Ilsur Metshin: “One should not remain alone with the problem”

(KZN.RU, September 18, Ksenia Shvetsova). Recently, a branch of the Social House “Kolybel” (Rus. “Cradle”) was opened in the Sovetsky district of Kazan in a residential apartment. They are sheltering pregnant women and mothers with children who were in a difficult life situation. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, visited the apartment on Pobedy Prospect. He talked with the residents of the shelter and thanked the organizers of the project for their kindness.

This is the second social house in Kazan, created to help pregnant women and young mothers on the initiative of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “Center for Protection of the Family, Motherhood and Childhood “Umilenie”. Elina Galiullina, the president of the organization, said that in 2016, the center won a grant of the contest “Orthodox Initiatives”. A 6-room apartment for temporary residence on Ershova Street has been arranged for these funds. “The grant was issued for 9 months of work, but we wrote an application for a presidential grant and received support for another year and a half”, said Elina. In the spring of this year, she was approached by a woman named Daria with a proposal to organize temporary accommodation on the basis of another apartment. Daria herself now lives in Surgut. “She bought this apartment for us, she originally had this intention. We are very grateful to her for this. In this apartment, we have 4 rooms, there is a premise for the workshop with comfortable conditions”, added E. Galiullina.

The Mayor of Kazan assessed the work of the center, asked how many women found shelter here. According to the director, 3 women and 5 children live in the recently opened social house. There are sessions with psychologists and weekly developmental activities for toddlers. They live here for three months. An initial agreement is drawn up for such a period, but it gets prolonged if the situation is complicated. E. Galiullina said that it is especially important for pregnant women as after a labour, they need longer time for adaptation.

In total, 30 women and 44 children received help during the work of the social shelter. In addition to the roof over their heads, food and work with psychologists, women who find themselves in a difficult situation can rely on legal assistance. It is based on the administration of the Sovetsky district. The help of specialists is also provided on the basis of the city hospital №7, where the center created a psychological support office for women going to abortion. They are told about the work of the social house, what help they can expect. According to E. Galiullina, as a result, 5-10% of women remain pregnant.

Shelters work at the expense of grants, donations, and work of volunteers. Even the furniture for the apartment was made by an entrepreneur who wished to support a good undertaking. But at the same time, the social house has constant needs, anyone can help it. “We need volunteer help. For example, driver-volunteers who will be able to drive somewhere. Or some experts who can help, for example, a breastfeeding consultant, pediatricians. If they could just tell mothers how to take care of babies, this will be a huge help”, adds the president of the center.

A humanitarian storehouse has been opened on the basis of the center “Umilenie”, which is providing about 500 families, and Kazan citizenscan donate bassinettes, cribs, children's and adult clothes.

Often, the center gets aid by offers of work for women living in a social house, but they often have to give it up. E. Galiullina explained that many would like to work, but there is no one to leave the children with. “It is very important for us in Kazan to create a day room for children or nurseries so that moms can leave them for a while and go to work. Here we cannot do the kindergarten, there are not enough space. And many would like to work, so a children's room is very needed”.

The Mayor asked if there is an organization in Kazan that is engaged in such activities. According to the president of the “Umilenie”, this is the only organization in the city that works with assisting pregnant women and preventing abortion.

“It's good that there are such concerned people as Elina and Daria, the owner of the apartment. No one is insured from anything. And the fact that there are such kind people in such difficult life situations is worth a lot. We will also support them. Thank you for your kind hearts, we together with you will help people. Everything must be done so that one would not be alone with his problem in such situations”, said I. Meshin.

He also talked with residents of the social house. He also added that today the citizens are changing their attitude towards charity for the better. “There are a lot of people willing to help in Kazan and beyond. People have been deceived many times by unfair funds in the past. But your good works are spreading good waves all over the city, and I am sure that there will be companies and individuals who will help”.

The “Center for Protection of the Family, Motherhood, and Childhood “Umilenie” is officially registered as an autonomous non-profit organization on July 7, 2016, but work has been carried out since 2010, on the basis of the Kazan diocese. You can support the center's projects on the website.