This project was funded by OrphanAct 

Project:

Rehabilitation of Children and Teenagers Lacking Parental Care

In a state-supported social service institution “Ulan-Ude Rehabilitation Center for Juveniles” more than 200 children and teenagers lacking parental care are annually assisted with rehabilitation. The Center is their first institution to which they are brought from streets. After they get rehabilitated some children and   teenagers will be adopted, while the majority of them will be offered places at orphanages.   

Children’s social adaptation in a society is largely determined by/dependent on the success of a rehabilitation course. Qualified social workers, educators, and psychologists, who have been working in the Center since it was opened, do everything possible to make rehabilitation successful. One of the keys to their success is diversification of activities for children.

Thus, one of the most successful rehabilitation activities at the Center has become meetings at a tourist club (group) “We are Together”. Our collaboration with a non-governmental organization “GBT” Buryat regional Department  for Baikal has made it possible to arrange annual children’s trips to Natural Preserves and National Parks. The experience of active tourism has been rather effective: children have become less worried, and they have been more independent in making their decisions in life and have learnt to take care of each other. Being outside most of the time for several weeks many children and teenagers have given up smoking, alcoholism and toxic addiction.       

The only disadvantage of the tourism activity as part of a rehabilitation course is that it can be run seasonally. The Center’s equipment can only be used in a summer time, and it is not suitable for winter trips. Thus, in spring and fall tourist club’s activities are held at the Center and Ulan-Ude suburban areas, and limited to one-day trips.

To contribute to a successful implementation of a rehabilitation course in winter, it is crucial to diversify winter activities for children.

          One of the possibilities to do this includes classes on region studies which will develop children’s love for learning and careful attitude to nature, get them interested in the environment and have them prepared to undertake summer trips to Lake Baikal. To raise children’s and teenagers’ interests in region studies it is important to use various teaching methods. For example, a teacher/instructor can suggest watching a film about Lake Baikal, its flora and fauna, the history of our country, etc. He/she can arrange weekend hiking tours, teach children to take landscape pictures, and to participate in photo competitions while presenting their photographs at exhibitions. A fair competition will raise/contribute to the development of children’s self-esteem. In fact, children and teenagers who have to live in orphanages often lack such an important trait of character.    

A state-supported social service institution “Ulan-Ude Rehabilitation Center for Juveniles” is applying for a grant (less than $1000, and in particular 24,000 rubles) to purchase the following:

• A digital photo camera – 6000 rubles.
• A printer for making pictures (photographs) – 8000 rubles.
• Paper for pictures (photographs) – 3000 rubles.
• Photo albums with magnets - 10 items x 300 = 3000 rubles.
• Photo frames – size 20x30, 20x10 = 2000 rubles.

Total: 24000, or $906