The central topic of the trip was the family structure and the reform of social institutions.
The children’s commissioner toured several social institutions in the Krasnodar Territory: the Kushchyovsky Social and Rehabilitation Centre for minors from families in crisis, the orphanage for children with organic lesions of the central nervous system with mental disorders, a specialised clinical children’s infectious disease hospital and the Rostok Nadezhdy inclusive early development centre for children on the autism spectrum.
During the trip, the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights met with Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Veniamin Kondratyev and held a meeting on children’s rights protection with regional executive authorities and socially oriented NGOs.
The leadership of the region supported Maria Lvova-Belova’s proposal to create a Children in the Family service in the region to overcome crises in families, as well as centres for leisure, career guidance and psychological support for adolescents as part of the Teenagers of Russia programme (18 such venues have already been created, predominantly in regional capitals).
In addition, at the commissioner’s request, the Krasnodar Territory will accept 20 orphans and children without parental care from the Donetsk People’s Republic.
During the trip, Maria Lvova-Belova also opened the Centre for Useful Employment for Young People with Disabilities, Okkolo Art Cluster, where it will be possible to enrol in internship programmes in four professional areas (sewing, cafe administrator, barista, and sound and video director). The project was implemented with the support of the Presidential Grants Foundation and the United Grain Company and with the assistance of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development of the Krasnodar Territory.
The opening of the venue is the first practical step towards the creation of day care and employment centres for children and young people with disabilities as part of the commissioner’s Support Through Life programme. Next year, similar venues will be opened in ten more Russian regions.