A couple months ago our two volunteers Audrey and Halee led JA (Junior Achievement) seminars in the Kostroma Ministry Center and one of the assignments was a service project. After inquiring about local needs, the seminar participants decided to make cloth diapers for abandoned babies. Last week they finished making the diapers and brought them to the maternity hospital where these babies stay before being transferred to baby orphanages. As I look at this picture I can only imagine what these women were feeling at that special moment. Two work every day to care for abandoned babies with uncertain futures. Two know exactly how that future has and can be changed. What a moment, made possible by people like you, who shared that they might grow and share alike.
You know what they were feeling June 17, 2011
What’s cooking? March 29, 2011
No, this isn’t a scene from “Doctor House” (the Russian translation of “House”, equally popular in Russia, according to my mother).
Our kids are at a bread baking plant in Kostroma which they visited as part of the JA (Junior Achievement) seminar that Audrey and Halee led at the Kostroma Ministry Center.
Twenty KMC leaders participated, and eight young people from Vladimir, Ivanovo and Kostroma were trained to be trainers while helping lead the sessions.
I just love their feedback:
Vitya, one of the participants, says: “I enjoyed all of the sessions, especially on the 16 skills for Success. It also felt great to do a service project in a local hospital. And, thank you, Audrey, for delicious dinner!”
Anya, a trainer, says: “We learned to work as a team, to make decisions, to listen to and support one another. I wish we had more such trainings because they teach the young people to think, to trust, and to do a good job. I’m so happy to have had this opportunity and such valuable experience. My desire is to help orphans in the future and this knowledge would be very helpful to me and to them.”
Masha, another trainer, says: “This training taught us to pursue our goals and our dreams, it also showed us that there are people who care about us. This encouraged me a lot.”
The KMC staff observed the great impact that the training made in these young people. Important ingredients: knowledge, care, team work, encouragement, respect and appreciation of each others’ gifts… and always love – were mixed together and now Success is cooking.
JA seminar in Kostroma March 18, 2011
This week Audrey (OK) and Halee (TX) are leading a Junior Achievement training in Kostroma. Not only twenty KMC participants will learn about finding a job and starting their own business but seven trainers will be trained to teach the other kids in our three regions: Vladimir, Ivanovo and Kostroma. Teaching older orphans important job skills is a paramount task in today’s Russia!
Interns have started! November 18, 2010
Our awesome program of internships has started again. We’ll have 12 interns this year! Health Life Style, Leadership and Assistance with Young Families and Moms – these are the areas that the interns will be helping with while gaining important work experience in the most unique ways – by working in our Ministry Centers!
An awesome transformation March 4, 2010
The second phase of the Job Skills training in Ivanovo has begun. Victor N, a graduate from one of Ivanovo orphanages, leading a class in this picture makes me pause in admiration of an amazing change that took place in his heart since he participated in the Art Symposium, an OT program led last May by Penny S., a watercolor artist from Colorado. Selected to participate in the Symposium due to his evident artistic talent, Viktor also brought with him skepticism and cynicism, and with his hurtful resistance drove our workshop leader to tears. In exchange he saw nothing but love, patience, acceptance and respect of his work. After a couple conversations and lots of prayers a miraculous change in attitude started to occur. By the end of the week Viktor made Penny cry again – this time with joy after most sincere and touching words of gratitude that he shared at the end of the workshops. During the last several months Viktor has been teaching himself English and volunteered assisting at a JA seminar for orphans led by OT a few months ago. He has gained a new respect from the peers and the OT staff for his enthusiasm for the ministry and desire for self-improvement and was offered an internship at the Ivanovo Youth Center to assist with the Job Skills trainings. I’m proud of Viktor whose example speaks again of an amazing difference that one can make reaching out to orphans around the world.
Innovative program in full swing February 19, 2010
Eight older orphans are in the middle of their internship at the Youth Centers in Vladimir, Kostroma and Ivanovo. There is no official data regarding unemployment among orphans but we know that there are many factors that make finding a stable job a real challenge. Orphan’s Tree internship offers a unique opportunity to learn all the necessary employment skills in a friendly, encouraging environment and a great way to start their resumes. The project began in late August with advertising the positions and the candidates submitting their resumes and being interviewed for a job. Some had to do it a few times to learn the proper way. Part of preparing for the job interview meant thinking through one’s strengths and weaknesses and gaining confidence in their areas of competence. The next step was signing contracts and job orientation, just like in real life. Eight young people were accepted: Sergei R. (Custodian) and Sasha K. (Coach Assistant) – in Ivanovo; Katya D. (Speech Therapist), Adelina K. (Activities Organizer Assistant) and Dennis Ch. (Custodian) – in Vladimir; Katya K. (Social Worker Assistant), Nadya O. (Program Coordinator Assistant) and Alexei N. (Activities Organizer Assistant) – in Kostroma. The supervising staff share with us that “these positions match the young people’s talents and education. The interns are doing their best and are a great model for the others.” The internship will last through June and we plan to continue it next year as well.
The first round of Job Skills training has been completed – with success! February 12, 2010
Last September OT launched an exciting Job Preparation training in Ivanovo. Forty older orphans with special needs participated in class work, role games and visited local enterprises for the purpose of learning skills to get a stable job. OT staff in Russia organized the training both at the Ivanovo Ministry Center and in the Technical Schools where older orphans study. The participants studied topics such as writing a resume, being interviewed for a job, Russian Labor law, communication skills at workplace, work ethics and much more. At the end of the training they gave their feedback which showed what they learned and how it would help them in their job search. Hear what some of them are saying: “The training encouraged me to start buying local newspapers with job ads”, “I will try to use all I learned here at my future work place’, “this training helps me avoid mistakes at work”, “it was hard for me to write a resume but this training helped me learn to do it”. Some participants are already planning to get a job in the summer. It’s exciting that not only this helped equip orphans with practical skills but also encouraged positive changes in their lifestyle: the counselors noticed improved attitude, better self-esteem, confidence that they’ find a job and less deviant behavior during the months of training. The training helped many young people to decide what they wanted to do professionally, and this is not a small thing for orphans with special needs. OT Russian staff who conducted this training – the regional manager Elena B., the counselor Irina S. and the trainer Nadezhda P – are proud of the progress that they observed. Elena B says: “Their initial attitude “Why should I participate, I already know everything about it” quickly changed to heated discussions, challenging questions, active participating in exercises and role plays. I think this project was extremely timely, especially during these days of economic recession when orphans face real challenges. I look forward to continue this project with another group this semester”. In spring both groups will participate in a competitive career oriented game “Landmarks in the world of professions”. We’ll wait to see who wins and look forward to hearing stories how these skills helped the orphans in real life setting.
Jenya
