Our work in Russia

ChildAid helped them smile.

Your help gives a smile to Egor

Helping Hands is a small-scale and cost effective project offering intensive support and help for children who are most at risk of forming life-threatening patterns of behaviour, or who live in families facing crisis.

Based in the Siberian city of Chita, Helping Hands works with children and their families living in extremely harsh conditions. With inflation on essential items such as firewood and food running many times more than the official rate and unemployment rising, desperate conditions are being faced.

Work includes activities and guidance for children, respite breaks, family support that strengthen relationships and material aid.

However, a key focus of our activity is centred around an informal "3Rs" programme. A small group of children with learning difficulties, who have been struggling to keep up with their work or have been refused a place at school, are given essential educational boosts. They learn to distinguish colours, draw, begin to read and write. Sports equipment was provided by a ChildAid supporter and this is an added bonus in developing their bodies as well as their minds.

ChildAid has purchased 3 computers where two groups per week are held to learn some basic, yet essential, PC skills. These groups are eagerly awaited and numbers are always many more than can be accommodated.

 


Egor's parents are in prison on drug charges. His younger brother is in an orphanage as his grandma could only care for one child. Egor and his grandma's benefits are £135 a month - if and when it arrives. Life-saving supplies (wood, food, clothing) are provided by Helping Hands as well as encouragement and prayerful support. Although 10 years of age, Egor only started school a year ago but with our help he is making excellent progress

Current services

  • providing support to speed up the provision of state benefits to families who are entitled to them but where authorities are not processing applications
  • travel costs for children to get to school
  • supporting families in trying to clear their debts
  • encouragement to children to go to school
  • provision of food, firewood and warm clothing

 

For a profile of the country we suggest the BBC website on Russia

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