Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
1. What does it mean to be a mentor/pen pal?
2. How often should I send gifts to the child?
3. What kind of gifts do people usually send and what do the children need?
4. Can I send used clothes?
5. How do I send my gifts from US? What are the shipping fees and time of delivery?
6. What happens to children after they reach 7 years of age? Could I continue to be a mentor/pen pal?
7. Please tell me how often I can expect a reply from my child?
8. Do you have any rules about what is allowed or prohibited to write in a letter?
- What does it mean to be a mentor/pen pal?
- If you decide to become a pen pal/mentor for an orphan, please remember that the child will need your time, attention, your love and friendship. The child will need your care and kindness. This means that you will have to send him or her AT LEAST one letter/email per month. Some of the children are too young and cannot read or write. In that case the care worker will help them read your letter and write an answer. It would be absolutely wonderful if you could send your young friend some toys, candies, or something special just from you and specifically for him or her. We try to make the holidays as memorable as possible for our children and the biggest two are Birthdays and New Years. We always try to ensure that during these festivities every child gets a gift they will cherish. We would appreciate if you could send your pen pal a gift. Please remember that the main goal is to give the children a chance to feel love; and the personal attention of an adult that is aimed just at them.
- How often should I send gifts to the child?
- How often you should send gifts depends on the age of the child. For small children who cannot yet read, a letter, although very important, may not be as precious to the child as a toy or book, because they cannot read your letter again and again like older children. A little gift is a symbol of love and care for them, they can touch it, play with it, sleep with it...To friends of older children we recommend not to send presents with every letter because your relationship should not develop a consuming attitude with the child. Something small every 2-3 months would be enough. The goal is not to give the child everything that he or she asks for or whatever you can afford, but to teach the child that somebody outside the orphanage cares for them and that relationship is not just about gifts.
- What kind of gifts do people usually send and what do the children need?
- The answer depends on the age of the child. In general, the younger children will be thrilled to receive any sort of toys and books. If you want to send something more practical, e.g. new underwear, clothes or footwear, these things will always be gladly received.
Preteens and teens: they have their own taste and preferences. Very often you will find that they have very specific wishes. However, we don’t recommend asking them about their specific wishes in your first few letters/emails. First let the friendship develop and get to know "your" child. Just remember that your role here is as a mentor and de-facto parent, not as a monetary sponsor. Some children ask for expensive presents like mobile phones, but they do not understand that they will not be able to pay the phone bill. Still, some general ideas include nice clothes and footwear, make-up, toiletries and the like...You may also ask the child to send you some small gifts, like a drawing, or a hand-made scarf or socks if "your" child can knit, just provide him or her with some yarn and ask for a gift :) The children should learn that relationships are about "giving and taking" not only "taking".
- Can I send used clothes?
-In general orphanages accept used clothes and footwear; however they should be in a very good condition. You have to keep in mind that the children (especially the older ones) like modern clothes and want to look nice. Also we do not recommend sending clothes that demand special or dry cleaning, as orphanages do not have access to such facilities.
- How do I send my gifts from US? What are the shipping fees and time of delivery?
You can calculate the price of the postage right from your computer by clicking on the following link: here
On average the estimated delivery time to Russia is as follows:
1) Economy (Surface) Parcel Post - 1.5 – 2 months
2) Airmail Parcel Post – 1 – 1.5 months
3) Global Express Mail (with a tracking number) – 2 – 3 weeks
- What happens to children after they reach 7 years of age? Could I continue to be a mentor/pen pal?
- There are different kinds of orphanages in Russia. Some of them are only for kids aged 3 to 7. Others are for mixed age. If "your" child is from an orphanage for children 3-7, it mean that after he/she turns 7 he/she will be transferred to another orphanage for schooling. In that case we cannot promise or guarantee that you can continue to correspond with him/her. In fact only the administration of that orphanage can decide whether or not they allow correspondence. But we will try to do everything we can to make it possible.
- Please tell me how often I can expect a reply from "my" child?
- How often "your" child will write to you depends on the child. Some of them like to write letters and therefore answer swiftly and often. Other children will need time to think about a response, and it will take a bit longer for you to receive an answer. If you do not receive a response from the child for a very long time (more than a couple of months) please contact us and we will try to find out why the child is not writing.
- Do you have any suggestions or recommendations about what to write in a letter?
- We do have some recommendations from past experience. Please don’t promise the child that you will adopt him or her or come and visit, if you are not absolutely sure that you will. Also, don’t ask the children about their parents and the reasons why they live in an orphanage. These kinds of questions could hurt them. In the beginning you could tell them about yourself and your family, about your country and city, about holidays and traditions, about your pets, etc. Please ask "your" child questions. You could ask about his/her birthday, hobbies, school and future plans. You could discuss music, movies, sport, art, etc. Soon you will know "your" child well enough and hopefully have no problem to keep a conversation flowing.
