In 2003, with
the financial support and advice
of Mrs. Nika Thayer, the Society
launched a scholarship program
to help orphans attain higher education.
We started small, initially supporting
just two students in the Pskov
region who demonstrated their dedication,
purpose and drive to graduate from
college. According to Russian government
statistics, 1 in 3 orphanage graduates
will become homeless, 1 in 5 unemployed,
1 in 7 will commit a crime, and
1 in 10 will attempt suicide. To
date, the scholarship progam has
been enormously successful, as we
provide a complete support structure
to students as they transition from
living in an orphanage to attending
a university on their own.
In the fall of 2005, RCWS expanded the program to the Yaroslavl region, where we are currently sponsoring 9 students. One of the students is studying law at the University of Yaroslavl, three are at the Yaroslavl Agricultural Academy and two are enrolled in the Yaroslavl Pedagogical University. Elena Stroganova meets with the students regularly to help iron out academic, financial or other day-to-day difficulties.
Success stories
The first five RCWS scholarship recipients
all graduated this year and all have found employment.
Two have become teachers, one a pharmacist, another
an economist and one in building construction.
The Society is quite proud of these achievements
of the first group of recipients of its scholarship
program. It exemplifies the possibility that orphans,
despite the tragedies they have endured, can beat
the odds and move on to stable lives and professions.
Here are two such success stories:
Andrei Loginov
Andrei was placed in one of
the Pskov orphanages, never having known his father
and having a mother who showed a preference for
vodka over childrearing. Still, Andrei successfully
received a degree in building construction and maintenance
this past June, though his story doesn’t end there.
Andrei spent his monthly RCWS stipend prudently and
was able to save some money to help his mother go
straight. Out of love and an orphan’s desire for
family connections, Andrei faithfully visited his
mother, took care of her and fixed up her apartment.
In response, his mother finally gave up drinking
and is now working at an old age home. Andrei is
working as well before starting military service
next year. By supporting Andrei, the Society in fact
was able to help two people.
Daria Rubatskaya
Daria recently received an accounting diploma from
the Pskov College of Building and Economics. Daria’s
scholarship had been covered by RCWS supporter Peter
Semler since 2004. Mr. Semler has been a very involved
donor, corresponding with Darya and going to Pskov
to meet with her in person. Last year, Darya got
married and is now expecting a daughter due in the
fall. At this year’s reunion of scholarship recipients,
Darya learned that Mr. Semler had sent along a gift
of $2,000 to help with the expenses of starting a
new family. Everyone present -- administrators, students
and journalists alike – shared in Darya’s joy. She
and her husband are moving to a suburb of St. Petersburg
where he has a house and a job at a factory and Darya
has also found employment. Darya can put her days
as an orphan way behind her.
As mentioned above, the Society also sponsors an annual gathering of the students each year in Pskov and Yaroslavl. The wonderful administrators who provide us with scholarship applicants and who look after and ensure accountability from the recipients organize the day.
The RCWS scholarship program is preventing a few
of Russia’s orphans from slipping through the cracks.
All graduates of the scholarship program so far have
successfully found professional employment related
to their studies. Currently, RCWS
is supporting 28 students in the Pskov,
Yaroslavl and Moscow regions of Russia. We are certain
to report even more good news from our students in
the future. Please help us continue to grow this
very important program.
Your contribution will help us help children believe there is a future. Please click here to help!
