News

September 1, 2010
Moscow

The Citi Foundation and United Way Russia Announce Results of Future Starts Today Educational Program

216 teenagers from troubled families received educational and psychological assistance.

The educational program Future Starts Today, organized by United Way Russia with the support of the Citi Foundation, achieved positive results this academic year. The program provides children opportunities to access additional classes and support from teachers and psychologists in order to enter colleges and universities.

The classes took place at Taganka Children’s Fund and Kovcheg, two children’s centers in Moscow. In the past year, 216 children attended additional classes in computers and English, and received psychological consultation. These seminars boosted motivation, filled in their educational gaps, helped them to achieve better results at school and successfully pass final exams to enter colleges and universities.

One of the program’s successful examples is Ksenia, who attended classes at Kovcheg. She had psycological traumas as she lost her mother and spent a year in a special school for mental retardation. Her fear of studies remained till the 10th grade, only the additional classes taught by the patient and high professional teachers at Kovcheg helped the girl to overcome her emotional problems and eventually successfully enter Restoration College.

Tatiana Avramenko, manager of corporate social responsibility at Citi Russia, said: "The great results of this program demonstrate that children want to learn and are eager to achieve a better life, and they just need some help. We are pleased that this program has been very successful."

Tatiana Zadirako, director of United Way Russia, said: "We are glad to have such a program with Citi. Education plays a key role in modern life. And it’s even more important for children and teenagers from troubled families, as they don’t have access to good education but have great desire to enter colleges and universities. We provided these children a possibility to get better life. I think that the program achieved good results and hope that it will be continued next year."

The program budget was $100,000.

The Citi Foundation is committed to enhancing economic opportunities for underserved individuals and families in the communities where we work throughout the world. Globally, the Citi Foundation is focusing its giving on microfinance and micro entrepreneurship, which helps individuals become economically self-sufficient; small and growing businesses leading to economic expansion and job creation; education, which prepares young people for personal and professional success; financial education, which helps individuals make informed financial decisions; and the environment with a focus on sustainable enterprises that generate jobs and stimulate economic growth while preserving the environment. In the U.S. and Canada, the Citi Foundation supports community development programs that help build and revitalize neighborhoods and education programs that prepare students for college and careers. Additional information can be found at www.citigroupfoundation.org

United Way of Russia (Doroga Vmeste) is a Russian charitable fund that operates according to United Way international charity standards. From 1993-2008 United Way of Russia worked as a representative office of United Way International. In 2008 the representative organization was registered as Russian Philanthropy Fund. United Way of Russia raises donations from businesses and individuals. All the donations are allocated in Russia. United Way of Russia supports local charities that help orphans, at-risk children, pensioners, refugees, the elderly, the disabled, and the homeless. In 2008 the charitable fund raised $2.2 million from 54 companies and 56 private individuals. United Way of Russia funded 49 projects of 38 different charitable organizations in Moscow, Moscow Region, Tula Region and Nenets Autonomous Region. Additional information can be found at www.unitedway.ru.