Ira came to SOS Children’s Villages three years ago. Like all of the children in our care, she has had a difficult start in life, but coming to the Village means a new start, in a new family, with an SOS Mother who is there to help with Ira’s homework after school each day.

One afternoon, Ira’s SOS Mother realised that not only was Ira struggling with numbers, but she was also finding reading difficult. This meant that she had become withdrawn in class, lacking confidence, and was frightened to answer her teacher’s questions. You can imagine how hard it was for her, and other orphans just like her, for whom developmental challenges like this are, sadly, all too common.

The great news is that, with the love of her new SOS Family, the support of a good school, and specific additional counselling, Ira’s story has a happy ending. This is why each of our six Villages has a trained Child Psychologist on the staff.

It was still hard work. During that first six months, Ira took a while to adjust to her new school. However, as she attended counselling sessions, and received additional support from her school teacher, the real Ira began to flourish. Ira learned that she could express herself in her written assignments; and, by the end of the year she was talking in front of the class. Ira also started to make friends, and enjoy class. She even found a hobby - gardening.

Ira still attends weekly counselling sessions in the Village, and continues to do well at school, achieving good grades and building friendships.

The Psychologist at our village in Pushkin carries on the story:

Psychological support is so important for a child’s social adjustment. Our aim is boosting the child’s awareness of their own emotions, thereby enriching their lives, and helping them to understand their own emotional state and the feelings of others.

We also provide counselling so that children can understand and come to terms with the grief they have experienced. Ultimately, it is this that will allow them to repair the damage their start in life has caused them, and provide the basis for meaningful relationships in the future.

In order to continue to provide this support to each child who needs it, SOS Children’s Villages relies on donations from our supporters; supporters just like you. We receive no state support for this part of our work. Will you help another child receive this care in the year to come?

Each session costs 1000 Rubles; to provide care to 50 children for a month costs 125,000 Rubles.

Will you help a child like Ira have the future she deserves?