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If anyone is interested in teaching English and helping kids in Russia here is info about The Center of Adaptation and Education of Refugees� and Forced Migrants� Children.

(contact Katya Kokorina [email protected])

The Centre of Adaptation and Education of Refugees� and Forced Migrants� Children is an educational project of the Civic Assistance Committee, a non-governmental charitable organisation providing legal, medical and financial assistance to refugees and internally displaced people in Moscow.Aiming at psychological rehabilitation and social adaptation the Centre offers individual lessons in 3 major school subjects (Russian, Maths and English), psychologist�s services and organises various pastimes, such as trips or visits to theatres and museums.The Centre was created in 1996 mostly due to the fact that the children, whose parents did not have a permanent registration in Moscow, were denied the right to attend schools in accordance with the ruling of the Moscow government.
In 2002 the situation changed radically thanks to the ruling of the Supreme Court of the RF stipulating the right of the children of refugees and forced migrants to attend schools. However, the ruling did not solve all the problems. That is why the activity of the Centre, a unique organisation of the kind, is of great importance. Firstly, the children have suffered different kinds of traumas, which hinder the process of adaptation. Secondly, the majority of children have missed several years of schooling, which makes it very difficult to catch up with the curriculum. Thirdly, the Centre presents a place with warm, cordial atmosphere created by volunteers of various nationalities, which helps tolerance to grow and eliminates xenophobia not only among the children, but also among the volunteers and, hence, among young Russian people in general.
The children attending the Centre are mostly Chechens (due to the de facto on-going war in Chechnya), but there are also Tajikis, Armenians and Russians. The volunteers of the Centre are students of Moscow universities, as well as professional teachers.
At the present moment the Centre faces a number of problems. Firstly, the funding from the UNHCR and the Soros foundation has been cut off, which has made the development of the Centre impossible. Secondly, the Centre shares the premises with the Committee (4 small rooms) and is greatly lacking in space. There are other, less serious problems, as well.
In general, the Centre presents a unique structure aiming at rehabilitation and adaptation of children of refugees and forced migrants by means of providing teaching and organising leisure time.

You can contact Katya Kokorina
e-mail: [email protected]
tel 350-04-27 (home)
8-916-712-92-56 (mobile)