Rejected: Ukraine’s Unwanted Children (Child Documentary) | Real Stories

The video script begins by highlighting Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and the lasting impact of the Soviet system on the care of disabled children. It discusses the prevalence of state care for such children and the lack of familial care. The narrator expresses a desire to understand how these children are cared for in institutions and shares the story of a child in a chronic condition, emphasizing the dire circumstances and the lack of rights for those deemed mentally incapacitated. The script also touches on the economic challenges faced by the country and the contrast between the funding for Euro 2012 infrastructure and the strained budgets for social care.

This paragraph delves into the concept of 'social orphans' in Ukraine, children whose parents are alive but unable or unwilling to care for them. It introduces several children, including Leosha, a bright and independent child without hands or feet, and Kya Kaa, who has been in state care for 18 years. The institute's director, Nikolai, is portrayed as dedicated but overwhelmed by the lack of qualified staff and medical facilities to care for chronically ill children, including an HIV-positive child. The paragraph also highlights the issue of children aging out of the system and the lack of adoptions from the institute.

The script addresses the difficulties faced by caregivers in institutions, the varying levels of care, and the historical context of the Soviet system, which favored institutionalized care over parental care. It presents individual stories of children like Nadia and Sasha, who have severe health issues and are under the care of Olga, a retired dentist. The paragraph also discusses the process of moving children through different care facilities as they age and the arbitrary nature of their treatment based on their needs and the caregivers' abilities.

This section of the script focuses on the arbitrary nature of the care system, where children's outcomes can depend on luck and the attitudes of their caregivers. It discusses the Soviet-era perspective on institutional care and the current reality for disabled children like Leosha, who grow up under state guardianship. The paragraph also highlights the government's stated goal of deinstitutionalization and the stark contrast between the number of children in institutions and the reasons for their abandonment.

The script describes the inadequate medical care available to abandoned children, as illustrated by the story of Margarita, who is very unwell and not receiving the treatment she needs. It discusses the secrecy surrounding the filming of the local hospital and the challenges Nikolai faces in advocating for the children's medical needs. The paragraph also touches on the issue of children being sent to die in institutes and the emotional toll it takes on caregivers.

This paragraph discusses the legal and social implications of being labeled 'incapacitated' in Ukraine, a status that can lead to lifelong institutionalization. It introduces a businesswoman, Maava, who has been advocating for orphans and the incapacitated, and the challenges she faces in helping them. The script also covers the experiences of young men like Leon, who have been subjected to inhumane treatment in psychiatric institutes.

The script reveals the hidden reality of life in old people's homes and psychiatric institutes for the 'incapacitated.' It tells the story of Leon and Slava, who share their experiences of being confined and the mistreatment they have endured. The paragraph also highlights the risks of being discovered speaking out against the system and the limited options available for those seeking to challenge their status.

Nikolai, the institute's director, is working to provide a better life for some of the children in his care. The script outlines his plans to move a select group of boys into a renovated house on the institute's campus and educate them, with the hope of preventing further institutionalization. It discusses the challenges of raising funds for the project and the potential impact on the boys' lives.

This paragraph describes the positive developments at Nikolai's institute, where a group home is being established for a select group of boys. It discusses the boys' anticipation and feelings about moving into the new home, the potential for regular schooling, and the hope for a more fulfilling life. The script also touches on the broader issues of the rights of disabled individuals and the lack of independent monitoring of institutes.

The script shares the uplifting news of Sasha's adoption by a family from abroad, a first for the institute. It also discusses the plans for a second group home and the ongoing challenges of funding and sustaining these initiatives. The paragraph highlights the progress of the boys in the first group home and the importance of education and skill development for their future independence.

This paragraph emphasizes the significance of education and skills training for the boys in the group home, as a means to potentially live independently. It also raises concerns about the possibility of the boys ending up in adult institutes, which have been described negatively by Leona, Boris, and Dennis. The script highlights the need for qualified medical personnel and facilities in institutes to improve the care for disabled orphans.

The script concludes with a heartwarming moment where staff and caregivers at the institute are given the opportunity to view a home movie of Sasha with his new family. It underscores Sasha's good fortune in finding a family and the hope that he will have a fulfilling life, contrasting with the difficult circumstances of other children in the institute.