Hope > Programs > The Family Center

The Family center

The Family Center is a program established by HOPE worldwide - Moscow and the Social Service Center of the Marfino District. This program has developed several different ways to extend support to the poor and needy. It includes: The Lawyers cafe (judicial help), The Road to life (help for orphans), "Do you understand me?" (dealing with disadvantaged children), "Happy birthday" (birthdays parties for children), "World of knowledge" (educational support) and others. The program focuses on extending social and psychological help to the families and children of the Marfino District.

There are 50 families with 180 children in the Marfino District. On top of that there are more then 50 families with disadvantaged children, 295 unwed mothers and 30 teenagers under observation of the local militia (police) department. Without qualified help the circumstances of the lives of these people will most certainly lead to families breaking up, the number of abandoned and homeless children rising, as increase in crime among the teenagers and psychological diseases like alcoholism and drug addiction. The situation would be even worse without the help of the Youth Center of Arts and Psychological Service.

The program "Family Center" was established to solve the problems mentioned above and to provide emotional support and countenance for the needy families and children. The main goals of the program are to help with interpersonal relationships within the family. This includes assistance in crisis situations, as well as help in avoiding fatal consequences.

Currently there are about 150 children and 78 adults taking part in the program. Many of the kids are disabled or were born in the families with many children. 5 programs and 5 adaptation groups were set up to provide mental treatment and emotional support to the children.

There is a family that comes to the Family Center with only one child. The boy's name is Nikita and he is disabled. He is 6 years old. Nikita is blind and cannot hear or speak well. Nikita's parents were among the first families who came to the Family Center. They explained that since Nikita was born they have been searching for a place where Nikita could study and learn something about the life around him. Their search was in vain for there are no free schools for blind children and they have no money to pay for Nikita's education. Nikita's mother has been searching desperately for any possibility, but all doors seemed to be locked for her. That's why she was so amazed by the call from the Family center. The Family Center of HOPE worldwide - Moscow was the only place where her son could begin to learn anything. Nikita's mother was very grateful and encouraged. Nikita likes to come to the Family Center very much. Suddenly Nikita has the opportunity to learn about the world and make friends with other children.