Babushka Trip

Our purpose for this year’s Children in Common trip was to launch our newest program – the Babushka program! The goal of this program is to provide some extra stimulation and love to those children who are at risk for developmental delays. Orphanages are busy places with many children and not enough caregivers. By employing local women (“babushka” means grandmother in Russian) who can interact with identified children one-on-one for several hours a day, these children will receive more physical and emotional stimulation than is typical.

In additional to our regular group of Children in Common volunteers, we were thrilled to be accompanied by Kathleen Comfort. Kathleen is a pediatric developmental therapist who works with Dr. Laurie Miller at the International Adoption Clinic in the New England Medical Center, Boston, MA. Kathleen had traveled to Russia before and had assisted in setting up a similar program in Murmansk, Russia.

We arrived in Lahdenpoja in the Karelia region of Russia to a temperature of minus 15C and were told that it was “Much warmer than it has been”. Our first day began with introductions of all- the Babushkas, the American sponsors, regional officials and the two orphanage directors. The Babushkas presented case histories of the children chosen for the program. In the Karelian region, all children with downs syndrome who enter the orphanage system are sent to the orphanages in Ladenpoja so several of the children selected for the program had Downs, while the others had a variety of issues including Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), attention, vision and behavior problems.

On the second day, Kathleen assessed the children chosen for the Babushka Program in the baby home. After lunch and each afternoon in Ladenpoja, Kathleen presented on topics like sensory integration, language development, motor development, Downs and Fetal Alcohol Syndromes. The focus of the presentations was on interventions and strategies to facilitate skills development.

While at the baby home on Tuesday, we visited the special needs room. While the room itself was bright and colorful with a multicolored striped hand knit blanket on the back rail of every crib, it was a sad place. Too many kids with too few workers meant many of the children were in their cribs or in a seat, left alone between feedings and changing. One little girl, Louisa, lay face down in a crib in the back corner of the room. At first unresponsive to her back being rubbed, she gradually began to respond, first with a tiny smile, then a big smile. With more stimulation, continued massage and talking to her, she began to make sounds and tried to use her arms to lift herself. Other kids in this room had motor issues, one had a scissor gait, and another pulled herself across the floor using her arms. With repeated and consistent effort, we watched as she made her way across the room and rolled herself up and onto a daybed. 

Some children sat in baby seats and there was a swing and walker in the room but many of the children were believed not able to use the equipment. We were all deeply affected by seeing these kids in this room and we left that day wanting to hire a Babushka for all these kids!

Over the course of four days in Ladenpoja, the Babushka Program evolved. It began as a program to rehabilitate the worst behaved and least skilled children. By day two the focus changed to supplementing the education and care of kids doing well so they could have optimal development. What it became was a program where the children were chosen because of their needs but with the likelihood of improvement that would affect their futures.

In Russia, children are examined at age 4 and at that time their future is determined by their diagnoses and results of the testing. At age 7, the determination for schooling is made. “Normal” children will go on to Children’s Homes, orphanages and boarding schools. Kids with special needs who have mastered some skills and are judged to have the intelligence to learn will go to correctional schools. The other special needs children, those who have not mastered basic skills or language and those who are determined to be uneducable are sent to invalid homes where they will be warehoused for the remainder of their lives.

The goal of the Lahdenpoja Babushka Program became to identify and help the children who could gain enough physical, language, academic and life skills to be considered educable so they can go on to attend a correctional school where each can have the opportunity to master sufficient knowledge and skills to have some options in their futures.

The Babushka Program, titled by the Russians as “The Program of Additional Stimulation for Delayed Infants and Children” has four Babushkas, two in the Baby Home and two in the Children’s Home. The Babushkas were half-time caregivers at the orphanages, each a specialist and all underemployed. Each Babushka gives two children two hours of individual attention each day. Short term and long term goals are set for each child and a monthly report is sent to Kathleen.  Ideally, as children meet their goals other children will replace them in the program.

In the Children’s Home (ages 4-7), the Babushka kids are Dima (possible autism), Sasha (Downs), Genya (multiple sensory needs) and Anya (FAS with sensory and social needs). In the Baby Home, the Babushka kids are Malema (Downs), Maxim (FAS), Vitaly (institutional autism) and Karil who is now 14 months but received an APGAR of 0 at birth.

Anya helped us in a surprising way. During her evaluation, we saw this six year old hold objects close to her eyes and look at objects at very odd angles. Playing with her, Lou put her own glasses on Anya. That child’s expression transformed to one of awe and amazement. It was heart-wrenching. We asked if the children have vision exams and get glasses only to be told that it was much too expensive since the cost was $10-$12 for an exam and glasses! We gave the orphanage director enough money to pay for exams and glasses for all the children who needed them.

On our last evening in Ladenpoja, we were invited to visit a boarding school for older children. Of the 90 students there, 33 were “true orphans”. We gave a financial donation that allowed the director to deposit a small amount into each of the orphans “accounts” (money they earn is kept in their account and they use the money to buy items). We arrived to find a group of children in a rundown facility. They appeared happy to see strangers, but typical of teenagers everywhere, were shy at first. To break the ice, Janice asked the group to name their favorite current Russian pop stars so she could buy a tape to take home to her adopted Russian children the U.S. After that, they were proud to perform poems, songs and answer questions. The kids were told about the money and before we left, the kids crowded around us in the corridor. One girl ran up to Janice and asked if she could present her with her own cassette featuring that popular Russian music group! We were touched that this child, who owned so few of her own things would be so generous as to part with one of her favorite music tapes! The rest of the children practiced their English, posed for photos and some appeared with their drawings, paintings and music cassettes. We could not leave before they gave us their presents.

We left quite humbled that these kids who had so little would give us things they had made and treasured. While walking back to the hotel (slipping on icy patches along the way) we plotted our return. With a duffle bag loaded with hand-knit socks and sweaters, beanie babies, candy and school supplies, we returned to the boarding school and left the stuff in the director’s office. We also vowed to never again visit an orphanage empty handed (no matter what our Russian guide says).

 On our last day in Lahdenpoja, we presented each Babushka with a bag filled with powder, lotion, toys, paper, crayons, and markers for their charges and pens, pencils and a journal. Each was also presented with a hand-knit sweater, shawl or cowl.

We also returned to the special needs room in the Baby Home. Kathleen tried to assess the children and their abilities. Louisa was again lying face down in her corner crib. We were told she had to stay in the crib all day since she could not sit. After obtaining permission to pick her up, Kathleen held her for several minutes. At first, Louisa was scared and stiff as a board. Using her voice and soothing touch, Kathleen got her to relax, sit in a reclining baby seat and respond to attention with smiles and coos. With other children, Kathleen modeled how to help each increase range and ease of movement, skill and language development, hoping the workers would see that each child has potential for growth and development. That evening, we left for Petrosavodsk to visit the other orphanages in which we have programs.  (see Trip, part 2)

We have received monthly summaries written by each Babushka. All of the children have shown wonderful progress. They love seeing their babushka arrive each day. Although it may not sound like great strides, they all have succeeded in many areas –
Maxim’s attention span has increased so much that he can sit and look at books. Kirill can walk if supported by one hand. Dima now has good eye attention and will allow you to touch him. Zhenya is now smiling and laughing and learning to use a pencil. Anya now has added words to her vocabulary to compare objects, such as “soft”, “warm” or “heavy.” Sasha is no longer afraid to be touched and he’s learned to throw and catch a ball. Milana can walk up and down stairs. Vitaly will now interact with other children and uses speech to express himself. Such simple, yet monumental skills.

We are delighted with the progress of these children. With your financial support we can continue the program, add more children and babushkas, and possibly expand to other orphanages.

In Petrosavodsk, we visited orphanage #2, home to 89 school aged kids. Crime is on the rise in Russia and burglaries are now common. Orphanage #2 was given money to purchase sports equipment by the local government but they cannot use it until they raise the money for a metal door and window bars to secure the equipment room. As the children grow older, there are more temptations and more acting out. The kids “self-medicate” with whatever is available- fumes from glue or gasoline; even a dye used for leather is a popular drug. The hall floors are dotted and splotched with dye stains. The director said, “Only God knows how we manage the many problems.”

Even with its problems, #2 is better than most orphanages with more of its graduates succeeding in building productive lives after leaving. Currently, 12 graduates are in vocational school, one in university and four are married with children. Alla, the director, is proud of her role as grandmother to them.

While we were there, we compiled a #2 wish list. They need a stove, a computer, would love to provide tutoring and various learning opportunities for the kids. A local bookstore sponsors and provides books for one of the small groups. They need resources for sports equipment. The boys wear out soccer balls. At school, the neighborhood kids wear skis in winter for outdoor physical education but without skis, the kids from #2 simply run behind their classmates. Even though #2 is in a poor neighborhood, neighbors donate their used clothing to them. The director dreams of a resources room with TV/VCR, educational videos and cable access for programming like the Discovery Channel. Each year they must raise money for school supplies for each child. Government funds only cover food and salaries. Money from sponsors and donations must cover the other expenses.

With 70% of the kids struggling academically, Alla and her staff work hard to encourage all the children to excel in some area like sewing, drawing, gymnastics or singing. Their choir and performance group is regularly asked to perform at special functions like a recent Police Academy Anniversary.

Next year, a foster care program is to begin in Karelia. Families will “foster” a child, have them as a member of the family for a day or longer, for weekends, holidays or full time. Families will be screened, educated and supported. There have already been a few instances of an adult or a family mentoring a child where those relationships led to adoption. Until now, these have been informal and occasional occurrences, mostly facilitated by the orphanage director. Now there is a formal plan to support families while giving more children the chance to grow up in families.

While at #2, we commissioned the children in the sewing program to make some ornaments. Alla was delighted. Such an order will keep the children busy, help them to learn to work for money and build self- esteem. Once the ornaments arrive in Maryland, we will post information to the CIC website (www.childrenincommon.org). Proceeds from sales will go back to #2.


Before ending our trip, we visited Derrevannoe where CIC has funded woodworking and sewing programs. Under the watchful eye and progressive philosophy of the director, Alexander, we have seen encouraging changes since our first visit there four years ago. On each visit we see improvements- a new wall, new linoleum in a hallway, and some fresh wall paper in places but there is continuing need as well- crumbling plaster, rotting wood and worn flooring.

This visit, the biggest change we saw was in their plumbing. The orphanage has two main buildings- one with administrative offices and larger rooms they use for assemblies (furnished with salvaged theater seats and an old stage curtain) and for a gymnasium while the other is where the children live. The only bathroom facility in the administration building is an indoor outhouse. The small room is on the second floor and overhangs the rest of the building. There is a wooden bench, the top a plank with multiple holes. Waste simply drops to the ground. In the children’s building, there had only been one bathroom with a single toilet. It was a cracked porcelain base with no seat and no running water. To bathe, the kids used tubs of water. During the tour this trip we saw that plumbers had completed installation of the fixtures and the tile work was almost completed in TWO NEW BATHROOMS in the children’s building. Toilets with seats in stalls!! Sinks with running water!! AND SHOWER STALLS!! We were flabbergasted. In this orphanage we had named “the poor place” where we thought we might easily fall through rotting steps and where we felt the icy wind blow in around ancient window casings, there were now sparkling, new bathrooms- one for the boys and one for the girls. Of course, they would not be using the showers, we were told, since they had no boilers to heat water. Lou pulled out her own money, gave them funds for the first boiler and promised to raise money for the second when she returned home.

Like Orphanage #2, Derrevannoe is experiencing more problems. The most disheartening event was the theft of their computer and half of the sports equipment on Christmas night. There was a rash of robberies of administrative offices in the entire village. Unfortunately, the police rely on the victims to find the culprits, “We will indict once you find the robbers.”

The newest arrivals have been their most difficult kids, coming with “lots of troubles”.   Eleven of their graduates have tried to hold jobs, some entering vocational school. They come back to the orphanage to stay. “This is their home,” Alexander explains, “They have a different view of their home after they leave here.” Some orphanages have small family groups where the children learn to cook for themselves and care for their rooms. Unfortunately, Derrevannoe has a canteen building where the kids go for meals so they never have the opportunity to learn that life skill. Valentina, the orphanage social worker, would like to have a life skills program so the children can learn to cook, budget, and shop so they would have a better chance to succeed when they leave the orphanage.

Like #2, Derevannoe is involved in developing and implementing the new foster care system. Thirty of their kids went with families over the holidays. They see education of the public and preparation of the children as the key to success in placing kids. Fighting the stigma of “orphan” and helping kids learn appreciation is a big job. They would like all of their kids to benefit from the program, not just the “orphans” since all would benefit from experiencing life with different families and possible mentoring in the future. Alexander believes relationships grow from contact so all interactions have significant potential.

They developed emergency plans for the freezing weather (kids staying at workers’ homes). Every Friday is “Prevention Day” when the staff review cases and problems and have conferences with the kids to problem solve various issues- school difficulties, lying, stealing. On the wall of Alexander’s office is a watercolor of a mountain. They explained that it was a chart of their Five Year Plan.  Along with the physical improvements like the bathroom and auditorium, they continue to implement changes in the “psychological atmosphere”, provide training for the workers, give the kids more outlets like sports, clubs, theatre and music, provide academic tutoring for the children and counseling for them. From the chart, they are about halfway up the mountain.

As always, we parted with tears. From our first visit, while on the Santa Goodwill Tour in January, 1999, we have been welcomed at Derrevannoe. Then, we were shocked to see the hardened, hollow faces of the children and the dilapidated conditions of the buildings. When Lou returned in the spring of 1999 to adopt two sisters from Kondopoga, she went to Derrevannoe to deliver supplies and visit. She was met with disbelief that anyone would return and tears of gratitude. In the spring of 2000, we returned to fund the woodworking program and by a fluke, the sewing program. Each visit is wonderful. We are seeing the kids grow up but we are also seeing the kids become animated, happy and hopeful. We try to encourage and help the director add programs and repair the buildings. On each trip we have seen wonderful changes that show us that what we do makes a difference in the lives of children.