FLEX Alumni Make Disabled Children their Valentines in Veliky Novgorod

On the morning of February 17, Valeriya Nechayeva ’07, Roza Vasilyeva ’04, and FLEX coordinator for St. Petersburg, Mariya Mozgovaya ’98 traveled the 250 kilometers stretching between Petersburg and Veliky Novgorod, to celebrate Valentine’s Day with children from the “Tsvetik-semitsvetik” School for the Disabled. The event was organized by Veliky Novgorod City Representative Kseniya Skobochkina ’08 with the goals of improving the students’ English, encouraging their future participation in the FLEX program, and beginning a long-term partnership between Veliky Novgorod alumni and the school. Of course, celebrating a popular American holiday was also on the docket, and the day’s activities were dedicated to a fusion of language education and culture.

The first activity of the day was a Valentine’s Day-themed English lesson conducted by Roza Vasilyeva ’04 and Mariya Mozgovaya for fifteen disabled students. In addition to learning the history and traditions associated with the holiday, the students also had the chance to put their newly acquired skills to work by making cards and small gifts. The lesson represented a continuation of the work of FLEX alumni with disabled youth in Northwestern Russia, and the lesson plan created for the class will be shared with alumni across Russia to incorporate into their programming.

The time the alumni spent at the orphanage also included a special visit from Yuriy Gayevskiy ’05, and ten students from the Veliky Novgorod Medical University. During the past year, Yuriy has worked extensively with classmates at the Medical University, where he organized a debate team for students using the Karl Popper technique, which focuses on current and often divisive questions, but encourages the use of analytical thinking and tolerance of others’ views. Yuriy himself observed that, “What [he] learned in the U.S has helped [him] develop a worthwhile and helpful project for [his] local community. These debates allow students to learn and discuss important issues and also help their critical thinking skills.”

Yuriy’s team of fifteen students was so successful, they were invited to participate in competitions across Northwestern Russia. During his time at the orphanage on the 17th, Yuriy organized a debate for the disabled children, and allowed them to participate in a simulation of his work with the university students. Due to the success of the day, FLEX alumni will continue their work with the “Tsvetik-semitsvetik” school, and Yuriy is planning to build debate teams at other universities in the city, as well as begin fundraising activities to assist his students.

Valentine’s Day was also celebrated by FLEX alumni in other locations in Eurasia. In Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Alumni Coordinator Farangis Nozimzoda ’07 organized a Valentine’s Day Charity Party on February 13 at the American Councils office. Alumni organizers raised money to make calendars from pictures drawn by disabled children from the Hissar region of Tajikistan (located in the central Western section of the country). Twenty-one alumni attended the event and Shoira Pulatova ’08, Zurab Doidkhudoev ’07, and Bakhrom Ismoilove ’05 decorated the office earlier in the day to reflect a Valentine’s theme. Shifo Sharafzoda ’07 helped to prepare the food and over 100 Tajik somoni (approximately $30 USD) were collected for the disabled children.

One day later, in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Alumni Coordinator Ayna Palvanova ’08 hosted a Valentine’s Love Confession Contest. The ten alumni who attended competed by expressively “confessing” their love stories to the team of cupid’s judges. First, second, and third place prizes were awarded, and thirty members of the general community were also present for the celebration that took place while the judges were determining the winners.

In Veliky Novgorod, Dushanbe and Ashgabat alumni used Valentine’s Day as a means of reconnecting with one another, and continuing to broaden, strengthen, and solidify their ties to the local community.