All over Russia, tens of thousands of children are living in orphanages and children’s homes, but are not orphans.

We believe that we can and must decrease level of child abandonment in Russia.

The stakes are high. Each month spent  in an institution delays development and can lead to emotional damage.

These children are separated from their families for many reasons. Parents may feel forced to give up a child because they have no work or nowhere to live; or because the child has a disability, which can cause severe hardship because of the lack of family support services.

What we do

• We fund Russian NGOs that provide services for vulnerable families.

• We are creating a network of Family Support Centres to provide expert support for families raising children with disabilities.

• We run an annual international forum, at which Russian and international child development specialists can share their expertise.

• We are doing everything we can to change attitudes towards children and adults with special needs.

• We are lobbying for Russian legislation to be brought into line with the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Russia ratified in April 2012.