Delegation from Zelenograd Orphanage Visits Kids’ World
December 10, 2008
On November 13-21, 2008 a delegation from a Zelenograd social shelter “Kryukovo†has visited Tulsa and performed at Kids World 2008. The delegation consisted of the facility director, Irina Parvan, and two long-term shelter residents – Alexandra Khokhlun (15) and Valeria Laktionova (17). It was the first international trip for both girls. The Zelenograd prefecture sponsored the delegation’s visas and airfare, while TZA and our wonderful host families covered the Muscovites’ expenses in Tulsa.
While in Tulsa, the delegation received honorable citizens certificates, visited the Oklahoma Aquarium, historic downtown, and the Gilcrease Museum. The girls shadowed their host sisters at Booker T. Washington, while Kryukovo’s director visited Tulsa’s social work facilities from Youth Services of Tulsa to Street School.
Providing cultural and educational opportunities to socially and economically disadvantaged children in Zelenograd (and Russia at large) is one of the key priorities of the Tulsa Zelenograd Association. In the past two years, TZA successfully developed relations with Zelenograd’s orphanages – an effort that culminated in organizing the first such trip for children who might otherwise never have a chance to travel to the U.S. or elsewhere in the world. TZA will continue to carry out projects in support of the orphaned, homeless, and at-risk Russian children.
“Kyukovo†is one of three Zelenograd facilities that care for children who do not live with their parents. It shelters children whose parents have been temporarily stripped of custody due to substance abuse, domestic violence, and other causes. The shelter’s goals are to safely reintroduce children back into their families and to provide a peer support network for children in need. Under the auspices of Moscow region, the shelter receives fewer funds from Zelenograd and the capital.
Tulsa Kids’ World 2008 Report
December 10, 2008
Hundreds of stamped passports, surprised questions, mincing feet, thrilled voices, flashing faces, and, most importantly, excited eyes is what Kids World exhibitors saw for four days, as bus after bus of Tulsa area children disembarked to learn about the cultures of the world.
As always, the Russia booth, representing our sister city partnership with Zelenograd, was there, boasting a whole new puppet stage and repertoire, a jumbo-size Russian landscape, and a drawing contest “My Summer Vacation in Russia.†Other features included:
- Kids could take photos with standup cutout figures of a Russian man and a Russian woman dressed in traditional costumes.
- Souvenirs to play with (includes Russian toys and nesting dolls)
- Alphabet cards, coloring and flag-making activities, and Russia timeline quizzes. We challenged every little visitor to impress their parents and siblings by learning to write the names of the whole family in Russian!
- Information about Russia’s rich nature and “green†efforts
- Russia-Oklahoma time line, showing how closely the two are knit together.
We have received many comments that the Russia booth was the best and most interactive exhibit at the festival! And this year, we hosted a 3-person delegation from a Zelenograd orphanage. They worked at the booth and performed on stage with songs and dance about Zelenograd.