andorc.org

Caroline Voyles Selected for ANDORC's 2008 Summer Volunteer Program

Monday, 07 April 2008

Caroline Voyles, ANDORC volunteer, arrived in St. Petersburg safely on June 13, 2008. Natasha Baliasnikova and Alisa Sharoyko, ANDORC Coordinators, greeted Lydia at the airport and helped Caroline obtain all the necessary paperwork/medical documents to work in Pavlovsk orphanage, and they helped her to become acquainted with the orphanage. Caroline began working at the orphanage with Pedoroshneek's (a Russian nonprofit) volunteers on Monday, June 23, 2008. Message #1 from Caroline - "Just wanted send you a quick note about my first impressions of the orphanage. When I first arrived I met Andrei and some of the other staff members before being taken to the room where I'll be spending most of my time and as introduced to each of the 12 children, each laying in their own crib. As I saw each child, I assumed I was in a room for 2-6 year olds...it turns out the youngest was 5 and there were 5 teenagers! All of them were so small, and all had both "physical and mental handicaps. None of the children in this room can either speak or walk and few can even sit up on their own. What these kids can do, however, is smile. Their faces all light up when I approach them. I spent my hours there holding them, feeding them and taking some outside for a walk in the stroller. These kids really crave human contact and are so happy to be paid attention to. They are so sweet and it's so heartbreaking to know that they must be suffering, even though they don't show it. I'm looking forward to going back this week and continuing the work I came to do." Message from Andrei Dombrovski at Pavlovsk Orphanage - "Today was the first day of Caroline in the orphanage. Quite by chance I happened to be there as well. That was really pleasure to see her and talk to her (o, my English, it's nearly leaving me). She was introduced to her group and in quarter of an hour went with child in company of our volunteer and another child for a walk. It seems she will be good in making contact with children (and her Russian! - nearly no problems in communication with our girls). So what I want to say - THANKS. In fact she is very well in time - now many of the nurses are on the vacations and there are few hands to take care about children." Please visit our website again for more updates.