Children With Disabilities in Altai

In spring 2005 HealthProm has started a new project aiming to help children with disabilities and their families in Altai Republic, Russia. The project is funded by the European Commission and aims to encourage the social inclusion, development and, where necessary, rehabilitation of disabled children in Altai Republic. This will be achieved through creating a sustainable model of community based care and support for disabled children and their families.

Altai Republic lies in a remote region of Siberia and is one of the poorest areas in the Russian Federation. Eighty percent of the population live in rural areas, many with poor access to services because of the mountainous landscape. There are approximately 20,000 disabled people in the Republic; of whom 3,000 are children-an increase of more than 400% since 1997. The state and republican programs simply cannot cope.

Our Russian partner NGO, Revival, identified that disabled children and their parents, particularly in more remote locations, are the most disadvantaged. These children often do not have the opportunity to fulfil their potential in education and personal development.

In partnership with the state and voluntary agencies, HealthProm and Revival will establish two day-care centres for disabled children and their families. One of the pilot schemes will be opened in Gorno-Altaisk, its capital and the other in Ongudai, a village in the rural regions of Altai. In these centres children with disability can socialise and learn through play and creative activities, such as art and craft. Their families will also be able to attend support groups and receive specialist advice free of charge.

This project also aims to provide training for social workers, health care professionals and local authorities on disability issues.