Teaching Children Who Struggle: The Story of an Educational Project in a Large Family Settlement
The article is about a unique settlement where residents have provided their children with quality education. It also talks about the foundation "Big Change" and the contribution of CSS.
In 2012, the government of the Novosibirsk Region allocated 66 plots of land for large families. Families with three or more children, registered as needing housing, were eligible to receive land for and build a home for permanent residence.
The area designated for this settlement was a part of the village of Lozhok, 30 kilometers from downtown Novosibirsk. The new neighborhood was named Family Fairy Tale.
At first, the Fairy Tale was nothing but a barren clay field, with stakes marking the future boundaries of yards and streets. Today, it is a well-developed area with paved roads, beautiful houses, manicured lawns, a water purification station, a communal gazebo, a stage, sports grounds, and a church under construction. Around 350 people live in Family Fairy Tale, of whom 60 are under eighteen.
The Family Tale settlement in the fall of 2024. Still from the movie “From Words to Deeds” by CSS Foundation
By law, owners can sell their plots, but in Family Fairy Tale, only a few have done so.
The settlement’s success story, as is often the case, lies in its people.
According to local residents, the core of the community was formed long before the families moved in. Their initial meeting place was an online forum for large families in Novosibirsk. There, they got to know each other, met up, and helped each other with household and legal advice. It was on this forum that the first information appeared about the possibility of creating a unique settlement for large families in Russia, and forum members learned about their right to claim land there. The parents were swift in turning words into action.
A strong parental community came together, achieved what was necessary, and continues to fight for the well-being of their children. Quite diverse children are raised here: some are biological children, some are adopted, and some are children with special needs.
In this article, we tell the story of how the residents ensured their children received quality additional education and about the Big Change foundation, which has become a reliable partner on this journey.
The Big Change Foundation, Moscow
In 2019, Big Change, a charity that supports orphans in Moscow, decided to scale its efforts and expand its geographical reach.
The first regional project was implemented by a team of key staff, led by the founder and director, Irina Ryazanova.
I.R.: “We have been working since 2002, developing personalized educational programs for children with an orphan background, helping them successfully navigate the school curriculum, believe in themselves, and choose a profession.
Children and adults with orphan experience come to our classes from all over Moscow. At our office, we hold lessons with teachers, meetings with personal mentors, operate various clubs, and conduct master classes. Across all 22 years of the Foundation’s work, we have been actively sharing our experience with colleagues. At specialized conferences, during working meetings, and in personal conversations, we constantly heard about the importance of this assistance for children from other cities. Therefore, in 2019, we decided to act and started looking for regional partners.”
Meeting Like-Minded People
Irina first learned about the unique settlement of large families from a colleague in Novosibirsk. In 2019, the foundation was introduced to the chairwoman of Family Fairy Tale, Tatyana Malygina, a mother of 33.
IR.: “I immediately noticed her determination, energy, and willingness to actively collaborate. In Tatyana, I saw a kindred spirit, and that’s crucial for any project, especially a pilot one.
Also in 2019, we were introduced to the CSS foundation and personally to its founder, David Russell. This connection, shared values, and mutual understanding of the importance of communities and mutual support became pivotal for the implementation of the Novosibirsk project.
The Big Change educational platform in Family Fairy Tale is our first regional project. We weren’t certain it would be successful, it would resonate with parents, or if it would yield results at all. Most donors prefer to support social projects with predictable and reliable outcomes.
We couldn’t make any promises, but we strongly believed in success. David Russell believed in us as well. For the next three years, we received stable financial support from CSS, thanks to which we trained and employed educators who began working with the children of the settlement using our Social and Pedagogical Support program.”
A Step Back to Move Forward
This September, the Big Change project launched its fourth academic year in the Family Fairy Tale settlement. Currently, 25 individuals are enrolled in the program.
The project offers assistance to students of any age who face difficulties with their education. Every participant, referred to exclusively as a “student,” undergoes a comprehensive assessment. Educators assess the child’s life circumstances (such as orphanhood or mental health issues) and educational challenges, identify both the parents’ and the child’s needs, and highlight the student’s strengths and areas for potential growth. Together, they develop an action plan.
I.R.: “Each student is assessed on key knowledge spanning the entire school curriculum. It’s not uncommon for someone officially certified for, say, eighth grade, to have gaps in their education at the elementary level. For instance, they may be able to read but lack comprehension and struggle to ask questions. And next year, they’ll face their state exams. So what should we do? Train them for the exam or address the foundational gaps?
We help parents grasp the real situation, coordinate strategies to overcome challenges, and guide students back to where their difficulties started.”
Educational council convenes at least three times a year to review each student’s progress, and if necessary, adjust their educational trajectory.
Why Children with Orphanhood Experience Struggle in Education
I.R.: “A child who has lost parental care and support undergoes extreme stress. When the adults around are constantly changing, the child does not feel the love and attention he or she needs. This is replaced by a sense of danger and mistrust of the world. All of the orphan’s physical, emotional, and mental energy is focused on adapting to the unstable, ever-changing environment and simply surviving.
As a result, instead of exploring the world, the child spends his or her early years in a state of stress and distrust. Learning cannot be effective in these conditions.
Public schools are unable to help a child regain cognitive interest, develop the ability to learn, or catch up on lost education. Consequently, even when the child returns to a stable environment, they still face difficulties in school.”
The teachers at Big Change give children personalized attention, working at their own pace.
Not Just the School Curriculum
Big Change has been working at Family Fairy Tale for four years. During this time, 39 students have received support from the foundation. Each child studies according to their own tailored program. Some receive support in preparing for their state exams (Basic State Exam, Unified State Exam), while others are helped with mastering the school curriculum, broadening their horizons, or developing cognitive interest.
Thanks to this, the children gradually become more confident, start overcoming their learning challenges, and their parents feel reassured. There is a sense of relief: “My child is doing well at school,” and parents gain confidence that they are no longer facing the problem alone.
For example, one resident of Fairy Tale, Fedor, a child from a large family, was accepted last year into the robotics department at Novosibirsk State University on a government-funded scholarship. Big Change helped him prepare for the USE and develop communication skills.
Fedor has a hearing disability, which previously caused him difficulties in communicating with others. Thanks to the sessions at Big Change, he now feels more confident in his university group, is no longer embarrassed to ask for clarification, and more confident in expressing his thoughts to his professors.
The skills and knowledge he gained during his time with the Foundation’s educators have proven invaluable at the University, where neither the academic nor extracurricular programs take into account the needs of hearing-impaired individuals.
Foundation during the filming of the movie “From Words to Deeds” CSS Foundation
Lozhok, Novosibirsk, Tomsk
Today, the Big Change’s educational platform in Novosibirsk is stable and confidently evolving. The team of educators continues to improve their qualifications with the support of the Foundation’s methodologists and is actively planning for the future.
Big Change also collaborates with the evening school in Novosibirsk, where children with orphanhood experience, from disadvantaged families, and families facing difficult life situations, study. These children, due to their challenges, were unable to attend regular schools. Here, the foundation organizes teacher development courses to enhance pedagogical skills.
In 2024, Big Change expanded to another city in Siberia.
I.R.: “Our platforms and collaboration formats may vary, as do the communities that are willing to personalize the educational paths for children in challenging life circumstances. We are ready to support those who actively seek help and are open to cooperation.
This year, we launched a new educational project in Tomsk. Our partner here is Tomsk Without Orphans, an organization that integrates the Big Change’s Social and Pedagogical Support program into its work with foster families. Methodologists from our Resource Center, along with specialists from Novosibirsk, carefully nurture the new platform by training educators and assisting managers.”
There is much work ahead, as the needs of the Tomsk parent community and the project implementation conditions differ from those in Moscow and Novosibirsk. The Foundation develops a new project for each region to implement educational technologies that align with the local context. After all, not only do children need a personalized approach for successful development; social projects do as well.
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The article is about a unique settlement where residents have provided their children with quality education. It also talks about the foundation "Big Change" and the contribution of CSS.
In 2012, the government of the Novosibirsk Region allocated 66 plots of land for large families. Families with three or more children, registered as needing housing, were eligible to receive land for and build a home for permanent residence.
The area designated for this settlement was a part of the village of Lozhok, 30 kilometers from downtown Novosibirsk. The new neighborhood was named Family Fairy Tale.
At first, the Fairy Tale was nothing but a barren clay field, with stakes marking the future boundaries of yards and streets. Today, it is a well-developed area with paved roads, beautiful houses, manicured lawns, a water purification station, a communal gazebo, a stage, sports grounds, and a church under construction. Around 350 people live in Family Fairy Tale, of whom 60 are under eighteen.
The Family Tale settlement in the fall of 2024. Still from the movie “From Words to Deeds” by CSS Foundation
By law, owners can sell their plots, but in Family Fairy Tale, only a few have done so.
The settlement’s success story, as is often the case, lies in its people.
According to local residents, the core of the community was formed long before the families moved in. Their initial meeting place was an online forum for large families in Novosibirsk. There, they got to know each other, met up, and helped each other with household and legal advice. It was on this forum that the first information appeared about the possibility of creating a unique settlement for large families in Russia, and forum members learned about their right to claim land there. The parents were swift in turning words into action.
A strong parental community came together, achieved what was necessary, and continues to fight for the well-being of their children. Quite diverse children are raised here: some are biological children, some are adopted, and some are children with special needs.
In this article, we tell the story of how the residents ensured their children received quality additional education and about the Big Change foundation, which has become a reliable partner on this journey.
The Big Change Foundation, Moscow
In 2019, Big Change, a charity that supports orphans in Moscow, decided to scale its efforts and expand its geographical reach.
The first regional project was implemented by a team of key staff, led by the founder and director, Irina Ryazanova.
I.R.: “We have been working since 2002, developing personalized educational programs for children with an orphan background, helping them successfully navigate the school curriculum, believe in themselves, and choose a profession.
Children and adults with orphan experience come to our classes from all over Moscow. At our office, we hold lessons with teachers, meetings with personal mentors, operate various clubs, and conduct master classes. Across all 22 years of the Foundation’s work, we have been actively sharing our experience with colleagues. At specialized conferences, during working meetings, and in personal conversations, we constantly heard about the importance of this assistance for children from other cities. Therefore, in 2019, we decided to act and started looking for regional partners.”
Meeting Like-Minded People
Irina first learned about the unique settlement of large families from a colleague in Novosibirsk. In 2019, the foundation was introduced to the chairwoman of Family Fairy Tale, Tatyana Malygina, a mother of 33.
IR.: “I immediately noticed her determination, energy, and willingness to actively collaborate. In Tatyana, I saw a kindred spirit, and that’s crucial for any project, especially a pilot one.
Also in 2019, we were introduced to the CSS foundation and personally to its founder, David Russell. This connection, shared values, and mutual understanding of the importance of communities and mutual support became pivotal for the implementation of the Novosibirsk project.
The Big Change educational platform in Family Fairy Tale is our first regional project. We weren’t certain it would be successful, it would resonate with parents, or if it would yield results at all. Most donors prefer to support social projects with predictable and reliable outcomes.
We couldn’t make any promises, but we strongly believed in success. David Russell believed in us as well. For the next three years, we received stable financial support from CSS, thanks to which we trained and employed educators who began working with the children of the settlement using our Social and Pedagogical Support program.”
A Step Back to Move Forward
This September, the Big Change project launched its fourth academic year in the Family Fairy Tale settlement. Currently, 25 individuals are enrolled in the program.
The project offers assistance to students of any age who face difficulties with their education. Every participant, referred to exclusively as a “student,” undergoes a comprehensive assessment. Educators assess the child’s life circumstances (such as orphanhood or mental health issues) and educational challenges, identify both the parents’ and the child’s needs, and highlight the student’s strengths and areas for potential growth. Together, they develop an action plan.
I.R.: “Each student is assessed on key knowledge spanning the entire school curriculum. It’s not uncommon for someone officially certified for, say, eighth grade, to have gaps in their education at the elementary level. For instance, they may be able to read but lack comprehension and struggle to ask questions. And next year, they’ll face their state exams. So what should we do? Train them for the exam or address the foundational gaps?
We help parents grasp the real situation, coordinate strategies to overcome challenges, and guide students back to where their difficulties started.”
Educational council convenes at least three times a year to review each student’s progress, and if necessary, adjust their educational trajectory.
Why Children with Orphanhood Experience Struggle in Education
I.R.: “A child who has lost parental care and support undergoes extreme stress. When the adults around are constantly changing, the child does not feel the love and attention he or she needs. This is replaced by a sense of danger and mistrust of the world. All of the orphan’s physical, emotional, and mental energy is focused on adapting to the unstable, ever-changing environment and simply surviving.
As a result, instead of exploring the world, the child spends his or her early years in a state of stress and distrust. Learning cannot be effective in these conditions.
Public schools are unable to help a child regain cognitive interest, develop the ability to learn, or catch up on lost education. Consequently, even when the child returns to a stable environment, they still face difficulties in school.”
The teachers at Big Change give children personalized attention, working at their own pace.
Not Just the School Curriculum
Big Change has been working at Family Fairy Tale for four years. During this time, 39 students have received support from the foundation. Each child studies according to their own tailored program. Some receive support in preparing for their state exams (Basic State Exam, Unified State Exam), while others are helped with mastering the school curriculum, broadening their horizons, or developing cognitive interest.
Thanks to this, the children gradually become more confident, start overcoming their learning challenges, and their parents feel reassured. There is a sense of relief: “My child is doing well at school,” and parents gain confidence that they are no longer facing the problem alone.
For example, one resident of Fairy Tale, Fedor, a child from a large family, was accepted last year into the robotics department at Novosibirsk State University on a government-funded scholarship. Big Change helped him prepare for the USE and develop communication skills.
Fedor has a hearing disability, which previously caused him difficulties in communicating with others. Thanks to the sessions at Big Change, he now feels more confident in his university group, is no longer embarrassed to ask for clarification, and more confident in expressing his thoughts to his professors.
The skills and knowledge he gained during his time with the Foundation’s educators have proven invaluable at the University, where neither the academic nor extracurricular programs take into account the needs of hearing-impaired individuals.
Foundation during the filming of the movie “From Words to Deeds” CSS Foundation
Lozhok, Novosibirsk, Tomsk
Today, the Big Change’s educational platform in Novosibirsk is stable and confidently evolving. The team of educators continues to improve their qualifications with the support of the Foundation’s methodologists and is actively planning for the future.
Big Change also collaborates with the evening school in Novosibirsk, where children with orphanhood experience, from disadvantaged families, and families facing difficult life situations, study. These children, due to their challenges, were unable to attend regular schools. Here, the foundation organizes teacher development courses to enhance pedagogical skills.
In 2024, Big Change expanded to another city in Siberia.
I.R.: “Our platforms and collaboration formats may vary, as do the communities that are willing to personalize the educational paths for children in challenging life circumstances. We are ready to support those who actively seek help and are open to cooperation.
This year, we launched a new educational project in Tomsk. Our partner here is Tomsk Without Orphans, an organization that integrates the Big Change’s Social and Pedagogical Support program into its work with foster families. Methodologists from our Resource Center, along with specialists from Novosibirsk, carefully nurture the new platform by training educators and assisting managers.”
There is much work ahead, as the needs of the Tomsk parent community and the project implementation conditions differ from those in Moscow and Novosibirsk. The Foundation develops a new project for each region to implement educational technologies that align with the local context. After all, not only do children need a personalized approach for successful development; social projects do as well.
