Educational Programs

Scholarship Program

Six years ago, RCWS launched a scholarship program to help orphans transition to independent adult life and attain higher education. Since then, the number of participants has grown from 3 in the 2003-2004 academic year to 42 students in 2008-2009. To date, 13 of our scholarship recipients have completed their schooling and found employment. Currently, we are supporting 38 students in the Pskov, Yaroslavl, Moscow and Velikiy Novgoros regions of Russia.

According to the 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 RCWS's scholarship program has been enormously successful in helping its' students avoid these pitfalls by providing 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 12 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 and other day-to-day difficulties.

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 some 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. The latest applications received by RCWS described serious and mature youngsters who want to build a promising future. Currently, 38 students receive RCWS Scholarship Award. We are sure to report even more good news from our students in the future. We ask for your support for an initiative that has a tangible impact on children who have experienced violence, abandonment and neglect but strive to rise above.

Reunion of RCWS scholarship recipients in Pskov
This year's reunion meeting of RCWS scholarship recipients in Pskov took place on July 7th. A total of 20 students in Pskov received RCWS stipend during 2009–2010.
	Eighteen students met to recount their experiences, play catch-up, and share their goals for the upcoming year. The Pskov contingent lunched at a café before embarking on a boat excursion around the city. The meeting opened up with a presentation of certificates to new students and a reminder of the strict guidelines governing the scholarship program. RCWS covers all transportation costs and expenses related to the yearly meeting.
5 RCWS scholarship recipients in Pskov graduated and received their diplomas this summer. Download the whole report of Pskov regional Branch of Russian Children’s Foundation in Russian. Vitya Fedorov Luba Lukina and Tatiana Bodrova

Success stories

Pavel Lukin

Pavel Lukin was only a year and 8 months old, when he was brought to an orphanage. A peaceful and smiling boy, he quickly became the favorite among the staff and other children. One could hardly believe that Pavel came from a family of agony and misfortune. His father's alcoholism and angry outbursts lead to the depression and emotional sickness of his mother creating a home life unfit for any child.

With no chance of being returned to his own family, Pavel lived at the orphanage for the next 18 years. Now, he often comes back to the orphanage to share his joys and sorrows — the orphanage is the only home he knows.

It was no surprise that Pavel decided to pursue higher education upon graduating from the orphanage. He worked tirelessly to gain admission to a premier regional institution — the Ushinsky State Yaroslavl Pedagogical University. Pavel has successfully passed the midpoint of his study program and for the third summer in a row he has been interning with a children's summer camp.

Aelita Makovetskaya

My name is Aelita Makovetskaya and I am a graduate of the Krasnogorodsky Agricultural Orphanage. I am a student at the Pskov Polytechnic Institute and have been an RCWS scholarship recipient for the past 12 months. In this letter, I would like to share with you my accomplishments and tell you how important your support is to me.

I am in the second year of my studies in the Department of Information Technologies, considered one of the toughest on campus. This year has been quite difficult for me. Last semester I took Physics, Advanced Mathematics and Calculus, Philosophy, Political Science, Computer Graphics, Automata Theory, Coding Theory, Probability Theory, etc. Now I sit back and wonder how I managed to master all of this! Anyway, studying is very important and that is why I fully dedicate myself to this process.

Learning English has been very difficult and didn't go well at first, but I am pleased to report that I am now earning good grades. Overall, I think this year has been quite good for me and I hope next year will be even more engaging and exciting. I hope to gain more knowledge about computers and information technology.

Next year, I am going to take more specialized classes. But because I lacked programming knowledge, I needed to enroll in a preparatory class at the institute. That is when I received help from RCWS and was able to pay for the necessary training to advance my skills.

I want to thank all of you for making this happen. Besides the chance to study well, take additional courses and purchase books, there is also something very important that you give us - a feeling that someone thinks of us and is willing to help. I want to live life to the fullest because there are a lot of people in the world who do good for others. Thank you for helping us to experience life's triumphs and to believe in a world of goodness.

Andrei Loginov

Andrei was placed in one of the Pskov orphanages having never known his father after his mother's alcoholism rendered her unfit to care for him. Still, Andrei successfully received a degree in building construction and maintenance this past June. Andrei spent his monthly RCWS stipend prudently and was able to save some money to help his mother recover from her addiction. Despite the hardships he endured 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's story demonstrates how by helping one student gain an education and professional opportunities the Society was able to help a family.

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 gave birth to a beautiful daughter last fall. At annual 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 moved 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.

In 2009, additional eight RCWS scholarship recipients are expected to graduate from universities.

Additional Education Programs