Open letter:

Help for Murmansk orphanage in Russia.

 In Russia there are about 128 000 orphans and children who live without parents by different reasons. They could be adopted, but Russian State and people are much more reluctant to allow and do it than in the Western world. Simple people and state officials used to close their eyes on the situation, and generally on the existence of hospices. Every year, only about 14 000 children get adopted, half of this number – by foreigners. 

The deepest dream of all such children is to have parents. Their life is not simple - in orphanage houses that are far from the capital, Moscow, are way underfinanced. The funding is not enough even for common needs. The children are often hungry; they sometimes have to stay inside because they lack outdoor clothes. Most of the personnel is also far from being friendly to the children, because the salaries are so low that mostly unsuccessful people usually work there. In Moscow the situation is slightly better.

The children in orphanages feel extremely lonely. Only recently, volunteers stared to attend some orphanages, bringing some light into children’s life. However, orphanage management usually is unwilling allows anyone from outside to visit.

Murmansk is a northern Russian city beyond the Polar Circle, on the Barents sea. The precise address is: “183053 Russia, Murmansk, Ulitsa Geroev Rybachyego, d. 60. To: Evsukova Ludmula Yakovlevna” (The latter is Director’s name).

This orphanage suffers from lack of everything - dress, shoes, building maintenance, books, toys, school books, etc. The state barely provides money for staff salary and food.

Volunteers are trying to help Russian orphans. Please join!

The children will be grateful for used clothes and shoes in acceptable condition, markers/pens/crayons, toys, notebooks, Lego, etc. what you feel would be appropriate. These children almost never get presents, and we are sure this would make them remember that they are not alone, that there are people who care.

Thank you!

Sincerely, Anna and Alexei Shevyakov