He and his sister were brought to some new building with lots of children and adults. And no one understood them. “I’m the eldest, I should find out why we’re here!? Everyone approached us, hugged us, smiled. But I wanted to cry, I wanted to go home…” These thoughts, probably, visited Oleg, who came to us.
“Moo, yes, I, uh…” These were the words we heard from Oleg and his younger sister Sonya (3 and 4 years old) when they arrived at the “Children’s Ark.” Their speech was practically absent, and we couldn’t understand them. With time, we began to guess what they were trying to communicate, thanks to their expressive gestures!
“Moo” was the first word that Oleg learned to say. And when people told him, “We don’t understand what you want?” He would earnestly and as loudly as possible say, “MOO, MOO!”
When new children arrive, most of the time they come with a whole bunch of problems. We started speech therapy sessions and visits to doctors. But not only that, the children also participate in developmental activities in the art studio and creative workshops for woodworking and metalworking. The caregivers also invest a lot of effort and heart into the children’s development.
Now, looking at the results (maybe not noticeable to outsiders), you realize the “leap” that Oleg has made. And, of course, this is not the end; we continue to fully develop the child. This is not just the result of our staff’s work but also thanks to your support. Since we are not a state shelter, the staff’s salaries come from donations. Your help is an invaluable contribution to our work! Thank you!
A happy childhood despite everything. “Children’s Ark” set sail in St. Petersburg and began its journey: challenging, emotional, but confident. The map constantly showed new places where children needed help. It was the need that called our ship to arrive and assist those in need.
Maximka joined the Children’s Ark when he was only 3.5 years old. The boy was developmentally delayed and frequently fell ill. He had almost no documents. The work to restore his documents and medical examinations began. In the clinic, we were informed that his mother had hardly brought him for check-ups since his birth. After a month, a woman called us in search of her son. You would be as surprised as we were when we learned that she was Maxim’s mother. It’s sad to see such parental irresponsibility.
We started working with the mother. We invited her for discussions and talked about the importance of caring for one’s children. Maxim was scheduled for a serious head surgery. For a long time, we collected medical certificates for the hospital. And finally, after a year, the mother showed responsibility and went through with the operation with the child. She stayed with him throughout the entire hospital stay. This is a significant victory for us! After leaving the hospital, Maxim returned to our shelter. We continue to work with him and his mother.
Along the way, compassionate people, volunteers, and benefactors come on board. Together, we strengthen the “Children’s Ark” and help the children and families who are going through tough times.
With your help and collective efforts, we will create a healthy, joyful, and genuine childhood for these children. Thank you for being with us!
The decision of Misha and Anya to become a foster family was born out of love. However, the path to this decision was not easy. Anya was born into a large family, and when she was 8 years old, she and her younger brother ended up in our shelter. Here, things were different than in a family. But by the time Anya left the shelter, she had learned many lessons. At 18, she left the shelter and embarked on an independent life. A few years later, she met her future husband Misha. They got married, and then their son Vitya was born. But the dream of helping children burned in Anya’s heart. Misha also always shared this dream. A few years later, they decided to return to the “Children’s Ark.”
At first, they worked as educators in regular groups. Misha worked with older boys, while Anya took care of the little ones. As Anya herself says, “I dreamed of a big family, and I love children very much. I always wanted to return to the ‘Children’s Ark.’ Over time, we became attached to certain children, and we decided to take them into our family.” That’s how Misha and Anya became a foster family. In this family, 5 children have already decided to live separately and are now starting their own families. They maintain good relationships with each other. They always visit Misha and Anya. And Irishka, who turned 18 this summer, decided to stay with the family for a while. Anya and Misha are delighted because they love her very much, and she is a great helper around the house. Currently, Misha and Anya’s family consists of 6 children: 4 foster children, Vitya, and Irishka.
Thank you for your participation and assistance in the ministry of the “Children’s Ark”!
We understand that every child dreams of having their own home and family. Such a dream was also held by Lia. Lia came to us in the summer when she was 4 years old. Her mother was in the hospital in a severe condition. As far as we know, she was hospitalized due to her unhealthy lifestyle. Lia quickly befriended other children. She is very smart but initially showed her challenging character to the caretakers. The girl always carries a toy with her, taking good care of it. She is very shy around strangers. However, when music plays, she forgets everything and starts dancing. Lia is a cheerful child. But one thing greatly saddened her – her mother very rarely visited her. While other children’s relatives visited occasionally, Lia was alone. What does a child feel at such moments? We were very worried about her. The court deprived her mother of parental rights, which meant that her mother would soon stop visiting altogether. Lia’s transfer to another social institution would have deeply hurt her. All we could do was pray for her future.
And a miracle happened! At that time, a family was found who had all the necessary documents to take in a child! They were thinking about adopting a boy, but when they met Lia, they fell in love with her. They decided to do everything to become her parents. That’s how our girl found a family. Who knows how Lia’s life would have turned out if she had moved to an orphanage. Now, Lia is in a family where she is loved! It was a miracle for both her and the family! And we, dear friends, are small bridges helping our precious, but vulnerable children! Cherish your loved ones!
Jack was one of the first volunteers who came from Germany to help Russian children and ended up staying with them. Here, he met his future wife, and they are now raising their three children together. Jack leads an organization that includes not only a social shelter but also foster families.
These children used to live in groups in the shelter, but we set a goal for them to be in a family. And we achieved this goal! We searched for these families, and today they live on our territory.
“The Children’s Ark” attracts all kinds people like a magnet. Almost 8 years ago, the Baldis, Kostya and Sveta, joined our team. They are an incredibly active and creative couple – a real find for us! At first, they picked up the “Youth-Teen Club “EXIT” project. And 4 years ago, they opened a children’s club.
Children aged between 7 to 10 come to the meetings. The idea is for children to see their talents and learn how to develop them. In an informal setting, they play, sing, learn to hold discussions, participate in musical performances, and simply have fun.
Two boys immediately showed themselves to be active helpers in the club. Vitya Kurmaev and Artem Kaplenko enthusiastically took an interest in the sound and lighting equipment. They began to master musical instruments and participate in a music group, where they sang songs with other children.
The boys grew older, and their responsibility and interest grew with them. Artem organized a similar preschool club for the youngest children in our shelter several times. Vitya often suggested different ideas to diversify and make the club’s program more interesting.
Last season, the boys actively prepared topics for the club and confidently taught biblical truths to their peers. And this year, these two boys became leaders in the children’s club! Now they also continue to fulfill their responsibilities and lead the children who come to the club. They help them gain confidence, develop their talents, and learn to make friends. And how pleasant it is for us to see these fruits! Tears of joy fill our hearts, seeing how our children grow not only in years. What was sown in their hearts now bears fruit.
Dear friend, we would be very happy if you join us! There are different ways: become a volunteer, help financially, pray, support with kind words. Together, we can help a large number of children! Do not close your heart!
This story started in 2018. God put in our hearts to visit the children’s shelter of Gorodok village (Krasnoyarsk region). There we met a gypsy family with of children. Our love for these children led to more frequent visits to the Minusinsk children’s home where they eventually ended up.
The story of these children is not simple. Their fathers are different, they don’t communicate with them at all. The mother dealt drugs and was already sent to prison for the third time. At that time the children lived with different stepfathers. The older ones raised the younger ones, they cooked for themselves. Unfortunately, in prison, the mother did not change her thinking. The children stopped going to school. They mostly had to do household chores. And some were born in prison, and spent their first years of life in the orphanage. We started to be friends, meet and invite the children to visit us in the children’s ark. There, together we cooked, read books, watched movies, talked a lot, told them about Jesus, and played games. We developed very close relationships with some of the children, and that’s why we are able to take them with us.
In doing so, we demonstrating what a Christian family is. And it helped the fact that in August 2022, two of the guys, Rimm and Ruslan wanted to stay in the Christian family forever.
Their lives started changing for the better: they gave up harmful habits, had goals for the future and an interest in studying. Ruslan likes to attend church… This story is just beginning and there’s a lot more interesting in store for these guys in life. Thank you, may God bless you!
