(Text and Photo: Jennifer Radhammar)
Viktoria and Nadyare studying at the "Luga boarding school". They are young teenagers and the best thing they know is when people from Star of Hope can come and visit to talk to and give them the love and friendship they need. Sponsors of Star of Hope contribute to this project.
Victoria is 15 years old and has been in the school for three years. In Russia it is usual to start children in school when the child is seven years old. Victoria's mother drank so much alcohol that she did not care enough to let Victoria start school. Instead she let Victoria stay at home without the opportunity to learn to read and write. At age twelve, she finally started school but then she had to start at a first grade level.
Today special researchers work with Victoria at Luga boarding outside St. Petersburg they read with young children to help them catch up with children of her own age academically. When she is allowed to graduate from school, she will only have six years of education in a country where compulsory education is nine years. The risk that she will leave school early is great because she is not happy and she needs help with motivation and insight into the importance of studying for her future.
Victoria's mother cannot afford to let her come home very often. Therefore, it means much to her when visitors from the Star of Hope (Russia) come to visit the boarding school.
- It's best when they are to be able to sit and talk with me about whatever they want, says Victoria.
Nadya is 16 years old and also at Luga boarding. She likes the school but she likes it most when visitors come. Like Victoria, Nadya cannot go home very often. Her parents are divorced and have no money to allow her to return home. When visits happen it directly helps and helps meet her needs. What she really wants is to visit her family, as she misses home.
Most of the children at Luga miss their parents. Children who live in this way often lack stimulation. Not enough adult contact from the parents can create other issues. The result is that children are late developing, and lack trust in other people. Star of Hope's sponsors have made it possible for more people to come and visit and talk with them. This is in addition to material things, friendship, love and care for the children which helps tremendously in their development. We have seen that this means the most to them. As a sponsor you can help the children receive the love they need and learn that adults can be trusted. (Text and Photo: Jennifer Radhammar)