Volunteer Abroad in Russia
Gain Language Practice and Cultural Experience!
Due to frequent student requests for such information, we have provided the following list of charities in Russia that generally accept volunteers and/or donations. We thank the site Redtape.ru for originally compiling much of this information. SRAS has added additional information from other sources and removed some charities that are no longer in operation.
Students interested in volunteering for these organizations should contact the organizations themselves. SRAS bears no direct relation to their volunteer programs. Students should be aware that none of these organizations, to our knowledge, offer programs that offer students any financial or material assistance. The student should plan to pay for his/her own visa and registration, housing, and other expenses. Also, students should be aware that most Russian visas (i.e. the most common: tourist and commercial visas) will allow students to stay in Russia for only 30-90 days.
 Former SRAS Student Becky
Bavinger served as an unpaid
intern at a St. Petersburg shelter
for homeless youths. The shelter
is run by Doctors of the World. |
Students may find that a volunteer abroad experience can be most realistically arranged in conjunction with a study abroad program. Study abroad programs can arrange affordable, long-term visas (for up to one year, renewable in-country), affordable housing, and language lessons to ensure that your ability to communicate with the people you are working with and trying to help improves quickly during your time abroad. Programs such as SRAS can also help turn the experience into a prearranged, fully documented internship experience to better build your resume.
Submissions to and comments on this list may be sent to jwilson@sras.org.
Recommended Russian Charities
(in alphabetical order)
Action for Russia's Children
Email: actionarc@yahoo.co.uk
Web: www.actionarc.com
All-volunteer charity that aids underprivileged, disabled, and homeless children.
AGS Worldwide Movers
Phone: (901) 712 3282
Email: helque-o@ags-demenagement.com
We pick up your discarded clothes, furniture, and other belongings and deliver them to a charitable organization or a church of your choice.
Anglia Bookshop Charity Drive
Phone: (495) 299 7766
Email: dinter@online.ru
Web: www.anglophile.ru
6 Vorotnikovsky Pereulok
Every Sunday, from 1-4pm, Action for Russia's Children volunteers sell donated second-hand English-language books at Anglia. All remittances go to support ARC’s charitable activities. Donors awarded with Anglia discount cards.
American Center, Moscow
Telephone: (495) 777-6530
Email: amcenter@amc.ru
Web: www.amc.ru
Address: 1 Nikoloyamskaya Ulitsa
The Moscow American Center is a public library based on the American model. The Center provides library and reference services and hosts cultural and educational programs. The center can provide opportunities for students studying various topics to meet and discuss those topics with fellow scholars and others interested in the topic.
American Women’s Organization (AWO)
Email: awomoscow@yahoo.com
Meetings: The AWO holds regular coffee mornings beginning at 10:30 on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Hard Rock Café, located at Old Arbat (metro Smolenskaya).
The AWO interest groups currently include: Help Russian High School Students Understand America; Understanding Russia; Spread Sunshine to the Children’s Cancer Hospital; and American Center Outreach.
 Charities looking to help homeless
animals and endangered species,
such as AMUR, an organization
devoted to the Amur leopard and
tiger species, are also looking for
volunteer help. |
AMUR - Endangered Leopards
Phone: (495) 925-43-82 or 768-80-65
Email: ekaterina_newman@hotmail.com
Web: http://www.amur.org.uk/home.shtml
Amur is an Anglo-Russian charity that works in partnership with the Russian authorities, scientists and other conservation organizations to ensure that the Amur tiger and the Amur leopards are saved from extinction. Contact: Katya Newman
Center for Curative Pedagogics
Phone: (495) 131 0683, 133 8447
Email: ccpmain@online.ru
Small Russian NGO that aids children with developmental problems. Near metro Universitet. Contact: Roman Dimenshtein.
Center Perspektiva
Phone: (499) 267 70 33
Email: perspektive@rambler.ru
The center runs activities for various groups of people in need: special need children, young prisoners, disadvantaged families, the elderly, etc.
Contact: Anna Slavinskaya
Civic Assistance Center for the Adaptation and Education of Children of Forced Migrants
Phone: (495) 350 0427, 8 916 712 9256
Web: www.refugee.ru
Email: smkat@inbox.ru
Looking for students who are native (or extremely good) English speakers who would be enthusiastic and reliable volunteer teachers. The center provides after-school education to 20 refugee children, individually and in small groups. Conact: Katya Kokorina.
Club of Volunteers
Phone: +7 (916) 814-74-88
Web: www.club-volonterov.ru
Email: info@club-volonterov.ru
The Club of Volunteers is a community of like-minded people united by a desire to support children in orphanages and social care institutions. They have a webpage in English and appear to be youth-run.
Democrats Abroad
Email: Chair@democratsabroad.ru
Web: http://democratsabroad.ru/
Democrats Abroad holds voter awareness and registration drives. Contacts: Kim Reed, Andrew Hardisty.
Diema's Dream
Phone: (495) 291 4573
Email: mary@diemasdream.com
Web: www.diemasdream.com
US-registered charity that supports a Moscow institution for disabled orphans.
Doctors of the World
Email: info@dowusa.org
Web: http://www.dowusa.org/projects/russia.cfm
A non-profit group that brings medical care to and operates day shelters for some of Russia's homeless and at-risk groups.
Dogs as Assistants to Disabled People
Phone: (495) 306 0025
Email: guidedogs@guidedogs.ru, elena@guidedogs.ru
Web: www.guidedogs.ru
Non-profit that trains both guide dogs for the blind and help dogs for physically disabled people. Recipients get the dogs for free, plus courses to learn how to work with their four-legged companions.
Downside Up
Phone: (495) 367-1000
Email: downsideup@downsideup.org
Web: www.downsideup.org
Center for children with Down syndrome and their families. Volunteers needed.
English City
Phone: 310-91-61, 310-68-45, 8-905-278-3180, 970-4576
Email: english_city@mail.ru
Web: http://www.english-city.ru/?page_id=4
Address: Saint Petersburg, Fontanki Nab., 89
English City is an international school of theatre and linguistics that provides Russian schoolchildren and students with the opportunity to combine practice of conversational English with theatrical training.
Great Baikal Trail
Phone: (902) 176 4116
Email: gbt.volunteers@gmail.com
Web: http://www.greatbaikaltrail.org/
The Great Baikal Trail Association is an international volunteer-driven non-profit working to develop, maintain and protect the first 1,300-mile long national trail in Russia, along Lake Baikal, thereby promoting sustainable development of the Baikal region. Contact: Natasha Luzhkova
Hope Worldwide
Phone: (495) 482 0909
Email: development@hopeww.ru
Web: www.hopeww.ru
Charity that provides hot meals and home visits to seniors and has monthly programs including birthday parties in 31 orphanages. Looking for volunteers.
International Foundation for Christian Education
Phone: (495) 924 9151
Email: ifce@ringnet.ru
Small Russian Orthodox charity that supports a number of projects in Moscow, including a homeless shelter and a program that trains Russian volunteer social workers. Donations needed to keep the center afloat. Contact: Sergei Matveyev.
IWC Charities Group
Email: iwc_charities@yahoo.com
Web: http://iwc_moscow.tripod.com/Charities/international_women.htm
IWC Charities Group is large catch-all charity helping the elderly, the homeless, orphans, adolescents, soup kitchens, the handicapped, foster families, and more.
 Many Russian charities, such as
Women and Children First, actively
seek native English speakers to
provide English lessons to orphans
and other disadvantaged persons. |
Kidsave International
Phone: (495) 257 1171
Email: ebatsie@rol.ru
Web: www.kidsave.org
Charity that aims to end institutionalization of orphans through adoption and mentoring programs.
Kitezh Children’s Community
Email: info@ecologia.org.uk, volunteers@ecologia.org.uk
Web: www.ecologia.org.uk
A therapeutic community that gives children from orphanages loving foster families. Kitezh is in the Kaluga Region, 300 kilometers southwest of Moscow. Second sister community Orion is 80 km from Moscow. Volunteers are welcome.
Maria's Children
Phone: (495) 292 4870
Email: info@mariaschildren.ru
Web: www.mariaschildren.org
Provides arts therapy and training for Russian orphans.
Messia
Phone: (495) 186 7002
Email: messia@gnext.ru
A Russian charity that looks after street children in city shelters. Urgently needs to buy a minivan in good condition to transport food and aid donations. Contact: Igor Korolyov.
METIS
Phone: (495) 391 9710
Email: Metis2001@mail.ru
Group that aims to overcome discrimination and hardship faced by mixed-race children in Russia. Seeks volunteers and financial sponsors for its educational center. Contact: Emilia Mensah.
MiraMed Institute
Phone: (495) 730 0064
Email: erics@miramed.org
Web: http://www.miramed.org/volunteer.htm
Sponsors social welfare programs for orphans and young single mothers as well as anti-trafficking programs. Seeks volunteers and organizations to sponsor an orphanage. Contact: Eric Schempp.
Miloserdie (Kindhearted)
Phone: +7 (495) 972-97-02
Web: www.miloserdie.ru
Email: Through Contact Page
The official charity arm of the Orthodox Church - works with the homless, orphans, the infirm, soldier's families, and more.
Moscow Animals
Phone: (495) 916 4556
Email: info@moscowanimals.org
Web: www.moscowanimals.org
Assists local animal shelters. Needs volunteers to make donations or volunteering time such as by photographing animals, caring for them, documenting them, etc. Contact: Katya
Moscow Int. Rotary Club
Email: rotaryrus@yahoo.com
The local English-speaking chapter of this professional and diplomatic group that supports a variety of educational and charity projects. Contact: Leonardo de Angelis.
Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy
Phone: (495) 143-5748 or 143-3562
Email: mpc@rol.ru
Web: http://www.moscowprotestantchaplaincy.org/fsm.htm
Moscow Protestant Chapliancy is a religious organization that runs soup kitchens and provides services for refugees and poor students.
Nastenka Fund
Phone: (903) 195 9460, 980 5377
Email: mail@nastenka.ru
Web: www.nastenka.ru
Foundation that aids Russian children with cancer and their families. Seeks volunteers to play with children and financial contributions. Contact: Jamila Aliyeva.
Operation Smile Russia, Moscow
Phone: (495) 917 5344
Email: anerman@operationsmile.org
Web: www.operationsmile.com
Address: Podsosensky Pereulok 20/12 Bldg. 1 - 1A, Office C400, Moscow
Operation Smile is a charity assisting children who require facial reconstructive surgery to do deformations or accidents. Contacts: Anneli Nerman and Sergei Korsuns
Perspektiva
Phone: 8(495)245-68-79, 8(495)363-08-39
Email: perspektiva@perspektiva-inva.ru
Web: http://eng.perspektiva-inva.ru
Address: 8, 2-Frunzenskaya str., Moscow,119146, Russia
Perspektiva is an umbrella organization helping disabled and handicapped people throughout Russia and the CIS.
Contact: Denise Roza
Pomoshch Detyam Foundation
Phone: (495) 203 1306
Email: antonsm2002@hotmail.com
Aids children from poor families, orphans and other destitute children. Accepts shoes, clothes and other donations. Contact: Zhanna Sitnik.
PREODOLENIE-L Center for Handicapped Children
Email: Tonirussin@hotmail.com; Artym@rambler.ru
Aids handicapped children with a preschool program, English-language classes, art class, riding classes, etc. Help with fund raising and organizing brochures is also needed.
Contacts: Toni Russin; Artym Ivanov.
Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund (ROOF)
Phone: (495) 229 5100
Email: acc@roofnet.org
Web: www.roofnet.org
Group that helps provide education to orphans and orphanage graduates in Moscow and beyond. Seeks financial sponsors and volunteers. Contact: Alexei Svakhin.
The Salvation Army
Phone: (495) 278 0351 or 278 9160
Email: Ray_Tunstall@rus.salvation-army.org
Web: http://www.salvationarmy.ru/
As in 107 other countries worldwide, this group strives to advance the Christian faith, contribute to education and help relieve poverty. The first English-speaking Rotary in Russia aids orphanages, children’s prisons and schools in Moscow and Central Russia. Contact: Ray Tunstall.
Sofia Fund
Phone: (495) 710-7200
Web: www.sofiafond.ru
Email: Through Contact Page
Provides assistance to the elderly.
Sozvezdie
Phone: +7 924 2182082 (mobile) UTC+10
Email: youare@inbox.ru
Web : www.kdcsozvezdie.ru
This summer camp provides recreation and education facilities for children. Leaders/councelors from USA, Canada or Europe are wanted.
Taganka Children's Fund
Phone: (495) 911 7449
Email: tcf.rus@g23.relcom.ru
Web: www.charity-tcf.ru
Group that helps single parents and their children in the Taganka district of Moscow. Seeks volunteers to work in after-school programs as well as corporate and individual sponsors.
Tahoe-Baikal Institue
Email: info@tahoebaikal.org
Web: http://www.tahoebaikal.org
Volunteers can donate expertise as a speaker or discussion leader, a field project leader, a consultant on a program or project and assist with generating publicity for TBI programs. Contact: Bryan von Lossberg
United Way
Phone: 730 4044/45
Email: info@unitedway.ru
Web: www.unitedway.ru
Local affiliate of United Way International. This group promotes charitable activities and the development of non-profits in Russia. Contact: Tatiana Zadirako.
Women and Children First
Phone: 182 6794, 182 4654
Email: mail@womenchildrenfirst.org
Web: http://www.womenchildrenfirst.org
Helps orphans and at-risk young people ages 14-23 adapt to adult life. Seeks volunteers to teach English, sports, music and computers. Also seeks donations of household items and sponsors. Contact: Polina Naumova or Jenny Chambers.
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