Community to Children

Russia has an estimated 400,000 to 700,000 orphans and social orphans living in institutions or with foster families. When they “age out” of the orphanage system, many are unprepared for independent living. Community to Children works to protect and support the rights of young people to be safe, happy and healthy and to achieve their full potential. Community to Children currently has three main programmes: 1) prevention of child abandonment and crisis assistance to young mothers including migrants; 2) methodological support to regional NGOs working with young people (currently in Nizhniy and Novgorod); 3) advocating for and empowering orphan graduates to participate in activities and policies designed to support them (the focus of EMpower’s grant).

With EMpower’s first grant, Community to Children is building on an existing youth leadership program to strengthen and develop peer support networks of orphan graduates. Using social media, Community to Children is supporting youth leaders to provide peers with the information and resources they need to give each other accurate and practical information and advice, including how to access services provided by government and NGO organizations.