Newsletter 23 - Friends House Moscow

Friends House Moscow
e-mail in the US at [email protected]
on the Internet at http://friendshousemoscow.org
Issue No. 23:
with program notes for 2010
For the past 3 years FHM has been the recipient of generous funding from a
temporary British fund. This funding is designated specifically for projects
that help children and so has fit very well into our overall program because
we already work with such groups. You will see in reading this issue that
many of our projects address the needs of children with special needs who do not receive adequate
services and
o
sometimes, no services at all from the state. If you know of a foundation or other organization to which we
o
could apply for funding to continue support of these programs or could help in writing grants, please contact the
l
editor at [email protected]. 
Molly Bown
Funding Ends
Help for Children in Foster Care
l
y
The “My New Family Project”
B is a project to support
based in Dzerzhinsk
foster parents and
o children that provides
them with psychological, legal and
w
practical support which the Russian social
services do notnprovide. This project is
transformational for families
f in conflict and
often despairing from their difficulties
u children into the family
integrating foster
n express deep gratitude,
structure. Families
as they share their
d experience of receiving
help from the “My New Family Project.”
i provides a series of
This project
n training sessions and
seminars, lectures,
care and supportg groups for these families
in need. Just meeting with other foster
parents helps end the terrible feelings of
helplessness andeisolation.
During the year, 104 foster parents took part in the training sessions and seminars,
109 children were
n
involved in the care groups, 30 children attended the New Year party, 9 children received three-hour body
d assisted in their search
therapy sessions, 18 children went to the circus with their foster parents, 3 teenagers were
s
for temporary employment and 29 parents received individual counseling with a psychologist
. Thirty specialists
from nurseries and 15 school psychologists participated in practical workshops.
As part of the project two exhibitions of children‟s work and two round tables on working with foster
children and on the project results were organised. A brochure, „I am in the world; the world is in me‟, was
published and distributed among foster parents.
In 2010 Natasha Zhuravenkova twice visited the My New Family project, which is funded by Molly
Bown. FHM Board observers Lynn Chakoian and Julie Harlow, Board Clerk Daphne Sanders and EMES
Secretary Marissa Johnson accompanied her in October.
~ 1 ~
Rehabilitation for Children with Special Needs (KRUG Theatre Studies)
We continued support of KRUG, an innovative school for special needs children, which works towards the
rehabilitation and social integration into society of these children through therapeutic use of theatre and art.
(Lynn Chakoian, a new board member from Viroqua Worship Group , WI, visited KRUG)
“In my short time at KRUG, I have witnessed students transformed. From the youngest to the older
group the teachers work wonders under very difficult conditions. I observed a group of autistic children
gathered for a movement class. It began with several students screaming, arching backs, in some
unknowable agony in their parent’s arms. Then, after a particular touch from the teacher, a light song in a
low voice, and physical movement with the parent, all is transformed; they are suddenly calm and
manageable. After an hour, the group can play together and
share a quiet meal before leaving.
“Over time and repetition there might become a pattern
of success that will apply more widely. This is seen in the older
group that can do cooking, music, art and crafts in a
cooperative spirit. Many have been in the school for years and
are comfortable with the community of students and the school
environment. They are also gaining experience in trades that
they may be able to pursue after leaving the school.
“The funding for this innovative work in Moscow is in
question. It must be supported as a model for what potential
can be found in these children. Integration of special needs
children in schools and social acceptance is perhaps decades
away, but our contributions can begin to support these families
and provide a more productive path for the lives of these
special children.”
(photo at left) Evidence of society’s growing recognition and
acceptance of these children was demonstrated at the prestigious Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow under its
“Museum Open for Everyone” programme for people with disabilities. KRUG is showing exhibits from
seven of its studios: ceramics, joinery, weaving, sewing, wool felting, general art, and photography. 
A Message from the Treasurer of Friends House Moscow Support Association
Friends House Moscow is making a positive impact on the lives of Russians and Ukrainians. We heavily
support the Alternatives to Violence Project in several cities with active volunteers to facilitate a number of
basic and advanced workshops.
The Russian version of our website is being seen and inquiries do come into our Moscow office
about Quakerism, connecting with Quakers in Russia/Ukraine and about our projects.
There is far more work to be done than is possible with our very small budget (the US contribution
is about $25,000 in 2011). You are a critical link in our ability to provide a stable and effective presence.
Like so many non-profit organizations our income has decreased during the last two years and we have had
to make hard decisions about what to cut. We ask you to do whatever you can to add to your contribution
this year. None of us want to see our efforts shut down for lack of funds, but that is a real possibility.
Here is one way each of us can leverage our gifts to Friends House Moscow. When asked to give to
someone else’s favorite charity you can reply that you will support them if they will support you by giving
to Friends House Moscow. That way two organizations benefit. My brother and I exchange charity
contributions at Christmas time. I give to his favorite charity and he gives to FHM.
Please give generously. Your gift is fully tax deductible.
~ 2 ~
Educational Support for Orphans (“Big Change”)
The Charitable Fund “Big Change” seeks to
help current and former residents of
orphanages
and
psycho-neurological
institutions to acquire the academic and
everyday skills they need to become
successful adults. Many of these students
come to Big Change with 2nd or 3rd grade
levels of education and work very hard to
attain high school and college diplomas. FHM
funds efforts to create a network of these
organisations in different parts of Russia. Big
Change‟s end of year report indicates a 100%
success rate amongst the „at-risk‟ students
they worked with during the year. Natasha
Zhuravenkova has visited the Big Change
project on several occasions.
Over the past year, Big Change has sought to help several students attain secondary education diplomas
so they can apply to the professional colleges of their choice. This year all of the students passed their 10th grade
exams and are working towards their 11th grade exams before enrolling in college. Irina Burenkova, from
Orphanage No. 23, is working towards applying to the Scriabin State Academy of Veterinary Medicine.
Recently she has been working in an animal shelter and studying for her 11th grade exams. Irina arrives at Big
Change early in the morning and often studies into the night. Vasilii Shakhov was deemed incapable of studying
by the Russian State and placed in a psycho-neurological institution. He has also passed his 10 th grade exams
and hopes to become a car mechanic. He has been improving his maths skills and regularly attends Big
Change‟s English Club. In the future, Big Change will continue working with these pupils and others so that
they can achieve their goals. 
The Educational Support Centre for migrant
(refugee) children helps students from the
adaptation program to get a place at school.
The Center‟s elementary school program is developing. Work is also underway to eliminate the educational
deficiencies of these students and they are making progress.
During this academic year the Centre began to work with adult migrants. FHM initiated a special
program of Russian as a foreign language for Afghan refugees. The Centre also organised places for adult
migrants (originally from African countries) on free Russian language courses offered by the Moscow
Department of Education.
The Center‟s psychology program has been successful. The children who took part became more open,
more communicative and less aggressive in their relationships with their parents. Their relationships with their
school friends became easier and their motivation at school improved. Steps were taken to resolve the legal
status of some of the Center‟s students, who were introduced to lawyers by the „Citizenship Assistance‟
Committee.
The staff undertook evaluations that proved successful and pointed out the completion of original goals.
They also established more frequent contact with a centre for multicultural education, “Ethnosphera”, and with
the Moscow Department of Education.
Educational Support for Migrant Children
~ 3 ~
Alternatives to Violence Project [AVP] – Russia
AVP is
an international movement, which promotes
communication skills that lead to peaceful
resolution to conflict and mutual understanding
across divides. This is FHM’s main project.
FHM provides financial support and meeting
space for AVP. The AVP project achieved good
results despite the small budget it had to work
with. The lack of funds did mean, however,
workshops were not held in every region. 
The
FHM
British
Charity provided funding for AVP in prisons
in the Ukraine. Prison work is not commonly
allowed in Russia, but is in the Ukraine by law.
Russian and Ukrainian AVP teams collaborated on a facilitators’ conference in October 2010 in Moscow.
Sergei Grushko attended the AVP Russia-Ukraine Big Circle held in Moscow in October.
AVP- Ukraine
AVP – in Georgia and South Ossetia
Few people outside the region
understand or even know of the
tensions between the Georgians and
the South Ossetians. At the collapse of
the Soviet Union in 2001, South
Ossetia declared its independence from
Georgia. In 2008, Georgian armed
forces entered into the breakaway
region of South Ossetia to assert
Georgian governance of the region.
Russia responded by sending
its own military into Georgia – into the
region of South Ossetia - but also into
the nearby breakaway republic of
Abkhazia and deeper into Georgia
itself. Many Airstrikes and ground
skirmishes have taken place since.
Residual tensions make communications between the two group
virtually impossible.
AVP’s work in South Ossetia
was challenging as the local authorities initially were opposed to this kind of work in their region. Good
results were, however, finally achieved, working with teens and young adults. AVP work in the Caucus
region (South Ossetia and Georgia) was supported by both American (for Georgia) and FHM funding. With
adequate funding, a joint workshop for Georgian and South Ossetian project participants would help
advance this important work. 
~ 4 ~
Supporting Reconciliation Procedures in Schools
The Centre for Legal and Judicial Reforms provided school reconciliation services work in Moscow that
included 55 cases 42 of which ended in a reconciliation or round-table meeting. This group also started
work on new reconciliation services in schools and social centres in new cities. These reconciliation
strategies when evaluated have proved to reduce the frequency of reprisals from criminals involved in
conflicts.
The Centre sponsored numerous conferences to educate a wider audience about reconciliation
processes and the advantages of their use. Natasha Zhuravenkova and Patricia Stewart participated in the
first day of All-Russia Conference held in Moscow by the Reconciliation in Schools project in June 2010.

Distribution of “Alternativshchik”
The FHM office supported the
distribution of Alternativeshchik, a
newspaper for conscientious objectors
(CO) that contains news, events and
historical articles. While FHM helped to
distribute this publication, it received
funding for publication from other
sources. This project involved creating
contacts between CO activists in
different parts of Russia.
Natasha Zhuravenkova (FHM
staff) and Patricia Stewart (board
member from Central Philadelphia
Monthly Meeting, PA) went to Kazan in
May where they met with German
Aliotkin, a local Alternative Service
Movement activist, and discussed the
Patricia Stewart and German Aliotkin meet in Kazan.
current situation and new ways of raising
awareness about Alternative Service in Russia. They also visited the Video Activist Project in Kazan. 
Help for Children with Cancer
Over 20 children received financial assistance from FHM
to help pay for their cancer treatment. 
Mental Health Services Training – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
A three-day cognitive behavioural therapy workshop was held by Sara Tai. Cognitive behavioural
therapy is a technique used with psychotics, a poorly served population in Russia and one deprived of many
human rights. The introductory day took place in a dispensary, a clinic the mentally ill come to for medical
care. Both specialists and carers attended this session. The workshop continued in Institute of Psychology
and Psychoanalysis where all the participants were specialists. There were approximately fifty participants
in the workshops. Cognitive behavioural workshops provide alternative treatment to conventional medical
interventions for psychotic patients. 
~ 5 ~
In Brief, what is Friends House Moscow?
founded in 1994 by Friends in several Quaker bodies,
including Pacific and Britain Yearly Meetings and
Moscow Friends Meeting.
has two threads in its mission:
o Providing grants and organizational assistance
to small charities in eastern Europe
o Quaker outreach through websites, translated
books and materials, etc.
17 member volunteer board who are Friends from
Russia, U.K, U.S. and Germany
One small office in Moscow
Two full-time staff-members:
o Sergei Grushko and Natasha Zhuravenkova
Part time volunteer manager: Peter Dyson
With two supporting groups:
o FHMBC (Friends House Moscow: British
Committee), a UK charity
o FHMSA (Friends House Moscow Support
Organization), a U.S. non-profit
registered in Russia as a “social organization.”
depends on the generosity of individual donors,
monthly and yearly meetings, trusts and foundations
throughout the world.
return address:
Friends House Moscow
Support Association
c/o Julie Harlow
1163 Auburn Dr.
Davis, CA 95616
TO:
Issue #11
Issue #23
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to: Friends House Moscow Support
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94306
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