HE ORIGINAL INTERVIEW WITH THE ORPHANAGE DIRECTOR
The following is based on the interview with the orphanage director Mrs. Yegorkina. The interview was conducted on January 28, 2002, by Paul Voytinsky, on the request of Danny Carrier , who wanted to help the orphanage yet untouched by charity, and thus asked me to investigate their needs.
Anyone wishing to help the Startisa orphanage may contact Danny Carrier or Diane Dwyer-Reynolds. Their contact details:
Danny Carrier
7985 91St. Avenue Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6C 1P9
E-mail: zyrcon001@hotmail.com
Telephone:Diane Dwyer-Reynolds
d.m.reynolds@verizon.netIf you need assistance communicating in Russian or delivering things to Staritsa, feel free to write me to inbox@unclepasha.com, paul_voytinsky@yahoo.com. I travel there regularly and usually have enough space in my car to take a couple of boxes.
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Social children's shelter Paulina Fedorovna Egorkina, Orphanage Director, |
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General information
Orphanage director: Paulina Fedorovna Yegorkina
Address: 171360 Russia, Staritsky Rayon, Novo-Yamskaya 64
Telephone and fax: (+7-08263) 21-308
E-mail: none, but you can write to inbox@unclepasha.com, paul_voytinsky@yahoo.com staritsa@aha.ru with "for the orphanage" in the subject line. I'll translate and forward your messages to them by fax.
Number of children registered at the orphanage: 40
Number of children in fact staying there: 32 (the rest are in hospitals or resorts)
Age: 3-16, boys and girl
Attending school: 20
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The economic strategy of the orphanage stresses independence, mobility, and development of its own farm. Two cows have been acquired recently. These were the cleanest cows I've ever seen in Russia!
Cow Knopka ("Button") and a pile of quality fertilizer she produced. Newly constructed greenhouse is not yet covered by glass |
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The orphanage kids look happier, judging by their eyes and rosy cheeks, than many of the children we see in Russian small towns and villages. |
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Their priority needs identified in the course of the interview
- Footwear is rated by the director as perhaps the biggest problem
- Clothing for ages 10-16, but generally clothing is not a big problem
- Cleaning supplies (the orphanage uses 2000 roubles, or $70US per month of them)
- Toys, especially for the older age group
- Sports equipment, sleighs, bicycles and such
- Gas boiler (8000 roubles, or $275)
- Large electric stove (they are supplied with flour well but have no easy way to use it without a stove)
- Stationery and textbooks for 20 students (12 000 roubles, or $400 per year)
- A washing machine (we brought them hours, but another one or a bigger machine would not be bad)
- Financing to install workshop equipment
- Financing to pay for the work already done on the exercise hall and workshop
- Photocopier (lots of paperwork for each child)
- A bigger hard disk for their computer
Sports equipment waiting to be installed in a recently finished exercise room |
Crafts room. Woodworking equipment is waiting to be unpacked and installed here. |
Toys made by children |
Sources of supplies and financing
- District authorities
- Local industrial facilities
- Clothes are collected at the Tver Railroad Car Building Plant. An active retired woman organizes collection.
- The Blago Fund (Tver)
- Own garden, gathering berries, recently got two cows
- Donations from private individuals cover about 1% of whats needed
Total cost of operation
The budget is 560 000 roubles, or approx. $20 000 per year
Of this 370 000 roubles ($12 000) come from reliable sources, get about 80 000 ($2700) elsewhere, and the rest get by without.
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Paulina Fedorovna talking of her vision to set up the workshop that would give her children works skills for independent adult living. |
Staff library |
Resources worth mentioning as reflecting their survival strategy
- A good 4 wheel drive van
- Two cows
- Huge vegetable field
- A greenhouse
In their survival strategy they rely on their own resources, their own work, etc.
Other impressions
I was surprised by the cleanliness and friendly atmosphere of the establishment. An institution is obviously operating under very pressing circumstances, but they make the best of what they got, have a sensible strategy, and a strong professional at the head. Lots of evidence of productive and coherent activity. The cow shed was the cleanest Ive ever seen in Russia..
The main hall |
Girls' bedroom |
The little zoo with hamsters and Guinea pigs |
Our position
Although our own resources are very small compared to the needs of those we want to help, well be more than pleased to be of assistance to anyone wishing to make a positive contribution to the Staritsa district.
We are based in Moscow, and the cottage that we are trying to turn into something of a mini-farm, is in the Staritsa district, thus our interest in making a positive contribution to the Staritsa community. Youll find more information on our projects, of what help we can be and what types of assistance we could use, on our site www.unclepasha.com and www.rural-russia.narod.ru
Please contact me or Olesya at inbox@unclepasha.com, paul_voytinsky@yahoo.com or call us at (+7-095) 959-3865 or with any questions and ideas.
A note from a cynic converted
I went to the orphanage purely as a job-related function. At the beginning of our visit I was convinced that helping orphanages and similar establishments is largely useless as they represent wasted human lives, and a human life wasted with or without sufficient footwear makes not real difference. Having seen this institution from the inside and heard its director Paulina Fedorovna, I repented.
If you are looking for a worthy cause to support, consider the Staritsa orphanage. As of this moment it not covered by western charity. I spend half of my time in Staritsa and thus will be able to do some monitoring to make sure your help is used as intended.
pv