Help Russian orphans get education & socialize

Children raised in the orphanages don’t have opportunity to make researches on the topics they are really interested in and to make presentations.

In Big Change they have this opportunity.

I want to tell you about our latest event - natural history event "The continents and life on them". 

Before class each student and teacher studied mainland that they chose, and picking up photos. All these materials have been collected into one presentation. Usually guys are very shy to speak. But here, sitting at a round table with the teachers, guys were able to overcome their fear, to open themselves and to talk about their continents. Teachers also behave themselves on an equal basis with guys – they were interested in the topic, asked a lot of questions. As a result it was a live substantive dialog that motivate to reflection, hypothesis, sharing of the opinions and joint research. 

Nikolay (teacher) demonstrated history of continents - splits, mergers and drift. Cardboard pieces, imitating the land, were navigated on the magnetic board in accordance with the real historical movement of the continents.

Elena (teacher) explained how the Himalayas were appeared using layers of puff pastry.

One our student, a native of Africa, enthusiastically talked about Africa and the animals that he particularly liked - crocodile, lion, and gorilla. From him we learned that gorillas do not attack people if they do not feel a threat to their offspring. And crocodiles attack humans only when they are sick. To find this information, he watched movies, read the notes on the Internet, researched the subject.

Sincere interest, involvement in process, questions and feedback – all these are indispensable elements of the educational process. Thanks to your support, guys have opportunity to be part of that process.

We will continue our work in new 2016 year. We thank you for your support and trust during this year! We have great plans for the following year: lessons will be held, conferences organized, extracurricular activities and events will be planned. But we still need money for our future programs. So please do not hesitate to donate or share the information about us with your friends and colleagues. 

Season’s greetings and best wishes for the New Year! I hope that the coming year will bring you peace, good health and prosperity!

Links:

• website
• facebook page

Today I want to tell you about our students from mental houses.

Orphanage graduates in Russia who were recognized unable to live independently by the age of 18 are moved to mental houses where they usually stay for the rest of their lives. We help those youngsters to gain essential social skills and profession. In some cases they can even apply for the revision of their diagnosis and gain a right to leave the mental house.

They come to us with different goals and requests, here are some of them:

• “To show sustainable results in the development of counting, writing and reading skills.” (Natasha, 25 y.o.)
• “To show steady academic progress in the program of 5th grade”. (Vlad, 19 y.o., Igor 21 y.o., Lida 25 y.o.)
• “To successfully complete the first year of college. To have good reputation among potential employers.” (Murad, 27 y.o.)
• “To overcome the psychological dependence on the constant help of adults in solving my problems”. (Vlad, 19 y.o.)
• “To overcome the fear and anxiety that interfere with life.” (Jess, 21 y.o.)
• “To learn how to help classmates if they need my help.” (Lida, 25 y.o.)

More that 19 young people from mental houses receive our support and participate in our programs in the current academic year, also more that 9 guys are on the waiting lists. We have launched new project on GlobalGiving - especially for that group of students - https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/help-people-from-mental-homes-start-to-live-worthy/.  We would also appreciate if you could share this with your friends and help us enlarge a circle of people, who would be willing to support.  That guys have pottential and desire to study, they just need an opportinity to do it.

Links:

• website
• Facebook page