The program, "A Hand Up," is a reaction against cuts in government funding for the orphanage and was designed by Golden Cockerel. Dedicated to helping Russians help themselves,
Golden Cockerel arranges for professional artists to teach the children the traditional Russian folk art of painting brooches. The brooches are then "sold" in America for modest donations to the program. All of the proceeds (100%) are split between the young artists and their orphanage, badly in need of repairs, bathroom renovations, etc.
Nadia, Sasha, and all the others say spasibo (thank you!) for your encouragement. Their brooches make unique gifts and are guaranteed to bring smiles across the miles.
Here are some samples of the orphan brooches. Please note that the children choose their own subjects and that every brooch is unique, no two being alike. Though we can accomodate general wishes (nature, flowers, etc.), please be prepared to be delightfully surprised by the art you receive, should you order.
A Hand Up: Making A Difference!
Before | After we finished the renovation |
The simple things we often take for granted, like a new, clean bathroom, are sometimes wondrous to those who have never experienced such | |
For a Christmas gift in 1998, the director of the orphanage requested winter coats for the kids, as there was dire need in that area. Many of the children had actually never owned their own coat, much less a new one, as all clothes in the orphanage are communal and hand-me-downs. Now the bright colors of the new coats have done a lot to turn the orphanage from bleak to cheery, and the young artists are clothed as colorfully as their art! | |
Here are excerps of a 12/98 letter written by Roman Karkachev, director of our offices in St. Petersburg: | |
Dear Walton, We dedicated this day to the orphanage. All the day we were buying warm down jackets. It felt good that people selling jackets at the open air market were ready to help and gave us good prices for very nice high quality jackets... We bought a total of 39 jackets for $1233.45. Olga Lancheva, the director of the orphanage, could not believe my words when I called her tonight. I picked her up at her house and all the way to the orphange she thanked God for such gifts.... We left the clothes at the director's room...A little boy who was in the room tonight and tried on a fashioned, bright red jacket could not believe that it is really for him personally when Olga Lancheva put a note with his name on it in the pocket and then repeated "Thank you, thank you" many times. That was kind of sentimental :) They have two young girls working as nurses. They are paid 150 rubles ($8) a month and wait for the rest of their salaries (~$12 more) for months. How can they survive without home, without family? Hello to you from Olga Lancheva and the children. Thank everybody there for help. We do a big thing together. RK |