother. When i asked him what advice he would give to the boys like himself, he said: “Don’t live while thinking only about today but think about the future and don’t slide down morally to the level of bums.” |