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Project managers Tomash Rogala, Jola and Joost
Denissen |
Astrakhan,
Russia
Astrakhan Initiative for Minors (AIM)
For some years now, volunteers of Astrakhan Initiative
for Minors have been conducting classes and seminars for teenagers
and young adults in orphanages, shelters, kindergartens, primary
schools, as well as Chechnyan refugee camps. Recently they were
given the use of a property for a center for street kids. This property
is the base of operations for classes and seminars for Astrakhan
youth, as well as providing free medical help courtesy of volunteer
doctors and staff.
A "Return to School" program is underway
to allow youth who quit school prematurely to resume their studies
and/or prepare for exams. Children who have never entered school
are encouraged to do so and are supplied with needed books, etc,
combined with home visitation and counseling. |
Street kids being put to work building a ping pong table. |
Some of the young people we help. |
Other programs include AIDS awareness and anti-drug campaigns.
AIDS Awareness
An AIDS Awareness presentation organized by AIM for national AIDS
Awareness Day in Russia. The show took place at the end of a day
full of activities designed to make young people aware of the dangers
of AIDS. On a daily basis we have volunteers on the streets distributing
literature and free, clean needles to drug-addicts, as well as dispensing
advice on how to use these in order to prevent getting or spreading
AIDS. |
Signboards mounted on our cars, promoting "Astrakhan is against
AIDS." |
Another performance in Astrakhan which Tomash's daughter took part
in. |
Street Kids
Some of the street kids who come to our center, with Russian volunteer
Nina (center). |
Volunteers Jola and Artur with street kids. |
Renovation underway on our Center for Street Kids. |
One of our street kids learning to rollerblade in front of the club. |
Street kids being put to work building a ping pong table. |
A classroom in our center designed for street kids. |
All the kids help with cleaning jobs in the center. |
Some of the young people we help. |
A therapeutic game, designed to improve memory
and concentration. |
Music practice, as follow-up
to personal tutoring |
Eve from Kazakstan teaching Ira
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Students Olya, Lena, Katia and Ania.
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Jolanta using Russian spelling aids.
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Regulars playing memory game.
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Izjat, of Azerbijdzjani background, reading well
enough to read to the other kids.
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Jolanta with regulars, who received diploma for
the English course they attended.
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Puppet theater and skits at our center.
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And always time for fun and relaxation.
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The kids doing an art project, adding
special effects to light fixtures.
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Micha and Hussein showing a drawing they
made during art class.
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Click here to see certificates
of appreciation we received
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