Projects > Bolshaya Peremena [Big Change]

Founded in 2002 as an NGO, not-for-profit charity by a group of teachers, this unique organisation seeks to finish off the education of young people who have been through the State orphanage system. Upon completion of the Bolshaya Peremena programme, the students are able to finish high school, enter colleges or university and consider their future careers. Young people with learning disabilities who had previously received a diagnosis of 'ineducable' have been helped to continue their education and improve their skills.

 

The project has over 25 qualified teachers, all of whom are dedicated to the task of providing special programmes that are individually tailored to the specific requirements of every student. Students are invited to actively participate in the design of their own programme of learning which helps to give them a sense of ownership and responsibility - this is important because the programmes are academically rigorous and the students are required to work hard in order to succeed. Monthly meetings are held with each student in order to monitor progress and adjust their learning plans if necessary, in order to ensure that the expectations that are placed upon them are realistic, and achievable.

Only 10% of orphanage graduates successfully make the transition to independent living. 10% of these young people commit suicide during their first year of leaving the institution and it is estimated that the vast majority of the remaining number become homeless, alcoholics or drug users. Each year, 500 poorly-educated and ill-prepared young people leave orphanages in Moscow alone.

www.bigchange.ru