Dear reader!

This booklet was written as part of the project «Adapta-tion of Care Leavers to Independent Life», in February – December 2011, carried out by RNGO «Stellit» with fi nancial support from the International Adoption Com-mission of Italy (C.I.F.A. Onlus). Our key partners are: in Italy – C.I.F.A. Onlus, in Russia – the State Institution of Primary and Secondary Vocational Education Vo-cational School No. 70, St.Petersburg; the Charitable Foundation for Social Programs «Galaxy»; and Youth Volunteer Movement «You know the way? Do it your own way then».

The booklet describes our experience of development, piloting and evaluating the effi ciency of the program of adaptation of care leavers to their future independent lives, as implemented at the premises of the State Insti-tution of Primary and Secondary Vocational Education Vocational School No. 70, St.Petersburg.

We can recommend this brochure to specialists at government-supported and non-governmental orga-nizations who work or are planning to work with care leavers currently attending institutions of primary and secondary vocational education.

Co-authors:

Ms.M.M.Rusakova, PhD in Social Studies,Ms.O.I.Kolpakova, PhD in Psychology,Ms. M.S.Kutsak, Project coordinator

Acknowledgements

The co-authors would like to extend their deep grati-tude to the following institutions and persons for their kind help during the project implementation:

personnel of the State Institution of Primary and Secondary Vocational Education Vocational School No. 70, St.Petersburg

volunteers from the Youth Volunteer Movement «You know the way? Do it your own way then...»

The co-authors would also like to express their sincere thankfulness to the International Adoption Commission of Italy and to the C.I.F.A. Onlus organization for their support of the Project implementation.

“If there is a hungry person, you

can give him a fish and feed the

person for one day; but if you give

him a fish rod, he will be fed for

the rest of his life!”

Ancient Chinese proverb

Project’s Main Phases

Phase 1. Development of a program of adjustment/adaptation of care leavers to independent life; writing a series of information bookletsdesigned for the leavers of state-care institutions

Phase 2. Piloting the Program at the premises of the State Institution of

Primary and Secondary Vocational Education Vocational School No. 70, St.Petersburg

Phase 3. Effi ciency evaluation of the Program

Phase 4. Dissemination of info about the Program among personnel of

institutions of primary and secondary vocational education in St.Petersburg

Phase 1

Development of the Program of adjustment/adaptation of care leavers to independent life

During Program development, RNGO Stellit’s personnel had meetings and negotiations with offi cials of St.Petersburg City Administration, with the management of Vocational School No. 70, with psychologists, voca-tional guidance experts, business community representatives. All of these people were introduced to the Project, they discussed the possibilities of their participation in the development and implementation of the pilot program aimed at socialization and widening of the world outlook of pupils who are to leave their orphanage institutions.

The Program of adjustment/adaptation of care leavers to independent life included 4 main components or mod-ules:

Component 1: Enhancing the competitive advantage of care leavers in the labour market

Component 2. Promotion of healthy lifestyle, prevention of risky behaviour;

Component 3. Development of pro-active social attitude in care leavers, development of skills necessary to overcome life diffi culties; broadening their worldview

Component 4: Psychological support for care leavers

5

The key operative principle of the program – participation of representatives of the target population in the program activities at all of its stages: development of the program, organization and management of events. An important component of the program implementation is the involvement of business community.

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esentatives of commercial organizations in the implementation of the program

Phase 2

Piloting the program at the premises of the State Institution of Primary and Secondary Vocational Education Vocational School

No. 70, St.PetersburgThe piloting of the program was organized on the premises of the state Institution of Primary and Secondary Vocational Education Vocational School No.70, between February and October 2011. The process involved 15 representatives of the school’s Administration and personnel and 20 care leavers who attended the school. In the organization of some of the program events, 20 volunteers from the Youth Volunteer Movement «You know the way? Do it your own way…» took an active part. Among participants of this volunteer movement are pupils from vocational schools, lyceums and colleges. Volunteer participation in the program helped the involved care leavers widen their social circle, get inspired by the positive example of their peers and learn to believe in themselves, that they can change their lives and the lives of people around them.

Below each component’s events are described in greater detail.

1.1. Vocational testing of care leavers

ZAJ «Konkvest» Beauty Department «Privilegia» ZAO «Bank Russky Standart» St.Petersburg Hotel, Oktyabrskaya Hotel OOO «Khors» (restaurant chain «Eurasia») OOO «Zavod Armatury Kontaktnoy Sety», ZAJ

«Fond-Meta» OOO «Evrosib Auto» GUP «Gorelektrotrans»

Following the results of these meetings, a calendar titled «The World of Occupations» for years 2013 and 2014 was prepared and designed.

1.4. One-day training «A Successful Interview: Useful Tips»

This training concerned person’s professional self-ful-fi llment. In the form of a role play, the children were asked to «act» a job interview and answer a series of some of the most typical employer’s question. A part of the training dealt with the task of developing the skills of writing a good CV, which according to the trainees was a very useful activity.

1.5. Dissemination of an informative booklet «Succeeding in Job Interviews and Getting a Good Job»

As part of the project, a series of informative brochures was developed for care leavers: «On your Way to Adult-hood». The «Succeeding in Job Interviews and Getting a Good Job» booklet covers the following topics:

Building a good CV (layout templates, examples of good CVs);

Sending a CV, active search for job opportunities via phone;

Looking for a job (analyzing job opportunities);

Having an interview (norms and rules of business communication, a list of typical questions and an-swers);

Employment formalities (a necessary set of docu-ments for getting offi cial employment)

1.6. Visits to city plants/factories/enterprises;

During the Project period its participants had a chance of visiting a beauty shop «Department of Beauty Privile-gia» and the combined tram-trolleybus depot State Uni-tary Enterprise «Gorelektrotrans – St.Petersburg». The companies’ representatives told the children about their respective professions and answered all questions that were put to them.

1.7. Additional professional training

The Project’s activities helped 20 care leavers develop computer literacy skills in the areas that follow: Graphic Design, (Adobe Photoshop and CorelDraw), Offi ce+ (basic offi ce applications), and «Desktop PC Assembly and Setup» (PC setup, installation of basic software).

Five girls also attended hairdressing courses for the qualifi cation of «generalist hairdresser».

1.1. Vocational testing of care leavers

The testing was conducted by appropriately qualifi ed psychologists. The children were asked to fi ll in a series of standardized methodology forms:

the method of pictorial metaphors «Life strategy» by I.L.Solomin (projective diagnostics);

the method of express diagnostics of a person’s functional status and performance capability, by M.Moroz;

the method of express vocational guidance developed by I.L.Solomin, designed for the testing of professional abilities and attitudes of youth and adults.

After completing these standardized forms, each partic-ipant’s data were processed and analyzed separately.

1.2. Individual councelling on the issues of career planning; development of individual career plans

Meetings were organized and held of the participating children with a professional psychologist. Vocational testing results were discussed with the kids and it was explained to them how these can be put to use while choosing one’s future occupation. Possibilities and ex-pectations concerning children’s future occupational activity were discussed. At the end of the meeting each project participant was offered his/her individual career plan describing the occupation/profession the person seemed to be best suited for. The career plans were written in plain language, clear and comprehensible for the kids; the questions most frequently asked by the participants during councelling underlay the respective career plans.

1.3. Development of the «Calendar of Occupations»

To develop the calendar, informal meetings were orga-nized with representatives of those organizations and businesses where the kids could fi nd job in future. All business community representative answered a list of simple questions about their respective occupation/pro-fession:

Why did you choose this area of activity/occupation/profession?

Did you learn/study long to prepare for this job? What does your occupation/profession bring you? What sort of professional qualities and personal

characteristics an individual must possess to be-come successful in this area?

Your wishes to the children – future specialists.After that a photo-session with the participating care leavers was held. This type of activity helped chil-dren directly communicate with successful people and broaden their view on various occupations/professions.

Representatives of the following companies and orga-nizations partook in the photo-session:

76

Component 2. Promotion of healthy lifestyle and prevention of risky behaviour

been trained on the topic (theme) of a particular station prior to the game. The number of stations is decided upon by the game leaders subject to the amount of time available for them.

All teams start their route through stations simultane-ously from different stations. After all stations have been done, station game results are summed up. The winning team is the one that obtained more points than others. If more than one team are racing head-to-head, the fastest one will be the winner.

The game was held at the premises of the Vocational School No. 70 and attracted more than 60 pupils living in the «Detsky Dom» (Children’s House) organization.

2.4. Training seminar on the issues of prevention of commercial sexual exploitation of children «Think for Yourself»

In-between April 13 – 15, 2011, a seminar was held with some elements of training on the issues of prevention of commercial sexual exploitation of children: «Think for Yourself» The event was attended by 20 persons.

The event was focused around the task of improving children’s awareness about the problem of traffi cking1,

1 Traffi cking or trading in children according to the UN defi nition is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbour-ing or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulner-ability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefi ts to achieve the consent of a person having control over an-other person, for the purpose of exploitation (Protocol No. 2 on the Prevention and Suppression of Traffi cking in Humans, Particularly Women and Children, and on punishment for

about opportunities and risks linked to the use of the In-ternet, and about development of their own view of the problem and skills of safe behaviour.

The children found the training very useful.

Here are some examples of their comment:

such activities, as supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime; adopted as Resolution 55/25 of the General UN Assembly, November 15th,2000).

2.1. Exhibition of creative works on the issue of a healthy lifestyle, titled «The World and the Way We View It»

In November 2011, the State Institutions of Primary and Secondary Vocational Education Vocational School No.70 hosted an exhibition of creative works by the children-participants of the project «Adaptation of Care Leavers to Independent Life». The exhibition was a showcase of the children’s best creative works: photos, poetry, drawings, applied art pieces: painting on porce-lain, wood and textile.

2.2. Sporting event called «It is Healthy to be Healthy!»

On May 28th 2011, a friendly sporting competition between care leavers participating in the project and volunteers from the Youth Volunteer Movement «You know the way? Do it your own way then...» was held; the competition was titled «It is Healthy to be Healthy!» The children took part in the following sporting competi-tions:

Relay race;

Tug-of-war; Pull-up; Long jump; Soccer.

The sports festival was an opportunity to have a lot of fun and also a chance to help rally the children together. All participants were awarded prizes ( Adidas cosmetic kits) and competition cups/medals.

The event was attended by more than 100 people.

2.3. Station game on the issues of HIV prevention «We all Live Together»

This HIV prevention-related station game «We all Live Together» was developed and conducted by the volun-teers from the Youth Volunteer Movement «You know the way? Do it your own way then...» on December 1st, 2011 – The International AIDS Day.

The method employed for the event organization was rather simple. All participants were divided in teams. Each team included 5 to 15 persons. Each team’s members choose a team name and a captain.

Each team is given a rout chart specifying the sequence of stations to be done by the team. Rout charts were drawn up by the game’s leaders beforehand to have only one team at a station at a time and to have had all teams on all stations in the end.

Stations are game sites where participants have to do thematic tasks and get points for this depending on their results. Stations are led by volunteers who have

«Talking about very important things can be interesting and even entertaining» (M. 17 y/o)

«CSEC is a real problem of our life, this can happen to anyone, to you and me, if we do not know the basic rules» (A., 16 y/o).

.

98

Component 3. Development of pro-active social attitude and skills necessary for care leavers to overcome life diffi culties; broadening their worldview

Communication Skills Development

Development of self-presentation and presentation abilities of the children. These exercises also promot-ed team spirit, helped release the tension of individual members of the group, and teached them defend their point of view in acceptable forms.

Self-Help Skills Development

In the form of a play the children discussed very impor-tant issues of the «adult life»: living in a multi-storeyed apartment block or a shared apartment, paying utilities’ bills, following the rules of co-residence in the same lodging with other people. The attendees could ask all sorts of questions all of which were answered in detail. One of the goals of the seminar was to bring it home to the kids that their future adult «independent» life is not only about freedom and independence, but also about responsibility.

Skills of communicating to other people, includ-ing relations with the other sex

This training was not in our plans originally, but we did it on request from the trainees. We discussed such top-ics as «What is love?», «What can we do if the other person does not love us?» etc. The seminar was an opportunity for the kids to talk about these sensitive matters with teachers and tutors, try to identify positive methods of dealing with complicated situations. Partic-ular attention was paid to the idea that each and every seminar participant has his/her own value because he/she is a unique personality.

Assertive Behaviour Training

The children discussed what a self-confi dent person is, what are his/her personal characteristics. They learned that this sort of person is, fi rst and foremost, the one who takes responsibility for his/her own life and deeds. In a series of plays and exercises, the trainees worked out the best method for dealing with confl ict situations.

For many of them this exercise became the most im-portant one of all in this series of seminars.

The trainings helped the children better know them-selves, fi nd new friends and improve their trust towards the world of adults. During the seminars, many of the children became more open and were able of telling the group about their emotions linked to the loss of parents and family and living at a care institution setting. Teach-ers and tutors later observed qualitative changes in the children’s behaviour.

Training attendees’ comments:

«At the end of the training series I noticed that the guys became more self-disclosed and companionable. I liked it all, it was fun» (A., 17 y/o).

«The last day is always the hard one: you simply do not want to part with everybody. Despite that, all of it was super! Even more than that… I liked it very much indeed. Thank you for organizing these groups!» (Yu., 17 y/o.).

«I liked the seminars. Everything was great. I liked the «adult life» game» most of all . What was also great – that nobody tried to judge and criticize you. I would love it to be always the case!» (A. 19 y/o).

3.1. Involvement of care leavers in youth volunteer movements

During the whole project period the care leavers active-ly interacted with volunteers from the Youth Volunteer Movement «You know the way? Do it your own way then» which includes similar girls and boys attending primary and secondary vocational schools. The posi-tive example of the peers, their pro-active life stance became a good stimulus for the care leavers. Almost all of the latter said they would like to join the movement and become volunteers.

3.2. Self-potential enhancement training for the participants

November 24th through 30th, 2011, RNGO Stellit orga-nized and conducted a series of trainings and seminars attended by 20 care leavers participating in the project. Training was delivered at the premises of the dormitory of Vocational school No. 70 where the children actually reside.

For the trainings, the role playing method was uses as it is most effective for this group.

1110

teers from the Youth Volunteer Movement «You know the way? Do it your own way then…».

3.5. Encouragement-centered competitions

For a better motivation of the care leavers to participate in the project, during its period we organized a competi-tion called «The Most Active Project Participant».

At the fi nal phase of the Project we took a decision to award all of the project participants, because all the children participated in all of the project events and were active and committed both at the stage of project planning and at the stage of implementation of individ-ual events.

Eventually the kids got valuable prizes (e.g., a TV-set, mobile phones, etc.).

20 most active volunteers from the Youth Volunteer Movement «Do you know the right way? Have it your own way them…» also got gift certifi cates to buy cos-metics.

3.3. Dissemination of booklets «Daily Living/Self-Maintenance Rules», «What a Lawyer can Recommend to Care Leavers», «Learning to Say NO», «Planning Your Budget»

As was already said above, during the project period we prepared a se-ries of informative booklets for care leavers titled: «On Your Way to Adult-hood». The content and design of the brochures were agreed upon with the project participants. The booklets were printed 500 copies each.

«Daily Living/Self-Mainte-nance Rules»: the booklet is a selection of useful info that may be instrumental for care leavers in their independent day-to-day life., i.e.: fi rst-aid kit, living at a multi-storied apartment block, useful phones and emergency lines.

«What a Lawyer can Recommend to Care Leavers» The booklet contains extracts from rules and regula-tions, examples of key documents, and legal advice for care leavers.

«Planning Your Budget»: The booklet presents rec-ommendations on effi cient save-up, and offers a simple method for personal budget management describing all its payables.

«Assertive Behaviour and Learning to Say NO» This booklet deals with the problem of self-assurance. It describes what an assertive personality is like, and rules are offered for the children to develop and maintain an assertive line in their behaviour. Meth-ods and ways of expressing one’s protest/disagree-ment are suggested.

The booklets were disseminated among the project participants and the rest was given to the Resource Center for Primary and Secondary Vocational Educa-tion «The Making of a Citizen» based on the premises of the Vocational School No. 70.

3.4. Issue-related excursions

During the project period we organized the following excursions, visits and team-building events:

a visit to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra (abbey) in St.Petersburg;

«Rope Training» in the town of Vaskelovo, near St.Petersburg;

a visit to a bowling club.

All the above events, on the one hand, stimulated the participants to widen their world outlook and promot-ed the idea of active and healthy leisure; on the other hand, they rallied together the care leavers and volun-

12 13

Component 4. Psychological support for care leavers Phase 3

Effi ciency Evaluation of the Program of Adjustment/adaptation of Care Lavers to Independent Life

The Program’s effi ciency evaluation was carried out in the form of a written survey where the project participants were asked to assess their satisfaction from the project events and their level of utility for care leavers; another block of questions concerned possibilities of carrying out such projects in the future. The survey covered all tar-get groups: care leavers, specialists from the Vocational School No.79 and volunteers from the Youth Volunteer Movement «You know the way? Do it your own way then…» 87 persons were interviewed in total.

Below you can fi nd the results of the effi ciency evaluation.

Effi ciency Parameter

Target group

Care leavers partaking in the Program

(n=20; 13 girls, 7 boys; mean age – 17,4 y/o)

Specialists from the Vocational School No. 70 partaking in the Program(n=24; 21 females, 3 males;

mean age – 46.5 y/o)

Volunteers from the Youth Volunteer Movement

«You know the way? Do it your own way then…» partaking in the Program

(n=43; 24 girls, 19 boys; mean age – 18.7 y/o)

General satisfaction from the Project’s events

The volunteers and care leavers who took part in the project, reported being satisfi ed with all the Project events. All specialists and volunteers along with the majority of care leavers belied that during the project care leavers:

were offered necessary guidance on CV writing, job searching and doing well in the job interview;

learnt more about such social problems as HIV-infection or commercial sexual ex-ploitation;

were offered an opportunity to actualize their creative talents; became more self-confi dent; earned skills of daily living and self-maintenance necessary for their future indepen-

dent life; were given an opportunity to partake in the project events’ planning and implemen-

tation.

Project events most useful for care leavers

Computer literacy coursesVocational guidance, com-puter courses and visits to companies and enterprises

Visits to companies, com-puter courses, assertive skills’ development exer-cises

Possible areas of improvement for such projects

Events that could be useful for girls and boys in a simi-lar life situation:

computer literacy courses

hairdressing courses Participation in the work

of the Youth Volunteer Movement «You know the way? Do it your own way then...»

Recommendations for fur-ther improvements:

to make this Program a model one and to ex-trapolate it to other insti-tutions, since represen-tatives of similar schools etc. in St.Petersburg showed interest in such projects;

to build up the legal ad-vice component of the Program;

to offer more events for specialists and profes-sionals.

Recommendations for fur-ther improvements:

to make more such pro-grams in future;

to strengthen the com-ponent of the program that implies a direct in-teraction between care leavers and volunteers.

4.1. Individual psychological counseling

September 30th, 2011, at the premises of the Voca-tional School No. 70, with an orphanage as a subor-dinate structure, psychological counseling was orga-nized for care leavers. Counseling sessions took place in the evening. For individual psychological counseling 3 professionals from the Raul Vallenberg Institute of Specialized Psychology and Pedagogy were engaged. Meetings with the psychologists were voluntary as other Project events; the children, however, willingly responded to the initiative. According to the psycholo-gists, many children experienced diffi culties in talking to their teachers about their personal problems, while with external specialists they feel more at ease and are ready to discuss such sensitive issues.

4.2. Group discussions on urgent issues

During the project period the participating children were offered attendance of cinema and lecture events. Cin-ema/lecture events are a method of psychotherapeu-tical assistance where specially selected movies are the key instrument to help people solve their personal problems.

Cinema/lecture events are a chance to «get» some im-portant resources from the movie: fi nding and employ-ing a new method of dealing with a problem situation, looking at a problem from a different point of view, fi nd-ing in one’s situation many positive aspects not seen before, etc. This can be important and fruitful particu-larly when a person acquires this essential experience in a nice and pleasant form like cinema.

The main goal of cinema/lecture events is to expand the worldview of pupils at primary and secondary voca-tional schools.

Cinema/lecture events’ objectives:

learning about various social character types (types of temperament, social roles, etc.), and how to in-teract with them;

development of attention, memory and observation skills, ability to express one’s thoughts, listen, make logical conclusions, etc.;

Emotional development: empathy, identifi cation of one’s own feelings (refl ection) and the emotional state of one’s interlocutor (or a cinema hero);

Trouble-shooting skills: Here psychological analysis of a movie helps fi nd other ways of solving a prob-lem, and develop the behaviour repertoire of this group member (for instance, 50 ways of declaring oneself to a girl).

Stress relief.;

Self-analysis, along with psychotherapeutical study of mental problems.

Movies are demonstrated twice a month on weekends. During the Project period 16 feature fi lms were demon-strated (for instance, the «Upside» animation, the «If only…» feature, etc.).

14 15

The effi ciency evaluation proved that

all the participants were highly satis-

fi ed with the program’s events; that

the program helps improve competi-

tive qualities of care leavers on the

labour market, promotes the idea of

health as an important value, helps

prevent risky behaviours, furthers

pro-active life stance and develops

skills that are needed for overcoming

life diffi culties’. Besides, the program

offers care leavers the psychological

support they need. The program’s

participants hold that this work has

to be continued and that the program

must be implemented at other institu-

tions. All the above gives us ground

to evaluate the program of adapta-

tion of care levers to future indepen-

dent life as effi cient and benefi cial.

There are, however, certain dif-

ferences in the assessment of the

events’ usefulness by care leavers,

specialists and volunteers. Thus, the

specialists seem to be more inter-

ested in events linked to vocational

guidance; the care leavers showed

more interest in applied things like

computer literacy courses, while the

volunteers pointed at interaction and

assertive behaviour skills as the key

components of the program. Such

data give us ground to conclude that

the Program of adaptation of care

leavers to independent life will be

most effi cient if its implementation

engages both dedicated professional

personnel and volunteers.

16

Phase 4

Dissemination of Info about the program among the personnel of institutions of primary and secondary vocational education

in St.Petersburg

On December 23rd, 2011, at the premises of Vocational School No. 70, the fi nal event of the project was held: a fair called «School-leaver: Test your Potentials!» . The event was attended by 58 persons: representatives of primary and secondary vocational education institu-tions in St.Petersburg who also have orphans among their pupils, and representatives of 3 social rehabilita-tion centres in the city.

In order to improve the event’s quality and for bet-ter visualization of the project results, we decided to make the event up of more than one component. The «School-leaver: Test your Potentials!» fair worked in three main areas:

For specialists from primary and secondary vocational education institutions who have orphans among their pupils or have to deal with them, and also for representatives of social rehabilitation centres we offered a presentation of the adjustment/adaptation program we had developed during the project.

Specifi c attention was paid to the methods of work to be used within each of the modules; these methods were presented as the ones that could be later used by the conference attendees in their own work. In particular, we presented individual-work and group-work methods of psychological work with children, examples of vol-unteer initiatives, etc., etc. This approach was highly appraised by the conference participants because they were offered an opportunity to both learn new effi cient methods and practice and test them in real practice.

Simultaneously with the conference, in the lobby there was an exhibition of creative works on the issue of healthy lifestyle called «The World and How We View It»; the showcase was prepared by care leavers and volunteers from the Youth Volunteer Movement «Do you know the right way? Have it your own way then…» as part of the project . The volunteers and care leavers who took part in the project, told the audience about their experience of participation in the project, about its positive aspects and the variety of emotions they had during the project.

17

18

Regional Public Organization of Social Projects in Sphere of Population’s Well-being «Stellit»Our organization’s name is derived from two Latin words «stella» (star) and «lit» (stone), which refl ects our conviction that to effi ciently solve social problems one has to be fi rm like a rock and believe in one’s lucky star.

Our mission is to improve people’s health and social wellbeing through implementation of scientifi cally prov-en and effective prevention programs into the practice of appropriate professionals, and in the provision of them with up-to-date social behavioural research data, and in dissemination of best Russian and international practice.

Today Stellit’s activity includes 3 major areas: social studies, prevention programs and social work. The Pre-vention Programs includes the following activities:

we help state institutions that deal with children to organize a systematic work aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle and preventing risky behaviours, and at preparing care leavers for their future inde-pendent life;

we provide appropriate training to dedicated profes-sionals and socially active youth, we support them in organization and conducting of prevention events;

we develop informative and methodology materials designed for specialists, professionals, children and youth;

we organize and hold events related to the improve-ment of public awareness about various social prob-lems.

We have done prevention programs at schools and in-stitutions of primary/secondary vocational education, at social rehabilitation centres, shelters, etc. The key areas of our prevention programs are: promotion of a healthy lifestyle and prevention of various risky behav-iours (tobacco smoking, alcohol and drugs’ use/abuse, risky sexual practices, violence, traffi cking); training on the issues of safe Internet use; adjusting care leavers to their future independent life; combating commercial sexploitation of children, prevention of social exclusion, etc.

Our specialist personnel, working in the Prevention Programs, have so far implemented more than 40 proj-ects, have involved more than 100 state organizations, trained more than 500 specialists and more than 150 volunteers. Our prevention measures have totally cov-ered over 6000 people. The results of our work have been put out in 10 scientifi c and methodological publi-cations. We have published 8 informative booklets for children and youth.

In you are interested in partnership with us:

Address: ............................Russia 197101 St.Petersburg, 3, Mira str., Letter A, offi ce 507-5

Phone/fax: ..........................8 (812) 493-52-38.

E-mail: .................................info@ngostellit.ru

Web-site: ............................www.ngostellit.ru

Director: .............................Ms.M.M.Rusakova, PhD in Social Studies

19

S ELLITNon-Governmental organization ofsocial projects in sphere ofpopulation’s well-being

Charitable Foundation for Social Programs «Galaxy»Charitable Foundation for Social Programs «Galaxy»was established in 2010 by the Regional Public Organization of Social Projects for Population’s Wellbeing «Stellit».

«Galaxy»s main goals:

Available Charity: increasing the number of persons, families and organizations involved in charity. We sug-gest various ways of supporting a charitable cause.

Effective Charity: providing support for projects which help bring about long-term structural change. It is im-portant that charity becomes a spur for positive change which will affect people’s lives and the work of orga-nizations for years to come. We view the charity pro-grams that collect clothes, food and toys for children with greatest regard. But in our projects we try to pay more attention to things that may help us produce a more long-term effect: it is training and methodology support for specialists, support for rehabilitation pro-grams aimed at children victimized by CSEC, support for prevention and socialization programs for care leav-ers, for children and youth in a diffi cult life situation, etc.

Charity Without Borders: provision of help to different Russia’s regions. We strongly believe that help must be available and accessible regardless of where, in which country’s region its benefi ciaries reside.

Creative Charity: establishing effective partnerships. We can solve social problems only by synergy of ef-forts and resources. Our objective is to establish part-

nerships in the area of social problem solving, where governmental, public and commercial organizations collaborate on a par with each other. On the other hand, in each case we try to pool available resources in the best effective way.

Promotion of best Russian practices in other countries. Our collaboration with Western partners has demon-strated that Russian specialists have accumulated a unique experience in the area of solving various social problems, which can be effectively implemented else-where.

Address: ..................... Russia 197101 St.Petersburg, 3, Mira str., Letter A, offi ce 507-6

Phone/fax: .................. 8 (812) 493-52-38.

E-mail: ......................... fundgalaxy@gmail.com

Web-site: .................... www.galaxyfond.com

Director: ...................... Ms.O.I.Kolpakova, PhD in Psychology

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Youth Volunteer Movement «You know the way? Do it your own way then»The Youth Volunteer Movement «You know the way? Do it your own way then…» was founded in April 2009 by RNGO «Stellit».

The name «You know the right way?... Do it your own way then…» refl ects our attitude to the problem, which can be paraphrased as: «We are ready to tell and help, we are open to everybody, but we are by no means trying to impose our viewpoint. Healthy lifestyle is your personal choice». We believe that it is always easier to inform somebody who speaks the language you both understand.

Currently the Movement includes 150 pupils from pri-mary and secondary vocational schools – young boys and girls aged 16 – 22 y/o.

We plan and manage events related to promotion of healthy lifestyle, prevention of various high-risk behav-iours, eradication of CSEC and teaching the skills of safe Internet browsing, social adaptation of care leav-ers.

Over the 3 years of our work we have designed and conducted more that 300 various events (city-wide and city district campaigns, station games, festivals, theatre plays, exhibitions, etc., etc.). Our prevention measures have totally covered over 10 000 people.

This is a comment provided by one of female partici-pants: «To me the Movement means friendship with people who lead a healthy life, and opportunity to com-municate with peers from other cities. There is always

something new to learn or do. All of us are friends and more than that: we are a true family! I have friends to always ask for help or advice. It is very important to know there is someone in need of your help and work»(Anna, 16 y/o).

If you are willing to learn more about us or to support us – phone, e-mail, come!

TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE!

Phones: ..................... 8 (812) 493-52-38, 8 (921) 646-84-11.

E-mail: ........................ how-know@yandex.ru, marina-kutsak@mail.ru.

Head ofthe Movement: .......... Ms.MarinaS.Kutsak

Yo

u know the way?

Do it your own way th

en…

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The booklet «Solid steps into one’s independent life: adaptation of care leavers to inde-pendent life» has been developed by the Regional Public Organization of Social Proj-ects in Sphere of Population’s Well-Being «Stellit» and by the Charitable Foundation for Social Programs «Galaxy» as part of the Project «Adaptation of Care Leavers to Inde-pendent Life» with fi nancial support from the International Adoption Commission of Italy

(via CIFA Onlus).

Project coordinator Ms. M.S.Kutsak

Co-authors: Ms.M.M.Rusakova, PhD in Social Studies, Ms.O.I.Kolpakova, PhD in Psychology, Ms. M.S.Kutsak, Project coordinator

Graphic designer: Ms.A.V.Alekseeva

Proof-reader: Ms.M.V.Yermolayeva

2012, St. Petersburg

CIFA Onlus is a non-governmental non-profi t organiza-tion founded in 1980 and committed in protecting world-wide the fundamental rights of children as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. CIFA, through international cooperation projects in favour of children, and in solid collaboration with local partners, aims at preventing the abandonment of children and promoting their rights.

CIFA promotes the improvement of living conditions of children and adolescents and the fulfi lment of their ba-sic needs such as water, food, healthcare, education and protection. Besides, through the promotion of the culture of adoption, CIFA supports the rights of children to have a family, it promotes the acceptance of diversity as an enriching value for future adoptive parents and welcoming communities, with a particular focus on inte-gration at school.

CIFA works in many different countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, the implemented activities are in favour of child workers, street children, abandoned children, orphans, children affected by HIV, children in need of special care.

Vision statement: CIFA envisions a world of peace in which all children and adolescents are guaranteed wa-ter, food, healthcare, education, playing time, affection and protection. A world where children and adolescents are loved and respected in their family and community, a world where youth is empowered to become active participants in shaping its harmonious growth.

Mission: CIFA works at improving the living conditions of needy or abandoned children and adolescents by encouraging them to develop their own identity and by ensuring a family and an harmonious growth; more-over, CIFA promotes the culture of children’s rights ac-cording to the United Nations’ Convention.

The «Galaxy» Charitable Foundation of Social Projects needs resources for implementation of a number of programs, set forth below:

A combat against commercial sexual exploitation of children

This is a grand but rather little-known problem; it causes mixed feelings and a desire to keep as far away from it as possible. But who is fully protected in the modern world? Any child can fall victim of it.

What we need resources for?

Training of and consultative support for specialists in the fi eld.

Dissemination of methodology literature among the specialists.

Provision of materials necessary for effective rehabilitation of children where the state budget can’t intervene.

Prevention of professional burn-out of involved specialists.

Support for the work of the Youth Volunteer Movement «You know the way? Do it your own way then...»

The unique characteristic of our Volunteer movement lies in the fact that it rallies children-pupils of vocational schools and lyceums. Many of them are in a diffi cult life situation or have a problem family; some of the kids are care leavers. Our movement helps improve public awareness about healthy lifestyles and promotes a pro-active life-stance among children and youth.

What we need resources for?

recruitment of new volunteers (training, clothes; development of presentations about the movement);

motivator events, ongoing training for volunteers already in the movement (cinema/lecture events, theatre school, photo studio, the Movement’s Day, and other themed events; trainings: assertive behaviour, team spirit, etc.);

development and carrying out of prevention events (station and fl oor games, theatre shows, exhibitions, campaigns) at vocational schools, shelters, social-rehabilitation centres;

implementation of the program “Childhood Without Tears”: provision of support and help to children at shelters and social-rehabilitation centres.

The world will be saved by people who dare to do simple things!

Phone us, e-mail us, come to us!

We are sure: together we’ll do more!

Our contacts:

Russia, Saint Petersburg, 1971013, Mira street, offi ce 507-6

Phone / Fax: +7 812 493 52 38.E-mail: fundgalaxy@gmail.comWeb-site: www.galaxyfond.com

Director: Ms.O.I.Kolpakova, PhD in Psychology.