The Oak House in Bishkek
Since 2011, Danish European Mission improvers and donors have supported local Christians in Kyrgyzstan to help former orphanage children. When the girls turn 16, they can no longer live in state orphanages. Some have no family to live with, and the Oak House in Bishkek picks them up.
One of the girls living there now is Lilia. She tells us: My name is Lilia Filippova and I am 18 years old. I was born in Bishkek and lived with my mother until I was five years old. I never knew my father."
"Due to my mother's alcohol abuse, I was put in an orphanage when I was six years old and stayed there for two years. When I was eight years old, I was moved to another orphanage where I completed first grade. When I was 11, my mother lost custody of me and I was sent to another orphanage where I lived from the age of 11 until I turned 16."
Shortly after her time at the orphanage, Lilia learned that her mother was dying of cancer. When she visited her mother in the hospital, she came into contact with a woman who treated her mother. This woman told her about Egehuset, where she now lives. This safe base gives Lilia the peace of mind to get an education and get ready for adult life. Lilia dreams of going to university and studying English.
The girls have both Muslim and Russian backgrounds. At Egehuset, there is a voluntary Bible study once a week for those of the girls who want it.
