Over 120,000 children are estimated to be abandoned or orphaned each year in Russia. Yet even those living with their birth parents do not always receive the parental care that every child deserves–children such as Masha, Yulia, and Lena.*
Earlier this year, these three sisters were not receiving proper care at home and began heading down the wrong path. They lived in a tiny one-room apartment in Iskitim, in the Novosibirsk region of Russia, with their mother, father, aunt, and 15-year old brother. Neither parent earned a steady income, their older brother recently had been convicted of theft, and the girls began to follow his lead. Masha, age 12, started to steal with the help of Yulia, age 8. Meanwhile, Lena, age 7, began insulting other children and threatening theft as well.Their mother often behaved aggressively—both physically and verbally—and the girls were not given any supervision. Each of the sisters developed emotional problems and difficulties interacting with other children.
Then the sisters’ luck started to change when they received an invitation to attend the Fairy Tale School at the local children’s library. The Fairy Tale School in Novosibirsk provides a safe, fun, and constructive environment for children around ages 8-12 from low-income families, many with parents who are alcoholics and/or unemployed. This program originally was established with IREX’s support, through the USAID-funded Assistance to Russian Orphans Program (ARO). IREX has been working with Russian NGO and government partners since 2002 in providing support to over 80,000 abandoned and abused children. The municipal government of Novosibirsk has taken up the cause and is now funding the ongoing operation of the Fairy Tale School.
Masha, Yulia, and Lena were delighted with all the games, story time, and activities with other children at the Fairy Tale School, but did not know how to behave properly. They disrupted games, would not listen to the staff, had trouble getting along with the other kids, and displayed hyperactivity, emotional instability, and a lack of self-control. Masha assumed an authoritative role over the girls—as she would be punished by their mother if anyone misbehaved—exercising her authority through threats, blackmail, violence, and insults. She also tried these tactics with the staff, but the staff responded calmly and she was unable to provoke them.
Although it took some time for the girls’ behavior to improve, once it did, they were very eager to be involved in the school’s activities and make new friends. Reading stories about sharing and behaving properly, Yulia was able to show more empathy and developed healthy interactions with other students. Rather than being excluded from groups, the other kids wanted to play with her and be her friend. She even finished the school year with good grades. Masha also showed great improvement. After one month of going to the library, she signed an agreement with the staff that at the library she was not responsible for Yulia and Lena’s behavior. This allowed her to resume her role as a 12-year-old, rather than being a mother. Masha became more active at school and won second place at her school’s poetry-reading competition. All three girls took a leading role in library activities and made new friends.
Even though the girls were showing tremendous progress, involving their family was more difficult. Library staff repeatedly invited the mother to the library, but she always refused, claiming that she was too busy. Then one day she came to the library to look at the girls’ artwork. The mother realized that the library was providing a valuable service for her children; the sisters were always excited to go to classes at the library and were very upset if they were unable to go. They also constantly talked about what they were doing there, which sparked their mother’s interest. When their mother arrived, Masha, Yulia, and Lena happily showed off their work. They were excited to share this part of their lives with their mother.
Work with Masha, Yulia, and Lena is ongoing. Each girl was given an individual summer reading list to help prepare them for the next school year. In addition, they will receive extra help and attention at school, including counseling sessions with a psychologist. The library will also continue to serve as a resource and will continue to try to increase parental involvement in the girls’ activities. Thanks to the Fairy Tale School, Masha, Yulia, and Lena now have a brighter future and a safe place to spend their afternoons and weekends.
IREX has had a presence in Russia since 1968, and is committed to improving the lives of children in Russia. Through the ARO [7] program, IREX and its implementing partner, the National Foundation for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NFPCC) have engaged over 170 NGOs and government institutions as partners to prevent child abuse; trained 1,200-1,500 child welfare professionals and case workers annually; and created over 500 new services and government policies for at-risk children and families.
*All names have been changed to ensure confidentiality
