Building a Second Kitezh Village!

Orion 2004

Orion 2006

We are excited to announce a new development for Kitezh Children's Villages in Russia: land is secured and we are ready to build a second village for foster families and orphan children, named Orion.

Orion is located half way between Moscow and Kitezh Community, and will be home for 10-15 new foster families and 30-50 orphan children. 

Spearheaded by Dmitry Morozov, the founder of Kitezh Children's Community, and young adults who were raised at Kitezh, Orion is the first step towards creating a network of children's communities that take orphan children out of institutions to give them a family, an education and a real chance in life. 

In 2004 the first house was built for two families  

Masha Pichugina is the Head of Orion and has two foster children of her own while studying for a psychology degree by correspondence. She spent her teenage years at Kitezh where her leadership qualities developed as the first head of the Children’s Council.

                                      

Currently 4 adults and 5 children live permanently in Orion. In order to keep a close relationship between the two communities a system of exchange education has developed. Every week groups of children and their teachers pile into the minibus and travel 300 km from Kitezh to Orion for intensive lessons in a particular subject. This system is known as “plunging”. The older children also help with building and therefore they feel very much part their new community village.

Much of the building work has been done by the young Kitezh graduates who grew up in Kitezh and now live and study at university in Moscow. During summer 2005 the youngsters cooked under canvas and camped out while they dug foundations, laid bricks and heaved logs to build a further two log houses for the next families. When they complete their studies, Orion will become their home, as many of them plan to return to live and work there, to give back to other children what they have received. Orion belongs to the next generation!

                                

The next ambitious project at Orion is to complete the Education Centre. This circular building will house classrooms, and auditorium and indoor sports facility.

We welcome your support for this great initiative that improves the lives of increasing numbers of Russian orphans.

Ecologia Trust is happy to receive Donations to help to build Orion

• By Credit Card through the secure GIVE NOW button 
• By Cheque in any currency payable to Ecologia Trust The Park Forres Moray IV36 3TZ Scotland
• By Bank Transfer to Ecologia Trust’s Account No 00122750 Bank of Scotland Forres IV36 1PA          Bank sort Code: 80-06-81
• We are also able to receive US tax deductible donations. Please ask us for information info@ecologia.org.uk

Ecologia Trust is a Scottish Charity no SC023976 working with youth & education in Russia since 1988.

Last Updated December 2005