My name is Sasha K. I left home in May 2004 because my parents didn't want me. For some time I traveled from city to city. I decided I wanted to live independently, and not depend on anyone. When I came to Perm I found work, and started sleeping on the floor of my workplace. I went back to my home town to see my parents a few times, but they treated me in the same way as before, and I returned to Perm. In December 2005 I started living in the shelter "A Step Towards Home". Now I'm studying again, have friends and I hope my future will be better.

--translation of the Russian original, written January 2005 by Sasha K.

Update February 2005: Sasha is currently living in our shelter. He's different from the majority of street kids in that he never started using substances, and he managed to take care of himself pretty well. However, even though he's still a child, he had to work for a living, and this left him with no time to study. Now that he's in our shelter he can finish his studies before starting his career.