"Love's Bridge", in partnership with the Russian fund "Zashita", operates a day shelter for street children in Perm, Russia, on 13, Pushkin str. Over 600 children ages 6-15 have been cared for in this center since February 1998.
Most of these children were forced into life on the streets because of physical and emotional abuse at home (see Family Problems), or extreme poverty. They come to the center to receive food, clothing and basic medical attention. They are also able to take showers, wash their clothes, watch television, play computer games, participate in fun educational activities, etc. Russian street educators and student volunteers teach basic scholastics and special classes. We also operate a 24 / 7 shelter, which is home to children who have started studying, and an educational center, for teenagers over 15 years old.
These shelters have proven a successful means of reaching street children who have nowhere else to go; if they are taken to orphanages they often run away because of the drastic change from total freedom to complete restriction. In our day shelter they are able to slowly adapt to a more controlled environment, in preparation for returning to school and and if need be moving into our 24 / 7 shelter. Regular outings, such as trips to the circus, theater, hockey and basketball games help them release energy and give them needed incentive to stop sniffing toxic substances. In October 2000 the city administration also opened a night shelter for street children, and some of the children who come to our day shelter sleep there now.
For most of these kids, our shelters are the only hope they have of breaking the cycle of poverty in their lives. (See Center History to find out how we got started).
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