RUSSIA: Mixed-race children's charity in Russia celebrates 19th anniversary

Record ID: 174018

  • Title: RUSSIA: Mixed-race children's charity in Russia celebrates 19th anniversary
  • Date: 1st June 2013
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) YULIA NAZAROVA, SAYING: "In the kindergarten, it's is absolutely fine, they are treated in a very good way. But indeed, there is some curiosity and one gets tired of this curiosity. But in general, we have friends and acquaintances here, we go for walks together and spend time outside,""I think in Russia a positive attitude towards children is not formed, sometimes you can see that. But I don't think this is because they (children) are mulattos. Just sometimes people say - ah, you gave birth to all those numerous children - that happens sometimes, but I don't think that it's because they are mullatos." CHILD TAKING BOOK FROM SHELF BOOK FAMILY SITTING TOGETHER, READING BOOK
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Politics,People,Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVAD0BF06ADKUSTXSZ0IU6TGMWOT
  • Story Text: Mixed race children's charity Metis celebrated its 15th anniversary in May with a charity market fair in Moscow. Since its foundation in 1998, the charity has provided financial and social support to many Afro-Russian families living in Moscow.
    The Metis fund was established and is run by the wives of ambassadors of African countries in Russia and has been helping Afro-Russian families in need, organising charity events and workshops for children.
    "This is very important for us because these children usually have only mothers or grandmothers. And their African fathers have either left or died. So for us it is very important to help those children," Pana Sale Boutou, the wife of the Cameroon ambassador in Russia told Reuters.
    The fund is also helping children to cope with racial prejudice that still exist in Russian society towards ethnic minorities. It has established a special Counselling and Rehabilitation Centre for interracial community in Russia. The centre helps victims of race-related crime and racial discrimination.
    "We help those who are in need, especially children, who haven't asked for such a destiny, who haven't chosen their parents. We need to be able to help them whenever they need help. We call all the people and especially organisations who can help us to promote the charity to continue to help other people. We think that love is the most essential thing in life, the love we can give to others," said the wife of the ambassador of Cote d'Ivoire Tanoh-Boutchoue Salamata.
    There are around 4,000 Afro-Russian children the Moscow region, according to the fund website, many of whom live below the poverty line. In many cases fathers left for Africa abandoning their Russian families and not offering them any financial assistance.
    Some 350 Afro-Russian children have been registered with the Metis fund and have received financial and psychological support.
    Some, although they do not require support, feel their participation in the fund's activities is important to them.
    Yulia Nazarova's husband Patrick came to Russia from Democratic Republic of the Congo more than eight years ago. They live with their two daughters and a son in Moscow.
    The family spent the day at Metis charity event cheering their daughters, Polina and Liza as they performed on stage at the event.
    Nazarova said the her children's skin colour has never been a problem.
    "I think in Russia generally the attitudes towards children are not as they should be, sometimes you can see that. But I don't think it has got anything to do with them being mulattos. it is just that sometimes people say 'well, you gave birth to the kids', you hear that sometimes, but I don't think that's because they are mulattos," she said.
    "In the kindergarten, its is absolutely fine, they are treated in a very good way. But indeed, there is some curiosity and one gets tired of this curiosity. But in general, we have friends and acquaintances here, we go for walks together and spend time outside," she said.
    Metis, partially sponsored by the European Union as well as international humanitarian organizations, also provides legal advice and psychological support to adult members of mixed race families.
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