You know what they were feeling June 17, 2011

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.

Highlights of trip to Moscow February 12, 2011

Our Ivanovo and Kostroma kids recently went on a Leadership trip. They participated in a service project in a Moscow shelter for young women at risk, visited Sergei Posad and the church of the late Alexander Men, a famous Orthodox Priest, in Novaya Derevnya.

Misha B says: “I was glad to start our trip with a goodwill project. We helped make the shelter a better place for the young women and their babies. We all worked hard and it felt good.”

Alexei from Kostroma especially liked the theater production based on Gogol’s story “A night before Christmas” at the St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Moscow: “A night at the theater was an unexpected surprise. We were thankful for the invitation.  The performance inspired us to stage something like that in the Ministry Center. I’m sure we could do that.  I also enjoyed walking on Arbat street at night”.

Visiting the Church of Alexander Men was a special time for the kids, especially for the Ivanovo kids as the present governor of the Ivanovo Region is Father Men’s son.  Alexander Men was an outstanding Orthodox priest who was martyred in 1990. Just look up his name and you’ll find a lot of information about this great leader of the spiritual revival in Russia at the end of the Soviet period. Sasha and Nadya said: “Our visit to Alexander Men’s Church and the story of his life inspired us greatly.  Father Vladimir met us there and talked to us about the purpose of life, about our responsibility to reach out to the kids at the orphanages. His words deeply touched us.”  The kids put flowers to Alexander Men’s grave and continued their way to Sergei Posad.

Timur was one of the kids who enjoyed visiting Sergei Posad and the Moscow Armory: “At the Sergei Trinity Laura in Sergei Posad I learned about Saint Sergei’s life and his strong faith. His love and commitment to God is a great example for us and it helps us look at our lives differently.  When we were at the Moscow Armory I listened to every word our guide said and I realized how little we know about the history of our country and how rich our history is”.

We’re thankful to all our friends who helped make this trip possible.

Christmas volunteer projects completed January 17, 2011

Volunteer projects in Vladimir completed the Christmas celebration. Altogether eighteen participants of Orphan’s Tree programs in three regions responded to our invitation to give their time and skills to help other needy people. They touched lives and hearts of over two hundred children and adults in orphanages (including for kids with special needs) and at a local hospital.

 

Isn’t it great that the young men who repaired the doors at the local hospital in Vladimir were able to use the skills they learned at their construction schools?  I’m sure it helped them do a really good job!  Their visit to the hospital happened at the time of its dedication by the local priest.  Alex and Maxim watched the ceremony and talked to the believers among the hospital staff. “We’ll be happy to help again”, they told our Russian staff.

Our intern Vera and five other young women from the Vladimir Ministry Center raised funds among other VMC participants to buy diapers and spent a day at the local baby home playing with the kids. Vera says: “We pulled sleds with the kids, played snowballs and hide and seek. We had never heard the kids laugh so heartily and merrily. We loved being with the kids and we’ll certainly do it again!”.

I feel so proud of these wonderful young people who’re responding to the needs in their local communities and I thank all of you who set an example of sacrifice,  inspired and encouraged them in serving others.

Volunteer project in Ivanovo December 21, 2010

The young people from Ivanovo led a program in one of the local orphanages of crafts and games. A young mother herself, Marina enjoyed her time with the kids: “I like to go back to the orphanage I grew up. I know first hand how important it is to have visitors who show you love and I could tell that the kids miss their American friends. They liked the activities that the Americans used to organize there and they were glad that we engaged them in similar activities”.

Back at the orphanage Ruslan liked to make decorations. «I like to make beautiful thing. I would like to see the orphanage nicely decorated for Christmas.”

Ira started coming to the Ministry Center in September. “I enjoyed working with the kids in the orphanage. It was great to see them working hard and making very nice things for the holidays. They painted toy cars, made toys from dough and made lots of decorations.”

Making Christmas a time of giving November 30, 2010

This Christmas season will be the time of giving for our program participants. They’re organizing several service projects in their regions which will include working in hospitals, kindergardens, orphanages, nursing homes and churches. They are excited to share the blessings they have with other needy people. The volunteer movement among orphans who participate in our programs is becoming a tradition, and sacrifice of many of you is behind this new tradition. I thank you all for your sacrifice, for the inspiration and encouragement that you have been to all of us: the Russian kids and those who’re working to help them.

National Award April 30, 2010

On April 28 Viktor and his younger brother Denis accepted the National Award in Volunteerism (3rd Place) as volunteers of Nadezhda Fund working in orphanages of Ivanovo region. Three brothers: Viktor, Ruslan and Denis were awarded in the nomination “Family Volunteerism”.

In this photo Viktor is giving his acceptance speech at the Ministry of Economic Development, one of the Award sponsors.

In this photo Viktor and Denis are being interviewed by NTV, the Russian National TV. Their interview will be shown on May 29.

Elena H, Nadezdha Fund Program Manager and Elena B, Ivanovo Regional Manager, Viktor and Denis have met with Russian officials from the State Duma Committee, Civil Society Commission of the Russian Public Chamber and Russian Center of Volunteerism Development.

A Tale of Two Awards April 22, 2010

The recent media frenzy over a child being sent back to Russia only serves to remind me of what abandonment can do to an orphan (or anyone, for that matter) and how simple opportunities, patience and love can change a life.

Isaac was the first orphan that George Steiner met in the Vladimir Region of Russia. Little Isaac, 6 years old at the time, ran out of the building and showed the guests to the Director’s office. Already then he was eager to help. Many years have passed since then and today my heart is overwhelmed with pride in this young man. As his American adoptive mother Sharon told me, the road was very bumpy as I’m sure only those who’ve adopted children would fully understand. Today, though, Sharon and all who know him have every reason to be very proud and happy for Isaac. As a student at the BMCC in New York, last year he initiated and organized the first UNICEF chapter at his college and a fundraiser that generated over $1200. When Haiti was hit with the earthquake a few months ago, Isaac raised over $4400 for Haiti and spent his spring break volunteering with clean up operations (you can easily recognize him in the picture). He has just been awarded with the “Presidential Volunteer Service Award” from UNICEF and he well deserves it!

Way to go, Isaac!

Viktor grew up in an orphanage in Russia and his opportunities opened up when he got involved in the programs of the Ministry Center in Ivanovo. Encouraged by support he found there and empowered by the trainings he participated in at the Ministry Center, Viktor had a heart to share his knowledge with kids at the orphanages. He teamed up with his brother Ruslan and a few others to lead Life Skills trainings at orphanages and tech schools. A few months ago the Russian Ministry of Economic Development announced a National Award for Volunteerism and we applied on behalf of Viktor and his brother Ruslan. I’m so pleased to say that the brothers have won the Award – and they also well deserve it!

Way to go, Viktor and Ruslan!

Way back in 1994 when the needs of Russia’s orphans were first put on our hearts, a lofty dream struck us from the very start. The dream was that one day these wonderful kids would grow up strong and healthy, knowing the love of Christ, and so much so that they would come back and volunteer to help their fellow orphans. Over these years, as the hard but always satisfying work has continued, and as we’ve come to see this dream repeatedly come true, it’s become more and more clear to me that what we had was a glimpse of the fact that it is, in the end, these very orphans, and possibly only them, who are uniquely qualified to truly understand, empathize with, and in the most meaningful ways reach out to their younger brothers and sisters still growing up in orphanages, or for anyone in such profound need, as it is only they who’ve been through the same. Indeed, if one must become like a child to receive the kingdom of God and whatever we do unto the “least of these” we do unto Christ, who else should be more ready for truly giving their lives to true religion, pure and undefiled in the sight of God?  An opportunity is what it takes to do it.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Out of hardship for these kids, perhaps here is our age of wisdom, if we only believe and are not taken by incredulity.

What a joy! April 8, 2010

What a joy to see our young people succeed! Among those who participate in Orphan’s Tree education program are six students of Moscow colleges and universities. This is a remarkable achievement for them and a result of hard work. Natasha and Sveta are students of Moscow University of Psychology and Pedagogy and were recently invited to participate and speak at a round table discussion organized by the Department of Social Protection and other government authorities. The meeting was largely devoted to challenges orphans face after they age out of their institutions. Natasha spoke about housing challenges for orphans. The meeting resulted in a decision to create a Committee formed of government officials and orphanage graduates to address orphan issues. Natasha and Sveta were invited to join. With the girls on the Committee we now expect the orphans of Russia to quickly run out of problems!   But seriously, we’re certain that God has a plan for our young people to become the leaders of tomorrow and we’re excited about it.  To my question what she’s doing now, Natasha said: “Right now at school I’m engaged in practical work that helps me learn about the profession of a case worker. I’m working with children, we create questionnaires and curriculum and I’m preparing a lesson on consequences of smoking. I find working with children very exciting”.

Watching them give back… March 13, 2010

When George, Katya and I began this work sixteen years ago, our dream and prayer was to live to a day when orphans would come alongside with us to help other orphans. Today the greatest reward for me is to watch them give back and share the skills and knowledge they acquire in Ministry Centers programs with children in orphanages.

Last year brothers Viktor and Ruslan, graduates from Ivanovo #1, gathered several other young people and started visiting two orphanages once a month and teach classes to help kids made wise decisions after they leave the orphanages.  In 2009 they led nine one-day seminars that included fifteen group session and over a hundred individual consultations.

Ruslan says: “I remember how difficult it was for me when I left my orphanage. I couldn’t make one step or one decision without wanting to go back to the orphanage and ask for advice. Participation in the Ministry Center programs helped me a lot and in two years time I learned more than ever before. I know well how much children in orphanages need help to prepare for their independent life. Life isn’t easy and they need to learn to study and to work, to pay for the apartment, to provide for themselves. I believe my own life experience has a lot to offer to them and they can learn from me just as I keep learning from the staff and programs at Ministry Center.”

Viktor agrees and adds that besides learning useful skills, it is also very important for the kids to see positive role models, examples to follow. And indeed, it’s exciting and encouraging for all of us to watch Ruslan, Viktor and other young people in this leadership role.