The Rotary Club of Irkutsk thanks the private donor who sent them $950 to replace 37 dining room chairs and 4 school desks with chairs at Irkutsk Shelter #1.  The old furniture had been in constant use for ten years and was in sad shape. 

NEW                                                         NEW

The new chairs and tables offer a much

more cheerful atmosphere.  Thank you.

Before                                                                                                           Before

The shelter was started in 1995, as an institution of the regional Social Security Department.   It is a temporary home for about 60 children ages 3 to 18 years.  These kids arrive at Shelter #1 for a number of reasons:  they are lost, abandoned, ran away, left alone after their parents’ death.  They often come without identifying papers. They stay here about a year or longer until they are ready to move out to another institution or are taken into guardianship.  Many of these kids have forgotten or never known a “normal” life. The shelter attempts to bring normalcy to them.  The shelter uses the dining room for meals, plus social, cultural and educational needs. The two story building of the shelter is 50 years old. 

Lubov Yaroslav is its director.  Mrs. Yaroslav joined Rotary on June 30, this year and is a member of the club’s ChildrenAct committee. Three years ago, the Irkutsk RC moved its meeting place to 7 Nekrasov Street, across from Shelter #1.  Maui Rotarian and Orphanact President Steve Moksnes toured the shelter in 2005 with Irkutsk Rotarian Bogdan Gorodisky

Director Lubov Yaroslav.

Mrs Yaroslav, two Rotarians

and two kids at the front of

Shelter #1

Rotarian Denis Kosinov, former psychologist at the shelter, is the project coordinator.   Ludmila Lubvina is president of RC Irkutsk.