The Four Parts of the Program

The rehabilitation program of the Village of Hope can be divided into four stages of development.

The entry phase of the program takes about four weeks, and serves as an induction for the people who have just joined the program. In this phase the person sobers up (in case she/he came here after a long period of drinking or using drugs), becomes aware of life and our ways, and starts getting used to the rhythm of life in the Village of Hope.

The moment a person joins the program he/she starts taking part in every job and activity in our schedule. Classes, work, duties, taking a proper care of herself/himself – we make no compromises here. The ‘freshman’ also has to give up smoking, drinking and using chemical substances. At the Village of Hope the day starts at 6 in the morning, and lights out is at 10 p.m.

We have seen from several years’ of experience that almost 50% of the people who have joined the program leave in the first month, because it is hard for them to get used to the strict regulations, to work, learn and perform their duties. This is the reason why we have implemented a special induction program for newcomers. Now our new people do not participate in the learning process in common classrooms, but are provided with personal tuition and approach by the staff, who help them get an insight into themselves and win their inner battles. Also, right in the very first week every new person is introduced to a co-called Big Brother or Big Sister from those who are further along in the program. The Big Brother or Big Sister helps the newcomer understand and accept the discipline requirements and assist her/him with making right choices.

ORIENTATION

In the first stage of the program the people become aware of the consequences of their addiction: they see how it has affected the relationships with their families, friends, colleagues and society, and how it has resulted in a false self-image. At this level, encouraged by the staff and other program participants, they take up building bridges to restore their broken relationships with significant others.

In order to maximize the participation time in the benefit of the participant and make a difference in their life, we have introduced a test which helps clarify the fields that need healing in each individual case. The test includes a profound look into the people childhood home, a list of his strengths and weaknesses, also an account of his/her current home, and an overview of how the addiction has affected his/her family.

Another important step in this phase is a practice called sociogram. This a session during which people, with respect and love, evaluate each other’s conduct and positive and negative traits. Each and every person has to give an honest assessment of the others as well as themselves, and to introduce the respective changes to their lives.

REGENERATION

At this level of the program the people learn about the physical and psychological consequences of drug addiction, and how they can take charge of their healing. When we deal with the spiritual, psychological and physical aspects of addiction, we practise biblical guidance, tuition in classes and small groups.

INNER HEALING

The stage of inner healing provides the people with an opportunity to deal with the roots of the problems that made them lead self-destructing lives. They learn how to treat deep emotional wounds without medicine. By treating their pain and wounds, and by pulling down the memories of painful experience in their past, they will become free. There will be changes and healing in their hearts, which enables them to build sound relationships with both themselves and the people around them. All this cannot change the people´s past, but makes it possible to heal from the memories of abuse, abandonment in their childhood or other misfortune.

DISCIPLESHIP In previous stages of the program the people spend most of their contemplation time studying and analysing what caused their addiction and self-destructing lifestyle. The longer they are in the program, the more their focus is shifting. Now it is time to focus on who they were created to be, not who they used to be. Now they learn how to devote themselves to serving others, to teaching and taking care of those in need. This is how a person´s life gets a new purpose: they want to set an example and to support others, especially those who also wish to become free from addiction.

Read about the conditions for entering the program here.

The program of the Village of Hope is not free of charge, but we are aware that in 99% of the cases the people who need rehabilitation are unable to pay for the participation in the program, as they have not been employed for a long time, they may even come straight from the street. This is why we cover the program-related costs from the donations made to the Village of Hope.