Vadim Zaitsev -14 years old. In the spring of 2007 the Committee on Labor and Social Protection of the population of Saint Petersburg asked the “Hope” commune to take care of Vadik. Vadik's father - a priest from the Ukraine, separated from his wife several years ago and lives at present in Russia . He has, for several years, attempted to obtain the necessary documents for a visa for living and working in Russia .He and his wife had 6 children together. Three of these now live in Russia. Two are minors and live in the “Hope” commune. Vadik became an invalid in childhood after he lost an eye because of a prank with an air gun. He needs treatment and support.  He attends the 8th grade and his dream is to become a vetinary surgeon. He spent this last summer in the “Hope” commune in Karelia, rearing suckling-pigs.

Thanks to Carey Schultz for sponsoring Vadim Zaitsev.

Andrey Zaitsev -16 years old. In the spring of 2007 the Committee on Labor and Social Protection of the population of Saint Petersburg asked the “Hope” commune to take care of Andrey, after he had committed a robbery. The “Hope” commune was charged by the court to apply correctional discipline. Andrey's father - a priest from the Ukraine, separated from his wife several years ago and lives at present in Russia . He has, for several years, attempted to obtain the necessary documents for a visa for living and working in Russia . He and his wife had 6 children together. Three of these now live in Russia. Two are minors and live in the “Hope” commune. Andrey is trying very hard to show his appreciation for the trust put in him by the “Hope” commune, and is working like a beaver and thus contributing to the economy of the commune. He feeds the animals, milks the cows by hand and looks after the calves. He dreams of getting a drivers licence and running a farm.

Thanks to Michael Paulick for sponsoring Andrey Zaitsev.

Vladimir Mezko Was born on February, 23, 1993 . He is from a large family. There are 4 boys in all, the youngest is 2.5 years old. Their mother is constantly occupied with their younger brother. Their family is needy. Vladimir is a difficult child. He has poor study habits and needs the support of an adult at all times. He's been in the commune since last year. He attends school at the commune and actively participates in creative affairs and holidays. He willingly helps the younger boys. He also attends classes in Martial Arts.

Thanks to for Alfredo Carrion sponsoring Vladimir Mezko.

Dmitri Shpigel is 13 years old. He joined the commune in the end of May, 2004. Dima spent over 6 months on the streets. He ran away from home not being able to bear difficult family relationship. Mother died when Dima was 7 years old. His Father treated him very cruelly particularly when he was drunk. Currently Dima lives in his Father's new family where a new baby was born. Dima and his step-mother do not get along very well. Three elder Dima's brothers had also left their family at different times. The youngest of his brothers has joined the army. Dima is an open-hearted and hard-working child and needs family education and support.

Thanks to Sam Lippitt for sponsoring Dmitri Shpigel.

Vadim Sorokin came to the Family commune "Hope" from the St.-Petersburg center for social help for families and children - on June 13th, 2007. A quiet, composed, but very serious boy. Too serious, very concentrated - an intense child of 14 years, unable to smile. We had a long, deep contact with Vadim. By the end of the summer Vadim began to feel at home and started to smile. He had realised that there existed the prospect of a better life and this had somehow relaxed him and appeared to have settled him to a certain extent. Our knowledge of Vadim's history had begun to explain many of the reasons for his problems.

In 1994 Vadim's parents divorced and his father gave the deeds of the apartment to Vadim and his mother. Vadim lived with mother until he was 1 year old. Vadim's mother then appeared with a new man and in 1997 these two sold the apartment, without the consent of Vadim and his father, and also sold the apartment which was left to Vadim's father after the death of Vadim's grandmother. In the same year the couple and Vadim moved to an apartment in the Chelyabinsk area. There, in village of Anninskoe, Vadim studied to the 5th grade.

In 2001 they sold this apartment and afterwards the three of them move to Saint Petersburg, lodging in the apartment of the man's mother, and shortly afterwards Vadim's mother's stepbrother appears. At the same time, Vadim's father, having left his second wife decides to start a new family with his third wife. This, however, ended unsuccessfully when he was sentenced to three years in prison for the murder of his second wife. The "Detective" history of Vadim has not yet ended.

In November 2007 Vadim's mother falls out from a 9th floor window in an apartment owned by the mother of her man. Under these obscure circumstances Vadim's mother dies. A short time later there is a fire in the apartment and both the man's mother and his child die. Vadim's father has started a new family, his third, and is expecting a new child. Unfortunately for Vadim, he was unnecessary and a hindrance to his father, who will have nothing more to do with him.

Surprisingly this young man did not lose presence of mind in this situation, but returned to the 5th. grade, determined to succeed. He wants to be learn to operate a tractor, to remain, live and work in a commune. Today he looks after pigs and sucking-pigs. However, Vadim still, very much, requires our support. Vadim's school has explained that Vadim needs individual training. Such training is not included in the school's budget and the monthly rate for such training is 5000 roubles ($200), which the commune cannot afford at the present time.

***Support for Vadim is a vital and very important project for both him and us.***

(We are looking for 4 sponsors to give $50 a month to help with the cost of Vadim's tutoring and phsychological therapy)

Thanks to Michael McNeely, Richard & Rebecca Soverns and John Benson...

Maxim Mezko was born on July 16, 1997. He is from a large family. There are 4 boys in all, the youngest is 2.5 years old. Maxim is cheerful and sociable but very sensitive. The boy reads badly, he requires a lot of attention. In the commune he attends school and occupies himself with art.

Thanks to Olga Faden for sponsoring Maxim Mezko.