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News from the Tsyurupinsk orphanage

For some time, I could not collect my thoughts to share news from Tsyurupinsk orphanage. Since the New Year, we’ve made two trips to this unique children's home. Despite the fact that it takes almost half a day to get to the orphanage, again and again we long to see our young friends, their curious eyes, to hear new stories and their laughter. First time, at the end of January, we came to visit without having a special program. The purpose of the visit was to meet the children, find out how they are, talk about New Year holidays, play and have fun.

The visit to the kids of the 4th profile was the most useful to me. These gentle and kind eyes were so touching; they too need our care and warmth. We spent about 5-10 minutes in each group. What I noticed immediately was that the rooms are not cozy and comfortable enough. Such simple things as wall mats were missing in the rooms. The first question to the attending doctor was about what we could do to help. The answer was simple: Of course primarily it's a lack of medicines and diapers. We also need tape recorders and DVD-players because the kids almost never gout to the street and we’d want to somehow diversify their lives. There are 4 groups of such kids aged 4 to 18 years in the orphanage.

As always, we talked with girls and boys from older groups during the quiet hours. The last important event there was the adoption of Olenka. She found her new parents. Everyone was delighted for her and at the same time missed her. Young gentlemen greeted us with the Valentine’s Day. We were pleased to receive a gift, a chocolate bar, from Cyril.

At 4 o’clock we all raced in a junior group. Games, stories, photos... Kids love to be photographed, especially preschool children, even the boys were trying to be photo-models. 
The main surprise for all of us was «break dance» by Firas and some positions in the performance of young ballerina Julia. We got a great deal of positive emotions. 
The good news was that the school building was officially declared as an orphanage and now all the papers are in order. Alevtina Vasilievna was appointed as a director of the school and actively continues to modernize the school. Thus, what was a plan in January became or nearly became a reality in March thanks to the help of good people. The school was equipped with a new computer lab, a fitness room, and a class of social training is going to be finished.

Our March trip took a week to arrange; we wanted to please the kids who stayed at the orphanage during the school holidays and the Easter. A plan was finalized on the train. We planned such activities as painting and eggs coloring, games, walks. Also, a few guys decided to visit the boarding school graduates at a nursing home in Kakhovka (disabled kids who cannot get to any other establishment after they leave the orphanage or if they have no trustees usually get to such institutions).

Spring means the warm of southern sun and a constant companion of March - voluntary Saturday work. Older kids helped the teachers to clean up and water the flowers. It turned out that the orphanage has its own small greenhouse and a garden. Lemon and calla lilies are blossoming right now. In addition to the flowers, waiting for the sun and heat, tomatoes are growing under the shelter, as well as cabbage and other vegetables. It's great that little by little kids are taught to work.

The walls are decorated with paintings made jointly by nurses and kids.

Time passes swiftly as always during games, interviews and paintings; it's time to say goodbye. I looked into the studio where the children were drawing pictures and almost did stay in a boarding school (caught up with the guys at the gate). But my staying was worth it: I admired the beauty of landscapes, portraits, icons and handicrafts made by children, admired their strength, commitment and desire to create and make the world around them colorful and fun. I even got a picture which is on the wall of my room now.

Thanks to everyone who participates in our trips and gives a piece of goodness and warmth to the children. Special thanks to Alice and her staff for the purchase of a refrigerator from the director of the boarding school. 
Join us at our next trip.

Aliona Ganzenko 
Internet project coordinator
http://www.detdom.info