Programs
About Our Programs
- We base all that we do on our understanding of Jesus and his ways of relating to us.
- We are highly individualized. Since Jesus is concerned about each person as an individual, so are we. Each resident receives a plan based on their skill level and academic potential.
- We address the whole individual. Just as Jesus is committed to emotional healing and physical well-being, so are we. We care about the entire being.
- We emulate “family.” Since family is God’s design for providing love and discipline, we believe that character transformation happens in relationships, not institutions. We provide Christian staff 24/7 to address different problems and challenges as a parent would. The support team is focused on the quality of our mission versus the quantity; thus, we accept who God sends us and do all that is in our power to help them to become who God designed them to be.
- We emphasize service. God created us to serve. But orphans tend to have a welfare mentality. Having grown up in orphanages, they are used to being provided with what they need without being expected to give back. Severely handicapped by this mentality as they enter adulthood, our emphasis on service has been crucial in their transformation.
Core Outreach Programs — A Holistic Approach
The Harbor has five primary outreach programs and two sub-outreach programs. The primary outreach programs are: “10 Knots” – a vocational training center, “Pearl” – a young mother’s program, a sports program known as “More than Sports,” “I am Valuable,” and an Alcohol and Drug prevention program. The two sub-programs are the School of Rap and “Imagination,” a Theater program.
The Vocational Training Center provides basic foundational training weekly in 13 vocations to over 125 orphans, ages six to eighteen. Each class has at most three students. This allows the VTC to sustain an individual and holistic approach. The VTC provides training and builds a relationship that enables the staff to show Christ’s love to the least of these.
One of the aspects of the VTC is a professional job orientation program, which allows our students to be mentored and trained in a particular job field so that they can find a job later on in the real world, already having real job experience. The VTC also has a souvenir program where handmade items made by students and teachers are sold through different events. This allows the VTC to not only help the older kids financially but also partially cover some of the center’s expenses.
The Mother’s Program – Pearl provides support to young single mothers and their children in the areas of spiritual, counseling, parental, job orientation, life, and social skills. The biggest goal of this program is to prevent a perpetual cycle of orphans giving birth to orphans.
“More than Sports” – The Sports Outreach mentors and disciples orphans through sports. Through soccer, volleyball, basketball, and fencing, the program serves over 100 orphans weekly, ages fourteen to twenty-five years old. Half the team in each sport consists of pastors, Christian leaders, and Christian businessmen. These leaders mentor and guide our orphan students during the training, games, and tournaments. Afterwards, there is a get-together at our sport’s apartment where they talk about life, life skills, and share the Gospel and the love of Christ.
“I am Valuable,” along with our Alcohol and Drug Prevention Outreach, uses a unique five-tier curriculum developed by The Harbor. During the school year, we provide this training to four orphanages, reaching about 50 orphans between 10 and 18 years old. The purpose of this program is to instill God-given values and self-worth and to prevent the usage of drugs and alcohol.
School of Rap program is a great way to reach the orphans through music, focusing on Christ and teaching them how to write a track, and then record their own track.
The Theater – Imagination Program teaches the orphans about acting, writing, and finding themselves through their God-given talents.
Transitional Residential Program
Even though each outreach program has its strengths and values, the Transitional Residential Program is where we have seen the most success. Anywhere from four to six young adult orphans live together in a typical Russian apartment and function as a family with full-time mentors. These mentors address the following areas:
Practical Formation
The Harbor staff model and coach the residents in practical life skills such as cooking, nutrition, personal hygiene, budgeting, housekeeping, and family living.
Spiritual Formation
Through group discussions and individual discipleship, each resident is allowed to learn about the God of the Bible. They understand that they are valuable and have unique gifts and talents.
Emotional and Relational Formation
Psychologists help residents wrestle with their unique issues in individual and group sessions.
Educational Formation
Staff members guide residents through completing their high school education and eligibility for technical college or university studies.
Vocational Formation
Professionals provide basic competency training in various vocational areas.
