By Nadya Chibis | Staff Member
On May 12, teen mothers living at the Childhood Keepers*-sponsored Crisis Center in Moscow and volunteers from the Nestle got together to plant flowers in the Crisis Center. It was a beautiful day, and the peaceful work of tending to plants and nature gave everyone the leisurely space and time to chat, share experiences and their personal stories, and get to know one another a bit.
Regular events like this help uncover natural mentor-mentee pairs. By matching girls with mentors who have been mothers themselves, Childhood Keepers’ Malenkaya Mama (Teen Mother) program helps young mothers -- many of whom grew up in orphanages -- learn important life skills that no one taught them growing up.
That day in the sun, the girls enjoyed telling Nestle volunteers about their studies, their children, their experiences and their hopes and dreams. As conversations unfolded, it became clear that there were many common interests: Some liked similar films, others discovered they were reading the same books.
Similar tastes and some relaxed time together help create a foundation of friendship that can grow into trust, and blossom in life-changing mentorships, improving that girl’s life skills and future.
As volunteer Anna and young mother Lisa watered a flower bed they also hit it off. They immediately reached out to each other and stayed together for the whole day. A new friendship began, and Anna decided without a doubt that she wants to mentor Lisa. Over the next two months she took mentor training, and now visits Lisa at the center regularly. Since then, among other things, they enjoyed a cooking lesson at Nestle, where they made a delicious soup and dessert.
“My daughter is only one year old, “said Lisa. “I really need support and I'm glad that Anna has appeared in my life. When I first saw her, she immediately liked me, and I thought how great it would be if she was my mentor. My dream has come true.”
*(Childhood Keepers is a new Russian organization that has taken on the work previously done by Kidsave. Childhood Keepers staff were trained by Kidsave and led by former Kidsave staff members. Kidsave has closed operations there, but will continue to transfer funds raised for Russian programs to Childhood Keepers until it is able to raise funds on its own through Global Giving.)
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By Bonnie Williams | Manager of Development
By Bonnie J Williams | Manager of Development
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