New Programme : ‘Inside Out’ seeing the child behind the disability

Objective: To promote a society which accepts the basic human principle of putting the person first and the disability second.

Inside Out is supporting this goal through a nationwide training programme aimed at teachers and parents to create the foundation for all children and young people to receive the care and education they deserve.

The Russian Federation has talented and committed specialists who are visionary in pioneering techniques in the care and education of children with a disability. Development of this valuable commodity has often been inhibited; the stigma attached to disability, society’s low expectations of what a child with a disability can achieve and contribute.

Inside Out is the result of an extensive piece of research commissioned by Partners in Hope which has demonstrated that the provision of care and expertise is not widely available, supported by government and Ngo’s and sponsored by business.

The first year pilot programme begun in May and will train 610 teachers and parents in the next 8 months. We are also training teachers to work with orphan graduates to complete their education and help them adapt to life outside the institution.

Working with the Centre for Curative Pedagogics, Big Change and Dobro, Partners in Hope’s role is to bring together the experts to deliver the training and the expanded services and the funders to make it happen.

The programme will cover Moscow and most importantly disseminate knowledge out to the regions with a focused training programme covering Rayzan, Vladimir, Pereslavl-Zalesskij, Vologda, St Petersburg, Orenburg, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok in the first year. The cost of training 610 teachers and parents is $557,000 less than $1,000 per teacher/parent to create significant social impact on behalf of disabled children and young people.

The campaign is being launched to business in September via a series of events to coincide with the first training programme. The interest of business is vital in making this happen. Current supporters include Renaissance Group, Ernst & Young, Linklaters, Clifford Chance and Systema.

The charity has a long and successful record of developing services for vulnerable children in the Russian Federation, working through partnerships to bring resources directly to where the need is greatest. Partners in Hope believes that the new programme, with the influence of business, government and specialists working together, will provide a catalyst of significant social change on behalf of children and young people with special needs, their families and the wider community of Russia.