News

Visit to Cherntsk Boarding School in Ivanovo Region

On 21 December we visited the Cherntsk Boarding School in the Ivanovo Region. On our previous visit we brought various materials for handicrafts like beads, paillettes, colored paper, paints and many other supplies. Now all these things have become excellent Christmas tree decorations that will contest to embellish the Christmas tree.

International Conference on Risks Relating to Finding Adoptive Family for Children

On December 5-6, our partners from the "PRO-MAMA" Consultative and Methodical Center for Comprehensive Support of Families with Children Needing Psychological, Pedagogical, Medical and Social Support held an international conference on risks relating to finding adoptive family for children. The conference reviewed modern Russian and foreign experience and helped the Russian and foreign experts exchange their opinions and technology. Practice and theory of finding families for children and preventing the related risks were high on the agenda.

Blood Donation Event

On December 5, voluntary blood donation was organized at the Moscow State University of Food Production. Students and lecturers donated in total 45,450 ml of blood. Many thanks to our donors.

First Christmas Tree in Moscow

This year, the first Christmas tree in Moscow was set up on November 30 in the GUM show room. We are grateful to our partner Sozidaniye Foundation for providing the opportunity for kids from Yasnaya Polyana children's home to attend this event. With the aid of our Foundation, the children could see the Christmas tree, stroll round Moscow and get home with excellent gifts.

First-Aid Training

On November 28 and 29, our Foundation employees received first aid training. The legal and psychological aspects of first-aid, which were first to be tackled, were followed by theory about the "four steps" of first aid and primary inspection. Then a dummy was used to practice cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and its specifics when applied to infants and children. Burns -- thermal and chemical – was the last item dealt with on the first day. Next day, we repeated CPR and learned what to do when the person is choking. Then we turned to bleedings and injuries to the stomach, breast, eyes, etc. Head, spinal and musculoskeletal injuries were the next topic. The training course ended with a hands-on task, where the trainees, in turn, split into those who were injured and those who were giving first aid. Then the task results were discussed. Amazingly, but everyone has survived! Here are telephone numbers that may be used to contact emergency services: • Dial 03 or 112 popular numbers to call an ambulance (991 appears to have been removed) • Dial 030 to call an ambulance from mobile phones of MTS subscribers • Dial 003 to call ambulance from mobile phones of Beeline subscribers • Dial (495) 628 00 03 to call a medical consultancy • Dial (495) 628 16 87 to call the poison center in case of emergency.

"Suspended Books" Event

On 27 November, the Central Artist House hosted the 15th international fair of non-fiction intellectual literature. The "Suspended Books" charity event was a significant part of the fair. A special stand was set up on the third floor for "hanging" books brought by visitors at the fair for charitable giving to anyone who needed them. The event brought together Zhizn, ROST, Volunteers to Help Orphans charity foundations, the Center for Curative Teaching, and the Childhood Culture Foundation that help children experiencing hardships in hospitals, boarding schools, children's homes, large and needy families.

Show of Masha Sorina's Paintings

Masha Sorina's paintings were displayed at Winzavod from November 27 to 29. It was her fourth solo show. Masha's finest pictures were going like hot cakes. The money from the sale of pictures and objects will be placed in Masha's charity account.

All Together Charity Assembly

On November 26, within the framework the All Together Charity Assembly the chiefs of Moscow largest charities gathered to discuss Charity Assembly development issues, strategies and prospects of interaction with the state and an action plan for the next year.

Seminar on Family Finding for Orphans

On November 22-23, we participated in a seminar organized by our long-standing partner, the Volunteers to Help Orphans Charity Foundation. The seminar was devoted to telephone consulting in family finding for orphans and children without parental care. Hot line issues, challenges of family finding for orphans, and relevant legal aspects were tackled on the first day. The discussion on schools for adopting parents was extensive and supported with case studies. We are grateful to Maria Pichugina, the psychologist, and Olga Budaeva, the lawyer, who willingly shared their experience and answered to a host of questions. Next day, Julia Kurchanova and Tatyana Panyusheva spoke about differences in organizing hot lines in the Pskov and Moscow regions, about fosterlings of children's homes, evolution of feelings of loss and the need for attachment. We would like to express our warmest thanks to The Volunteers to Help Orphans Foundation for a very helpful seminar!

Trip to Child Health Centre in Orekhovo-Zuevo District

On November 22, a working trip was made to the child health centre in the Orekhovo-Zuevo district. This centre accepts children withdrawn from families. The work of child supervisors is remunerated by our Foundation. Their task is essential and arduous.

VLADIMIR SMIRNOV FOUNDATION