Ilsur Metshin on the «BlagoDaru» social adaptation center: «The project is unique for both Kazan and the republic»

This year, the Center for Social Adaptation ANO «BlagoDaru» will open a second apartment for children with intellectual disabilities. Presently, with the support of the city, a similar center operates in the village Karier in the Sovetsky city district for 10 children with special needs. The Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin got acquainted with the work of the organization and spoke with the children and the project initiator Gulnara Galiakhmetova.

«The project is a unique for both Kazan and the republic. Together with the Good Kazan Foundation, we are fostering a culture of caring and philanthropy», – said Ilsur Metshin.

Gulnara Galiakhmetova became the initiator of the establishment of the center after working with disabled people for approximately 15 years. In 2008, she started her career as a social worker at the Derbyshky orphanage and later became the head of the institution. After reaching the age of 18, residents of the orphanage were sent to a neuropsychiatric hospital.

Gulnara then decided to establish a center for social adaptation. In order to do so, she studied the experiences of similar centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladimir, and Pskov as well as in Israel.

After reaching adulthood, the children from the Derbyshky orphanage underwent a commission examination. «The moment had come when they could no longer stay in the orphanage due to their age. By law, they needed to go to an adult boarding school. I understood that I had to do something to help the children adapt to normal life», – shares Gulnara Galiakhmetova.

The Center for Social Adaptation was established in 2022. The residents lead an ordinary life there. They wake up together, cook breakfast, go to work and spend time together in the evenings. They keep up the apartment by themselves – they clean, buy groceries with the money they earn and in winter they go out and clear the house's territory of snow. Five professionals provide assistance to children in their daily lives – these are support instructors, a psychologist, the director herself and a curator.

The youngest resident of the center is 19 years old and the oldest is 28 years old. Viktor Avtonomov, who is 22 years old, moved to the center from the Derbyshky orphanage. He has been working as a photographer at Good Kazan for the past year. Gulnara Galiakhmetova helped him not only to find his profession, but also to stand on his own two feet. Previously, Viktor could only use a wheelchair. After six surgeries and a long recovery, the resident was able to walk with the help of a walker.

At the end of the meeting, Ilsur Metshin presented a certificate to the Center for Social Adaptation for the purchase of equipment.