With the Foundation’s backing, a number of orphanages across the country have been renovated, refurbished and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including sports areas, playgrounds, swimming pools and medical units.

Mercy Homes No. 21 and 22 were fully renovated in 2003-2004.

The old premises of Mercy Home No. 23 were twice renovated in 2009 and 2012.

Summer recreation camps under the Mercy Homes No. 30 and No. 14 were renovated and refurbished by the Foundation in 2011.

Tashkent Mercy Home No. 23

This Mercy Home’s new premises were built by the You are Not Alone Foundation in 2014. The project team included leading architects, teachers, psychologists and health workers, all of whom took the children’s views and wishes on board in their planning.

The new Mercy Home brings together 170 children aged between 3 and 16 who previously lived in Tashkent Mercy Homes No. 23 and 21. The new premises are equipped with advanced facilities and comprise several sections: training, educational, psychological, social and medical. All the units are designed to create favourable conditions for the emotional, intellectual and physical development of children, and most importantly, to provide them with better opportunities for their overall development and education. With this in mind, all facilities within the Mercy Home have been realized in keeping with international best practices, and the new orphanage employs a team of leading educators, psychologists and healthcare workers to provide the children with all-round psychological support and healthcare services, the aim being to prepare them for independent adulthood.

The Mercy Home’s 2.5 hectares include administrative premises, a medical unit, three residential buildings, a conference room, a library, a sports centre, three swimming pools, a conference hall designed to host up to 250 people, a dining hall for 230 people, and an amphitheater with a large stage.

The children are housed in three residential blocks. With a view to creating conditions similar to the home environment, the architects and designers have devised separate, cozier accommodation units where children live in small groups. Every unit comprises well-furnished bedrooms, a living room, a study, and a utility room.

Sports facilities include a gym fitted with advanced equipment, two winter pools, and a summer pool with a sports ground. Children have the opportunity to attend a variety of sporting activities, including football, table tennis, basketball and volleyball.

As well as taking part in sports, children can develop their creative skills by attending extracurricular classes in arts, dance, piano, folk instruments and singing. The buildings for extracurricular activities also include studios where children receive training in sewing, hairdressing, pottery, cookery, IT, photography, fine arts and so on, thus giving them a taster of possible future professions.

For the younger residents, an educational programme “Learning by Playing” provides the Montessori educational approach for pre-school children. Fairytale and speech therapy classes also help prepare these younger children for school.

There is also a large library stocked with a wide selection of educational materials as well as fiction and non-fiction books by Uzbek and foreign authors.

An important feature of the new Mercy Home is its Health Centre. Thanks to the medical staff – pediatricians, dentists, physiotherapists, orthopedists, otolaryngologists, ophthalmologists, dermatologists – comprehensive healthcare services are available to the children within the Mercy Home itself. The Health Centre comprises offices for physiotherapy, dental treatment, massage therapy, therapeutic exercises, a juice bar and specialist offices meeting the latest international standards.

Samarkand Mercy Home No. 6

The new premises of Mercy Home No. 6 in Samarkand opened in March 2015.

The orphanage – home to over 100 children – was founded during the Second World War in 1943 and was originally housed in former prosecutors’ offices, meaning that, apart from being in a sorry state of repair, the premises were ill-suited for children’s needs.

Following Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva’s visit in January 2013, it was decided to relocate Mercy Home No. 6 to new, purpose-built premises on an area covering 2.1 hectares in downtown Samarkand.

“Leading architects, educators and psychologists were all involved in this new project. They worked tirelessly, paying great attention to detail so as to provide our children with everything they need to live comfortably, and to create an environment conducive to their development and education,” Mrs. Karimova-Tillyaeva said at the opening of the new Mercy Home.

The new premises comprise nine separate buildings, including residential blocks for boys and girls. There are 28 bedrooms, 34 shower rooms and 21 lavatories.

Premises for extracurricular activities include a large events hall designed to accommodate up to 90 people, and a well-equipped library, as well as training rooms where children can develop their skills according to personal interest: arts, mathematics, chemistry, IT, dance, drama, musical instruments and singing. Children can also receive practical training in sewing, cooking, hairdressing, woodwork, pottery, and so on, skills which may prove useful in the future.

The Mercy Home has also been provided with advanced sports facilities, including a swimming pool, a large multi-purpose sports hall and a football pitch. The Mercy Home’s courtyard is divided into playgrounds and a summer amphitheatre, where children can enjoy their leisure time and take part in various outdoor activities.

A new, well-equipped medical unit houses a dentist’s along with physiotherapy and exercise therapy rooms.

 “It is my sincere wish that the new home will mark a new stage in the life of our children, that they will find their way in this world and get a good upbringing and education,” said Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva on the opening of the new Mercy Home.

Mercy Home No. 10

Over 1,400 children have been raised in this orphanage since it was founded in 1943, and at present the orphanage is home to 138 children.

The current premises, built in 1987, were in a state of disrepair, lacking the basic facilities needed for children’s education and development. As a result of major reconstruction work carried out by the You are Not Alone Foundation in 2013, the orphanage premises have now been completely renovated, refurbished and fitted with state-of-the-art facilities. The newly-refurbished Mercy Home has over 10 classrooms, an exhibition hall, a large canteen, a hall for extracurricular activities, a library, a computer centre, a dance room, a playground, a medical unit and new sports facilities.

“We are so glad we have been able to create all the right conditions for you to live comfortably. During the reconstruction work, we tried to take into account your interests and make sure your Mercy Home has all the modern facilities you will need to continue your education, and of course for your extracurricular and sports activities, too.

I have great confidence in your future and very much hope that you will be able to find enough strength, knowledge and determination to succeed in your endeavours and achieve your goals. This is our Foundation’s main objective and we will do our very best to help you in that,” said Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, addressing the Mercy Home’s children at the opening event.

Chirchik Mercy Home No. 14

On 3^rd June 2013, the You are Not Alone Foundation reopened Mercy Home No. 14 in the town of Chirchik (Tashkent region) following major renovation of the premises. This Mercy Home was founded in 1946, and its long-overdue revamp was financed by the Foundation. It is currently home to over 100 children aged between 3 and 15.

Thanks to the extensive renovation work, the orphanage premises now offer state-of-the-art facilities as well as all conditions a child needs to live and grow: new rooms, classrooms, a library, a computer lab, a sports hall and a medical centre have all been fitted with new furniture and equipment.

The electricity, heating, and water supply systems have been replaced and a new ventilation system has been installed.

The Foundation has also built new premises on the orphanage land dedicated to extracurricular activities and extra classes where children can prepare for college or lyceum entrance exams.

“We are glad we have been able to bring a bit of comfort, warmth and colour into your lives, for both today and tomorrow. During the reconstruction work, we tried to take into account your interests, creating conditions for further education, extracurricular activities, social integration and sports activities,” Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva said, addressing the opening event.

Tashkent orphanage for children under the age of three

From 2008 to 2010, in partnership with the Global Fund project in Uzbekistan, the You are Not Alone Foundation implemented a project to refurnish the Tashkent Mercy Home for children under the age of three.

Two years later, in 2012, this orphanage underwent major renovation and reconstruction, funded by the You are Not Alone Foundation.

The reconstruction of the orphanage was carried out with the aim of creating the atmosphere of a home environment, so the rooms were fully refurbished and fitted with new furniture and facilities, including TV sets, audio systems and mini kitchens.

The medical centre operating within the orphanage was also revamped, including the physical therapy and massage units, all of which were kitted out with the latest technology, including dry hydrotherapy equipment and various pads as well as orthopedic and exercise facilities designed to develop children’s motor skills.

Muruvvat orphanage for children with disabilities in Tashkent

The home for children with special needs, Muruvvat, was reopened in February 2010 following its renovation and refurbishment. This charity is home to disabled children left without parental care.

“These are special kids and so we should have a special approach towards them. We have tried to create all the right conditions for their comfort and safety, as well as for their development.” (Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva)

Kibray orphanage in Tashkent Region

In 2011, the Kibray orphanage for children with severe learning disabilities was fully equipped with new furniture and other necessities.

Tashkent Home for Veterans

From 2008 to 2009, the You are Not Alone Foundation funded renovation and refurbishment work at the Tashkent Home for Veterans, including the installation of new furniture and facilities.

National Centre for the Social Adaptation of Children

In 2012, the Foundation funded a major overhaul of the National Centre for the Social Adaptation of Children which provides comprehensive support for children with disabilities and developmental delay. The Centre was fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for the functional recovery of children suffering from musculoskeletal disorders.