Parents' Bridge, St Petersburg

Our Mission: to save children from orphanhood.

Our Principles:

• We acknowledge equal value of life of every child.
• We insist on every child having equal right for family and home.
• We believe that every child has the right to now his or her life story.
• We are convinced that a child gives the parents an opportunity for self-enrichment and self-development.

Our History

In the 1980-s the Foundation began its activities as a social organization, which united parents of disabled children, parents of large families and guardians - all those who considered it to be of highest priority to give every child a chance for a proper life. The institutors of the Foundation initiated the social movement for the protection of interests and rights of children who are deprived of parental custody, families with adoptees, families with disabled children. In1989 the "Association of guardians and parents" was founded - it was the first officially registered form of the organization. In 1994 the agency "Parents' Bridge" was registered. Saint-Petersburg Public Charitable Foundation "Parents' Bridge" was registered on the 4^th of December, 1996 after the adoption of "About charities" statute (reg.№ 1129).

Running projects

Angels with broken wings

The aim of the project  - family placement support for orphans and children who are deprived of parental custody. Within this project a separate department of the foundation was founded. It is involved in attracting and gathering potential parents and preparing those who want and are able to adopt orphaned children and children with disabilities. The foster family is provided with social, medical and psychological support. Since the foundation was established more than 250 children have found a family. The project was launched in 1997.

In 2005

3061 people got a  phone consultation on questions of family placement of orphans.

208 people visited the specialists of the Foundation

12 orientational trainings were held (with 93 participants)

3 schools for potential parents (55 participants)

22 children were placed into the trained families with Foundation's assistance

Sunny circle

The aim of the project - preventive measures against secondary (repeated) rejection of a child and against crises in foster families. Within this project families with adoptees are provided with scil, medical, psychological and pedagogic support. This project is realized together with "Every Child Foundation" (Great Britain). In the last 10 years the existing within this project department, which consists of professional specialists, has been successfully supporting families in a wide range of aspects. 315 families are now in the project; 611 children are provided with permanent support. Most of these families have come to work with the Foundation having already adopted children by themselves (for examples, adoption of children of some relatives, or grandmothers who have adopted their grand-children.

From despair to hope

The aim of the project - preventive measures against "social" orphanhood. We provide support for families in crisis, which can result in rejection of the adopted or blood child. We encourage positive outlook on the family's potential and accumulation of efforts in order to preserve the family and overcome the difficulties

Preventive measures against rejection of newborn babies.

This project is realized together with "Every Child Foundation" (Great Britain) at maternity hospitals №15 and 16 in Saint Petersburg. We want to make sure that every newborn who enters our world will have a hope for the future, will have home and family, and that even a newborn baby with disabilities will find the right for a proper life, love and care. The aim of the project is to do our best to prevent rejection of children under any circumstances. Moreover - to help the orphaned baby find a family, guardians, distant relatives. This project was launched in June, 1993.

In  2005

86 cases when the specialists of the Foundation consulted parents who were going to leave the baby at the hospital:  23 babies stayed with the parents, 13 mothers signed an interim rejection.

107 families turned to the Foundation for help (53 with babies under the age of one, 54 - older children). All in all, 193 families have come to the Foundation, 25 of them are constantly supported and accompanied still.

Bridge to the children of Russia

Within this project the Foundation publishes and distributes manuals and books, a magazine "Bridge to the children of Russia" in Russian and in English; holds round table discussions, conferences, seminars, trainings, press-conferences, other activities to attract the attention of the society to different aspects of the problem of orphanhood and exchange experience with other governmental and non-governmental organizations; takes part in local, regional, national and international seminars, conferences, etc.

Since 2001 the Foundation has been undergoing audit inspection annually. Reports about the expenditures are available for everybody upon request.

We are convinced that only uniting our efforts we can solve the problem of orphanhood!