Current Projects

We have 20 children enrolled in this program. They are ages 1 to 7 years. This program was designed to provide these children with more nourishing food than is typical of their diet in the orphanage, as well as vitamin supplements. We have also provided toys and sports equipment to provide the children increased physical playtime, thus stimulating their motor development. The orphanage director believes that this nourishing diet will also help to fend off some of the illnesses typical to children living in institutional care.

Winter Garden Project

In an orphanage in the city of Sortavala, in the northern regions of Karelia, the winters are long and cold. They joke that their summer season lasts about one week! Their dream was to have a room transformed into "winter garden" so the children can see and smell flowers and hear birds chirping all year long. We have been able to help them build this garden, but there is much more left to do. They have plants and a small pond of fish. But it's still quite spare and we want to make it as lush as possible and add more animals. The children love to spend time there. They help to care for the plants and animals and art teacher takes them there to draw things that they see.

Project Playground

This project was initiated by two adoptive families whose child started life in the Novosibirsk orphanage number 3. They were inspired to improve the lives of the children they "left behind". 

Alyosha Segretto and Helena Pierandrei invite you to help launch the Playground of Dreams project.  Close your eyes and recall the thrill of a swing, the rush of air, a dizzying reach for the sky… the challenge of the monkey bars and the pride we felt in our daring attempts… Now imagine rarely having the chance to play outside, having only a few worn tires and more than 60 children competing to play on them. No exhilaration, no excitement - most days spent inside with a large group of children and too few caregivers, albeit women who give their hearts and souls to care for so many.  A playground will mean the world to the children that will play on it, those who may never have a family or a home.

With this image we appeal to you to help us construct a playground for Children’s Home #3 in Novosibirsk, Russia, the birthplace of our children (and perhaps yours). There is a desperate need to promote play, to help caregivers, to improve motor skills, to encourage motion and to better lives, even just a little, in a place that otherwise offers little hope for the future.

You can donate directly through Adoptions Together Web Site, under the donate option.PLEASE specify the Playground of Dreams.

With sincerest appreciation,   Meg Klekner &  Paul Segretto, Liz  Myers, & Piero Pierandrei