News
English Style Tea-Party at the LonDom Photo Show
The Classical Photography Gallery hosted a long-awaited English style tea-party on 17 April 2014. The tea-party sponsored by Ahmad Tea in Russia began at 4.30 p.m. amidst pictures by masters of photography and lovely paintings of our children that embodied their ideas about Britain in amazing landscapes, mischievous book illustrations, and architectural fancies. The young artists are from boarding-schools located in the Luzhsk, the Leningrad region, Roslavl, the Smolensk region and Kireyev, the Tula region.
Conference "Charity in Provincial Russia: Opportunities and Prospects."
On 17 April 2014, the Aerostar business hotel hosted a conference titled "Charity in Provincial Russia: Opportunities and Prospects" that was attended by our Foundation employees. The organizers are the Interregional Social Fund "Siberian Center for Social Initiative Support", the Garant Arkhangelsk Center for Social Technology and the Constellation of Hearts Charitable Foundation. The conference has brought together companies and regional NCOs as potential partners, helped boost their joint charity endeavours and demonstrated that the role of charities and NCOs in regions was greater than expected.
Meeting of Russia's Mothers All-Russia Social Movement, Senator Valentina Petrenko and Heads of Charitable Foundations and Social Funds
On 16 April, a meeting held at the Federation Council highlighted the protection of children born in places of confinement. The meeting was attended by Nikolai Levshits, director of the Extend A Hand CF, Tatyana Klimova, director for development of the Konstantin Khabensky CF, Elena Beregovaya, director of the Vladimir Smirnov SF, Ekaterina Chistyakova, director of the Gift of Life CF, Alla Pokras, manager of Penal Reform International projects, member of the Russia's Mothers ARSM Presidium and Irina Vikhrova, head of the Legal Division, the Department of Child Rights within the RF Ombudsman's Office. Valentina Petrenko, as leader of Russia's Mothers movement, signed agreements on partnership and collaboration with foundations heads present at the meeting. Summarizing the dialogue, the senator said that a child born in jail, however paradoxical it may appear, offers an opportunity for a woman to make her life better. Motherhood makes a woman responsible and caring in a very natural way. For this reason, correctional education of a female convict through maternity is the most humane and human resource.
Report on State and Development of Foundations in Russia
On 15 April 2014, the Forum of Donors presented a report on the state and development of foundations in Russia. That was a third report on the state and development of foundations of various types. The Forum of Donors is a partnership of the largest Russian and foreign charity (donor) institutions operating in Russia. The concept of a charitable foundation, its mission and value for individuals and society as a whole is still clear only for professionals. The organizers hope that the new report will give a better understanding of foundation activities and both charity stakeholders and government representatives will benefit from presented materials.
Charity Auction at the LonDom Photo Show
15 April 2014, a closed charity auction was held at the LonDom show hosted by the Classical Photography Gallery. Photography lovers came to the Gallery despite the nasty weather. Fifteen photographs have found their new owners. Tatyana Lazareva and Mikhail Shats brilliantly conducted this event of beneficence! We would like to thank everyone who helped accomplish the main goal of the show, that is raising funds for a family-style home to be built in the Kostroma region. The charity kiosk, as usual, was selling photo mugs, postcards and amazing books by English authors!
Dmitry Shapovalov at PROFLAB
On 10, 17, 24 and 27 April, Dmitry Shapovalov, a psychologist and coach, is running parenting training courses within the framework of the PROFLAB educational programme. Dmitry lectures at the Scientific Research Institute for Social Psychology and Personality Development Psychology. He is going to talk about myths and challenges of upbringing, and tell how to develop own basic communication skills, what is 'correct' punishment and how to come to an agreement with children. The participants will discuss the topic 'Why Children Behave Badly" and learn about motives behind bad behaviour.
Day of English Media Culture at 'LonDom' Photo Show
At 'LonDom' charity photo show, Sunday, 13 April, was declared the Day of English Media Culture. The visitors were walking around the exhibition accompanied by inspiring English music and watched interesting films of the unique country such as 'London-The Modern Babylon', 'Sherlock Holmes', 'Jeeves and Worcester' and, naturally, bought souvenirs with British symbols.
LonDom Photography Show and Charity Auction Have Started
On 9 April, the Classical Photography Gallery hosted the opening of the 'LonDom' photo show. The exhibition displays 50 photographs portraying Britain taken by Russian photographers scattered between Moscow and New York. The project was undertaken by three charitable institutions -- the Vladimir Smirnov Foundation, Sozidanie and the Formula of Good -- and the funds raised from the auctioned photographs will be used to build a family-style home in the Kostroma region. Presenters of the event: Aleksandr Pushnoy and Tatyana Lazareva. Alexander Tyagny-Ryadno is the exhibition curator.
Search for Summer Camp Location
The first half of April was spent in search of a place for carrying out a summer camp socialization program for orphans. Our options varied between the Vladimir, Tver, and Kaluga regions and even Rostov-on-Don. Well, it is not easy to identify a place good enough for us, so we are still in limbo. Wish us luck!
Toolbox Meeting of RF Ministry of Public Health Group on Relations with Charitable and Other Similar Socially Oriented Non-Commercial Organizations
On 7 April 2014, the Working Group of RF Ministry of Public Health on Relations with Charitable and Other Similar Socially Oriented NCOs met to discuss a draft plan for 2014. Five subgroups have been set up to address
· problems of children and adults with disorders and disabilities;
· medical care for orphans and parentless children;
· palliative care;
· prevention of socially critical contagious and non-contagious diseases;
