Big Brothers Big Sister charity foundation

Project idea

The Foundation’s primary focus is supporting children in challenging life situations (including orphans and graduates of orphanages) through individualized, long-term, supported mentorship provided by volunteers and professional psychologists. Acting as a resource center, the organization recruits, trains, and supports volunteer mentors working with children.

The goal of the project is to expand the foundation’s mentoring program across more regions in Russia, building a regional network of program branches with guidance, technical support, and organizational assistance from Big Brothers Big Sisters experienced staff in Moscow.

As part of the regional development project, the plans are to establish program branches in eight cities, where preliminary groundwork has shown interest in developing the mentoring program, and training local specialists in these regions to set up and run the mentoring program.

During the first year, the objectives are to build strong working relationships with key partners in social services, child welfare institutions, government bodies, businesses, and organizations that support the practice and can provide volunteers; recruit and train volunteers, select children, and form initial mentor-child pairs; conduct a project evaluation and seek regional partners to fund the program’s regional expansion.

Relevance

In Russia, more than 43,000 orphans are in orphanages, with 80% of them being adolescents aged 14–17, and around 70% being children with special health needs. Annually, approximately 4,000 graduates leave orphanages.

These children often lack the skills and knowledge for independent living, self-confidence, and motivation, and they have little experience forming close relationships or family connections. Unofficial statistics indicate that only 10% of orphanage graduates successfully adapt to real-life conditions.

The “Big Brothers Big Sisters” mentoring program rebuilds trust in the world and fulfills a basic need for attachment. Mentors support children in developing social, communication, and life skills, helping them gain self-confidence.

According to international studies, the program has proven its effectiveness: 84% of children with a mentor experience improved emotional well-being, 79% become more self-confident, 74% become more sociable, over 50% start showing initiative actively, 80% of adults who had mentors as children find better-paying jobs, create families, and lead healthy lives, and 87% build stronger social connections.

Social effect

Developing a mentoring culture for orphans in Russia. Enhancing the qualifications of child protection specialists. Increasing the number of successful adults among graduates of orphanages.