“Doctors to children”

The St. Petersburg public organization ‘Doctors to Children’ was created in 2001 through the efforts of doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists and teachers. Its task is to render assistance to children and families in trouble.

Our founders are the staff and volunteers of the international humanitarian organization “Doctors of the World – USA”. The organization has been financing programs of support for children and problem families in St. Petersburg since 1994.

The mission: to protect the rights of children left without parental care and provide children and families in trouble in St. Petersburg with quality social, medical and psychological aid.

We help:
• Homeless and neglected children – “street kids”
• Potential adoptive parents
• Children from at-risk families
• Children in care institutions – orphanages and children’s homes

Projects:
• Centers rendering social and psychological assistance to street children;
• Prevention of HIV infections and access to treatment for HIV-positive street children;
• Short-stay crisis centers for minors;
• A social hotel for teenagers aged 15-18;
• Professional orientation, assistance in professional training and finding employment to under-aged who have difficult life conditions;
• Help to women – victims of domestic violence;
• Support for HIV-infected mothers with children and to their families;
• A social apartment for HIV-infected mothers with children;
• Foster families;
• A resource center for social work;
• The development of volunteer initiatives;
• The development of a single approach to the protection of children’s rights in St. Petersburg;

Project: the development of volunteer initiatives (for Russian speakers)
Support for non-governmental non-profit organizations by strengthening and developing the youth volunteer movement.

Methods of work:
• The creation and development of a resource centre for training volunteers: the provision of information to, the attraction and selection of candidates as volunteers;
• The supply of volunteers for projects implemented by ‘Doctors to Children’ and partner organizations in accordance with their professional interests
• The development of a resource base for training professional staff

Opportunities for volunteers:
• Education in the “School of Volunteers”
• Acquisition of practical knowledge and skills required for work with children
• Academic or pre-graduation practical training
• A possibility of future employment with the ‘Doctors to Children’ organization and partner organizations.

Results of the project:
• 80 volunteers have undergone training within the framework of “Volunteers’ School”.
• 97 volunteers have taken part in various projects of “Doctors to Children” and its partnership organizations.
• The volunteers devoted more than 1,500 hours of voluntary work while the project was being implemented.
• Three volunteers have been hired by the “Doctors to Children” organization.
• The project was marked by a diploma from the Committee for Youth Policy

197376, Russia, St. Petersburg
Lev Tolstoi Street, 7, office 707
Tel/fax: +7 (812) 380-3092
info@vd-spb.ru
www.vd-spb.ru

‘The Older Brother, Older Sister’ program (for residents of St. Petersburg).

This program is designed to help children from problem families to find older ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ with whom they will be able to cope with difficulties and have fun.

We are seeking energetic and talented people who are ready to devote their free time to a child, to help him or her mature, study and make new discoveries together!

Who can become an older ‘brother’ or ‘sister’?
Any person over 18 who wishes to help children can become the program’s volunteer.

The necessary requirements are:
• The desire and opportunity to communicate with a child for several hours a week for a year;
• An understanding of the role and responsibility of a volunteer worker;
• The desire to support a child for a long period of time
• Patience and attention
• Special training courses
• Participation in monthly supervisions

The specific nature of work
The “older” and the “younger” can go to the cinema together, visit theatres and museums or just walk in the street, participate in sports and simply communicate with each other. A volunteer can help a child to do homework, learn foreign languages and engage in creative activities. The pair should match each other in psychological characteristics, temperament and disposition, interests and personal wishes. A volunteer should meet with his or her younger ‘brother’ or ‘sister’ at least once a week and spend two or three hours with him or her, depending on the needs and interests of the child.

How to become a volunteer of the ‘Doctors to Children’ organization?
In order to become a volunteer of the ‘Doctors to Children’ organization, dial 380-30-92 or fill in a questionnaire at http://www.vd-spb.ru You will get a response without fail!
Volunteers from the ‘Doctors to children’ organization can not only participate in projects, but also attend special lectures and seminars. In the ‘School of Volunteers’, everybody is able to acquire knowledge and practical skills necessary for work with children. Students are given an opportunity to undergo practical training.