Project Independence

When children living in orphanages turn age 17, they are forced to leave. They have little education, few marketable skills, no money and no idea how to live independently. Many have no idea about normal family life. Few have successful lives after this. Many turn to crime, prostitution, are homeless or commit suicide.

Project Independence was started to help as many children as possible have a productive life once they leave the orphanage.

 

 

We are building model apartments in orphanages to train the children skills of daily life. The orphanage social workers educate the children on a variety of issues, learning how to live in the “real world.” Then they spend weeks at a time living in the apartment, learning how it is to live on your own e.g. how to shop, how to cook, how to catch a bus, etc.

 

 

 

 Employment Training Program

In conjunction with the Independent Living Program is the Employment Training Program. In this program the orphans work with social workers and psychologists who train them socially and mentally for the challenges of entering the workplace. The children are also provided training from a Human Resource professional in resume writing, interviewing, work ethic and other employment skills

 

 Once the teens develop the skills needed to be successful, they are placed in a work environment and provided a mentor with one of our employment partners. Some of our employment partners include Ikea, McDonalds, Domodedovo Airport, Coffee House and Center Film Theaters.   In 2007 the Bakers Apprentice program and the Chef’s Apprentice program began with the Radisson SAS Hotel and the Marriott Hotel chain in Moscow.  In these programs the teens will work in commercial kitchens where they will develop the culinary skills necessary to work in the hospitality industry

 

  

 

 

 

 

Our Coach/Mentoring program is based on recruiting adult mentors from the local community. After completing a training curriculum, mentors work with the orphans on developing the social skills and confidence necessary to be successful in their job. The mentors will then continue to lend support and provide assistance to the orphan. Providing mentors is critical in the healthy development of these teens. It only takes one person in a child’s life to make a difference in their future.