Russia

Don’t know what your views of Russia are; the glamour of the Tsars, romance of Anastasia or Dr Zhivago, Napoleon’s march into Moscow in 1812, War and Peace, Stalin and the Soviet era or the gulags of Solzhenitsin, the novels of Chekov, the music of Tchaikovsky

• Biggest country in the world by land area – 6,600,000 square miles
• Pop 143,500,000 people
• ‘Continental climate’ extremes of temperature hot in summer, cold in winter

• Crosses 11 time zones [ United States crosses 6]
• 3 rd world country – lot of poverty with rise of what are called the ‘New Russians’
• Life can be very harsh
• People are in poorer health now than they were in the 60s
• In 30 years Russian mortality rates have risen by 30% - now same as Bangladesh and higher that India, a 20 year old man in 2000 has a 46% chance of making it to 65 – it’s 80% in the States
• Lot of corruption at every level, including the Police, street crime is bad – with the police often being paid off to turn a blind eye – police will flag down cars and ‘fine’ drivers on the spot to make extra money.
• Birth rate is falling drastically – people can’t afford to have children
• Have a very ‘backward’ view of disability with strict segregation for people with disabilities, very few people living in the community – if they do it’s against the norm and families don’t get help. Mary and the child with the cleft palate

For all of this Russia definitely is somewhere that you fall in love with. The people are amazing just because of the very issues we’ve talked about they are very resilient, good humoured and warm.

Russia Trip

Some context ...In September 2003 we had a visit, to the Link Christian Fellowship in Dunfermline, from the Director of a Christian charity called MIR [which means ‘Peace’]. This organisation works to provide aide and ministry into some of the 110 orphanages in the city of St Petersburg in Russia. Subsequently, a small ‘fact finding’ team from the Link went to Russia in February 2004 to see first hand, both the orphanages and the work of MIR.

The history bit …Since the collapse of the Soviet State there has been a real erosion of the infrastructure in Russia and many families have been broken because of alcoholism, drug addiction and poverty. St Petersburg is a city of 5 million registered residents, although in reality there are many more people actually living there because many are streaming into the cities due to extreme poverty in rural areas.

Street Children and ‘Orphans’ …There are approximately 100,000 children living in orphanages in St Petersburg with at least another 100,000 children living on the streets, children pour into the cities from all over the country. Some have parents who are unable to care for them, often due to drug and alcohol addictions, for others their parents and grandparents, who have looked after them when parents were unable to, have died.

Institutionalisation …Many of the children who are placed within orphanages become institutionalised and are unable to take responsibility for their own lives, they often rebel against authority and in the outside world are unable to cope, becoming easy targets for abuse and exploitation. Children usually leave the orphanages between the ages of 18-23yrs.

Statistics on those leaving institutions …The statistics for these children are truly shocking; within a 5 year period of leaving the orphanage, 90% of these young people will have a drug and/or alcohol addiction; will be involved in prostitution; or will be in prison; 5% will have committed suicide.

Human Rights Issues …There have been a number of human rights investigations into orphanages in Russia. Children have seen and experienced things no child should; there are instances of adults in authority over them who don't care and who are abusive; because of corruption within Russian society, some orphanage Directors are corrupt and will siphon off money meant for children or sell materials or equipment; it has been found that some orphanage Directors are running prostitution rings from the orphanages.

Caring staff …When the team visited Russia in the winter we met very many staff who cared deeply for the children; who were doing their best under very difficult circumstances; stretched because of the demands of their job. This is why it is important for groups to work with trustworthy charities if they intend to give money or aide. The money can be monitored and receipted; goods can be checked after purchase to ensure that all the money has been spent on the things it was intended for

The Summer Trips

In 2004 and 2005 a team from the Link Church went to work in the Karavella Children’s camp, north of St Petersburg in Russia

Where we went … Camp Karavella is one of the former ‘Pioneer’ camps from the Soviet era.  The children of the factory workers would go to these camps for the summer and have fun, but also be educated in communist ideals and enlisted into the communist youth organisations. These camps are now owned by factories, which use the facilities to take children and orphans there from the city during the summer months. T here were around 470 children and young people aged 9-17 at the camp, many from Orphanages in St Petersburg.

Why we went ...The team members went to practically show God’s love to the children and camp Counsellors, by becoming part of the Karavella community and helping out with camp activities, generally being at the disposal of the Counsellors to help them run activity sessions with the young people.

What we did …The team prepared activities such as Scottish playground games, face painting, making balloon animals, making friendship bracelets, T-shirt printing, music and dancing, singing, drama and various arts and crafts, cultural exchange. We went to build relationships and share our lives and our faith

Last thoughts …It is a sobering thought that the kids that we worked with, in a few years from now, potentially, could become part of the statistics above. We want to share the Father's love with these children; for many, Jesus is their only hope of rescue.