Концертный хор ДХШ им. А.В. Свешникова, город Коломна. Запись с одного из концертов в IМОМУ.
Русская народная песня “Ах ты степь широкая”
A powerful rendition of Vo kuznitse (Во кузнице). We hope you enjoy!
I think we all rested well the night of our culminating fund raising event, the 2nd annual “Students for Children” benefit concert. We rested well because we had put many late nights and long hours into raising funds and awareness; we rested well because we knew we were involved in a cause greater than ourselves; and we rested well knowing that we could now help out many orphans throughout Russia.
In this year, our journey took us to the heart of Russia, Siberia. You may associate Siberia with heaps of snow and harsh winters when the temperature rarely rises above freezing from October to March . Well, this is all true and so we were happy to deliver the goods to the orphanages in the summer time when the weather is actually quite nice. So nice that days are often full of sunshine and sometimes the sun doesn’t set until midnight.
Previous to the trip to Russia, our research team had done a great job of assessing orphanage needs in Siberia. Our ground team of Russians in Russia really did most of the investigative work. It was interesting to find out that not all orphanages in Russia are in equal need. Some orphanages needed some real basic items. Some orphanages had the basics, but lacked recreational items. Here’s a little peak into the journey!
Bikes and computer for an orphanage in Barnaul, Russia
Some orphanages like this one in Omsk, Russia really needed some basics like bunk beds and desks for school (On right: Jacob Rogers headed up the purchase and delivery in Omsk and Barnual).
It was interesting that the kids almost seemed more exited about the candy that we brought from America than the new toys and supplies. But, hey, who doesn’t love candy!
The cutest girls I’ve ever seen!
Here are two of the many helpers that did a lot of our ground work for us in Russia. They made it a lot easier to work with the orphanage directors and to ensure a smooth and successful trip to Russia.
All in all, a great experience for everyone who participated. I personally feel blessed for having been able to play a small part in bringing a little bit of joy and comfort to the Russian orphans.
Near record snow in Vladivostok, Russia.
The core team of Yearn has been involved in fundraising for many years now and we wanted to share a few pictures that show results from one of our past fundraisers.
We were able to provide toys, CDs and audio players, and aroma oils for the psychotherapy office.
Even the simple things bring tremendous joy and light to the orphans and their difficult situation.
The second Wall Street Journal article on the state of philanthropy, entitled “Charitable Giving Is More Complicated Than It Seems” adds a critical tenth change to the previously published list of nine changes that foundations need to implement.
“It’s true that nonprofit organizations need more money at the precise time that funders have less to give. At the same time, however, our country is witnessing a renewed interest in service, the likes of which we haven’t seen in 40 years.
We must seize this opportunity to rethink how service can impact social issues and act upon it by structuring volunteer programs that drive real results for our communities. This includes focusing on the strategic needs of nonprofits, clearly defining volunteer roles and expectations, matching talents and skills of volunteers accordingly, and holding volunteerism accountable for the same results we expect from cash philanthropy.”
A Powerful and moving rendition of Akh ty Stiep’ shirokaya (Ах, ты степь) by the Yale Men’s Russian Choir.
One of Yearn’s favorite creative expressions of art from Eastern Europe.
During the last week of my stay in Moscow this past May, I decided to head out to Kitezh where a friend of mine was living for the summer. I caught a ride with an 18-yr old kid who was making money off bussing people out to Kaluga in his dad’s minivan. He made the three-hour drive in two, and dropped me off at the bus station where I waited for a minibus to take me another two hours to Baryatino. From there it was a taxi ride out to the tiny, isolated village of Kitezh.
Kitezh is the name of a magical town in Russian folklore and the village that has adopted its name is itself a surreal experience. A tiny communal group created specifically to foster orphaned children, they are almost entirely self-sustaining and are raising these children in a very healthy, familial environment. The entire village is involved in the education and social development of the children, they eat all their meals together, are involved in building, farming, etc. They put me to work as soon as I got there and I loved every minute of it. It turned out to be a very educational and eye-opening experience for me on alternative solutions to the issue of orphans in Russia.