In Kostroma they combined the re-opening on the MC with the new graduate orientations. On September 23d they held a House warming party at the MC – a festive event for 52 older orphans and several guests.
On the first day of the seminar the older orphans got to meet each other while interacting. The older orphans learned about the programs of the MC and the working schedule of the MC, and also they learned the rules that we have. The older orphans played a number of games that helped them learn and remember each other’s names, and build trust; they worked in small teams and later on watched a movie (“The Blind Side” with popcorn and soft drinks). As soon as the movie was over the older orphans got together and discussed it. Later they met the older orphans who have been coming to the MC for years. The final activity of the seminar was tea with all sorts of treats. 25 new older orphans took part in the first day of the celebration; plus 11 older orphans who have been participants of the programs for some time. The MC has the arranged work schedule and offers the following programs:
- Cinema hall - Leader - Communicating - Young Mothers - Young Families - Computer Skills
There is also a counselor at the MC.
Their current priority is to attract older orphans and to engage them into the programs and also to teach those older orphans who are new at the MC about and all its programs. Since the MC has reopened in its new location, 5 to 7 new participants visit it every day, the older orphans are still adjusting to this big change.
The second day of the seminar was more educational. The older orphans went to two different museums: they went to the Museum of Nature and attended an Exhibition “The History of Theatre Through Dolls”. Despite the terrible weather everyone toured the downtown of Kostroma after. The celebration ended with everyone going out for pizza. Despite the cold and snowy weather and the educational nature of the second day of the event even more older orphans showed up. The total number of the participants is 31 older orphan plus 6 participants of the Leader program.
At the end of the seminar a lot of the older orphans expressed their desire to take part in the programs of the MC. We would like to highlight the fact that quite a few older orphans who showed up at the seminar-training are from orphanages for kids with special needs for whom the major goal was, of course, to learn how to get to the MC from where they are staying.
“I am thankful to everyone for inviting me to the MC for Freshman Day. I got to learn a lot about the MC, it’s a great place and I think that I will come here very often. I enjoyed talking to other older orphans and the staff. I feel good here.”– Sasha G., an older orphan from Soligalich orphanage
“I missed the first day of the Freshman Day event. But after talking with the older orphans who were there that day I felt bad. I loved the second day of the celebration. I was a little bit bored at the museums that we went to, but I am glad that I’d gone there since I’ll never go to a museum on my own. The pizza was delicious. I was happy to see some of my old friends that I’d met at summer camps before”. – Yulia K., an older orphan from Bui orphanage
“I knew about the MC, but I’d never been there. On Freshman Day I was at the MC for the first time. I had a good time and I enjoyed tea with delicious cookies and what not. I am thinking of attending English classes and Computer classes here at the MC”. – Sergei B., an older orphan from Sudai orphanage
The Staff of the Kostroma Ministry Center express their deep appreciation and gratitude to everyone at Orphan’s Tree for supporting our older orphans at the most difficult time for them. When the older orphans move out of the orphanage they find themselves in a very unstable and difficult situation. They need to adapt to not only new conditions, but also to new people, new town and their new status in the society. The Freshman Day that has become a traditional event here at the MC visibly helps the older orphans with this. Thanks to such events the older orphans have an opportunity to immediately find new friends, mentors and learn more about the Ministry Center where they will always find support and guidance. Thank you so much for making such events possible! Hopefully, with God’s help such get togethers will be repeated and not just once. Thank you so much once again!
On September 22 Orientations took place at Vladimir Ministry Center. Nadezhda Fund interns Nastya and Vanya helped prepare the program and decorated the rooms. This time they decided to make the presentation as a game called “4 stations”. All freshmen were divided into 4 groups and led by the interns and older participants. Then these teams rotated between 4 stations: 1 – Educational, 2 – Medical, 3 – Social assistance and Counseling and 4 –Rehabilitation Activities. At each station staff shared about the programs and services for older orphans provided by VMC. For example, at the “Education” station the freshmen learned about additional educational opportunities including the soon to begin English classes. Besides, at each station the freshmen were challenged by 5 questions in the corresponding field and received scores for correct answers. The team that received the highest score was awarded a special prize.
The activity director and the interns led more games and team building exercises which helped everyone to get to know each other. At the end of the day everyone received gifts (school supplies and shower gel). The celebration of the new school year ended with pizza party.
A total of 57 young people (including 11 VMC leaders) studying at 10 technical schools and colleges of Vladimir, participated in the orientations. Social workers from these schools also attended.