VOLUNTEERING WITH ORPHANS AND CHILDREN LEFT WITHOUT PARENTAL CARE

ABSTRACT

The article defines the concept of "volunteer", discusses possible problems in organizing volunteer activities with orphans and children left without parental care.

Keywords: orphans, volunteering, children left without parental care.

Introduction

The experience of continuous interaction with volunteers allows teenagers – children of orphanages to find significant mentors in the face of volunteers, establish long-term relationships with them, which can help teenagers gain social skills, increase self-esteem and successfully socialize. However, such interaction is not widespread enough in our country. That is why the topic of the article is relevant.

Main part

Today, volunteering has got a multidimensional character. One of the Russian sociologists E.I. Kholostova interprets this concept as follows: «Volunteers are people who do something of their own free will, by consent, and not by compulsion. They can act either informally, work for free in both public and private medical, educational, or social welfare organizations, or be members of volunteer organizations. Volunteers in the modern meaning of this word are members of a public association of a social orientation» [1].

To work with orphans and children left without parental care, social rehabilitation centers for minors cooperate with volunteer organizations. Volunteers organize various cultural and leisure programs for orphans and children left without parental care, and assist in the improvement of the institution's territory.

There are a lot of problems can arise during the organization of volunteer activities with orphans and children left without parental care. For example: lack of necessary knowledge and skills to work with orphans and children left without parental care from volunteers; lack of regular visits to the organization, volunteer mentors; lack of volunteer headquarters specializing in working with orphans and children left without parental care.

Introductory seminars and lectures can be a solution to the problem of the lack of necessary knowledge and skills among volunteers working with orphaned children and children left without parental care. For example, all volunteers of the Charity Foundation "Volunteers to help Orphans" undergo a cycle of introductory seminars: from 5 to 7 seminars, depending on the chosen direction of volunteering. Volunteers who have not completed a full cycle of training are not allowed in organizations for orphans and children left without parental care.

It is worth noting that, during creating a training program for volunteers, it is necessary to take into account:

– what knowledge and skills should volunteers have for volunteer practice;

– inclusion in the training program of information that allows potential volunteers to form a realistic idea of volunteer activity and their real work opportunities in this area;

– the fact that the training should be interactive (not take place in the form of a lecture) and give every volunteer who comes to get answers to their questions;

– handouts that will help volunteers learn and remember the material (manuals, presentations, etc.).

Conclusion

So, due to various socio-psychological characteristics of orphans, they need professional help from specialists. This help should be comprehensive, affecting all aspects of the child's life. One of the tools in solving many complex problems facing an orphan child is volunteering. The organization of volunteer activities with orphans and children left without parental care is, first of all, the presence of a "close adult" near the child, the development of his social and cultural communication skills.

References:

1. Kholostova E.I. Volunteers // Dictionary-handbook on social work / edited by Prof. E.I. Kholstova. – Moscow, 2017. – 417 p.
2. Prihozhan A.M. Psychology of orphanhood / A.M. Prihozhan, N.N. Tolstykh.– 3rd ed. – St. Petersburg: Peter, 2007. – 413 p.
3. Sushko V.A. Manifestation of volunteerism in modern Russian society / V.A. Sushko // Theory and practice of social development. – 2017. – No. 11. – pp. 43 – 46.