The Children of the Svirstroy Orphanage

The Orphanage Building

The orphanage was once a barracks for officers in the Soviet Air Force.  It had large balconies overlooking the front of the building, which was surrounded by forest as far as the eye could see.  Unfortunately, it has now become a giant cement shell, crumbling from age.  Chunks of concrete from the balconies on the front of the building are literally falling off, but the orphanage cannot afford to have them removed.  The children walk and play under them every day, including the balcony over the front door.

Although the building has indoor plumbing, there are only three sinks on each floor for thirty children.  The two working showers are located underground in what likely was a command bunker at one time.  The water is orange from rust, and there are no water treatment facilities in the area.  The volunteers could not drink the water without boiling it due to the giardia parasite.  Waste is sent directly into the nearby river, which is where the children swim.  The toilets do not have seats, and the supply of toilet paper (Soviet strength!) is very limited.

There is a small playground in front of the orphanage; however, the equipment has not been fixed in years.  There are no swings on the swing set, and all of the equipment is rusted.  The basketball net is located in the middle of a field, which is now overgrown by weeds and floods whenever it rains.

The orphanage has a sizeable garden where the children grow potatoes.  There was a greenhouse, but all of the glass has been stolen.  The growing season this far north is very short (about three months), so the variety of items that can grow there is limited.  Fruits and vegetables are limited in the summer months but are almost non-existent throughout the long, cold winter.  With the assistance of American charities, the food has improved in the last few years, but the children's diet still consists of kasha (porridge), soup (with a small amount of meat, often fish), potatoes, and bread.  The children receive meat more often, and there is some money to purchase vegetables, such as cucumbers and the occasional tomato, thanks to charitable contributions.  But all of the children are still underweight, and they continue to suffer from a lack of vitamins and nutrients. 

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