Volunteer Abroad in Russia

Cross Cultural Solutions Offers Russia Volunteer Opportunities

Jul 24, 2009 Eve Lopez

For people looking to volunteer in Russia, Cross Cultural Solutions may be the best organization to go with.

Cross Cultural Solutions has a lively volunteer base in Russia. CCS is a nonprofit volunteer organization that is entirely funded by volunteers. It is not affiliated with any religion, political party or special-interest organization. Its sole function is to bridge communication between cultures, and it’s a great place for the newbie volunteer to start. Cross Cultural Solutions has volunteer opportunities in more than a dozen places in Yaroslavl, Russia. For people looking to volunteer in Russian orphanages, or want to volunteer with babies, the elderly or the disabled, volunteering with CCS-Russia is easy.

Volunteering in Russian Orphanages

People who want to volunteer may want to volunteer at Russian orphanages, and CCS serves a huge population in Yaroslavl, Russia. Only a small percent of the children in the orphanages are legal orphans. The rest are “social orphans” who are there because their parents cannot care for them. There are many reasons for this, including lack of income and problems with alcoholism or drug addiction.

Volunteers play with the children at the orphanages, hold impromptu English lessons, and teach the kids how to make arts and crafts programs. The orphanages serve children as young as newborns, all the way up to teenagers.

Volunteering With the Disabled in Russia

CCS works with a few centers and homes for the disabled. Disabilities range from mild to severe. Volunteers spend time with disabled people by playing card games, dominoes and other recreational activities. Sometimes the disabled people request English lessons, and the volunteers help them learn basic English phrases.

Volunteering With the Mentally Ill in Russia

There are a couple of mental hospitals that Cross Cultural Solutions works with. The hospitals are totally safe and are always supervised by staff members. Volunteers brighten the days of the people in these hospitals by holding sing-a-longs, bringing in magazines, and playing games with them. Oftentimes, the volunteers from CCS are the only visitors these people have, and the patients are always happy to see them.

Volunteer With the Elderly in Russia

There are some senior citizen centers that CCS works with in Yaroslavl. The Russian seniors especially enjoy talking about politics with the American volunteers, and can get quite rowdy. For those interested in working with the elderly, this is a great opportunity to connect with older Russians who have been through communism and the collapse of the Soviet Union, and have some very interesting opinions about the state of the world.

No matter where the volunteer is placed, Cross Cultural Solutions will ensure they have a Russian translator with them at all times during their volunteer experience. For people who want to volunteer in Russia, this is a highly respected organization.

Learn more about the Russian Culture and get etiquette tips.

Find out more about Cross Cultural Solutions in Russia.

The copyright of the article Volunteer Abroad in Russia in Volunteer & Eco Adventures is owned by Eve Lopez. Permission to republish Volunteer Abroad in Russia in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Church in Yaroslavl, Russia