Love’s Bridge started working in Perm in June 1997, providing humanitarian aid to orphanages. Our name was inspired by the popular song "Love can build a bridge".

In 1997 some street children heard we were donating supplies to orphanages, and started knocking on our doors asking for food and clothing. We investigated the situation and found out there were no organizations set up to help these children, so we decided to organize some sort of center for homeless children. We formed a partnership with the Perm-based organization "Zashita", which shared a common interest in our work, and offered to let us use their building.

Everything in the building had to be renovated, including the piping, and much of the work was done by "Love's Bridge" volunteers, so progress was slow, but in February 1998 our Day Shelter for street children was opened. For two years "Love's Bridge" volunteers have ran this center and solicited all the needed supplies. Love's Bridge staff still oversee this center and have trained a Russian staff to work there.

In October 1998, Svetlana Kozlova of "Zashita" coordinated a small grant from the Ford foundation. This enabled us to rent an apartment and hire a caretaker, getting a small group of kids off the street, to begin the process of adjusting to normal life. We were able to gain needed experience from this initial step, seeing the need for much consistency on our part, and finding a clear balance between encouragement and firmness when they would begin to revert to their old ways.

In September 1999, with funds given by the RACS (Russian-American community services) in San Francisco, we rented another apartment right by the school. We visited the kids several times a week, driving them to school once a week to check their grades, and visiting them to talk and play games with them. We also give them incentives to study such as new clothes and excursions such as hiking, swimming, etc.

In October 2000, thanks to donations by Nestlé Food and many others, we opened an adaptation center for street children “A Step Towards Home” on 58 Chkalova str., with 3 bedrooms, a sports room, a class room and all the other necessary facilities. This center is staffed by Russian street educators who are trained and overseen by “Love’s Bridge” directors. This shelter currently accommodates up to 16 children.

In May 2002, 21 former street children were treated to an unforgettable two week holiday in Ireland!

In May 2002 Love’s Bridge was organized as a nonprofit corporation in the state of Oregon, and registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) public charity.

In March 2003, through the support of IREX, we opened an educational center for teenagers "ACT" on 36b Komosmolskii Avenue.

You can find out about what has been going on over the last few years on our Monthly News page.

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