"This is just the kind of sacrifice that we need now: quite and happy work for somebody else's benefit. And it is very important to do this work willingly." Father George Chistyakov

Help Group

The Alexander Men Help Group was one of the first volunteer groups in our country. It was founded by several persons who came to the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital together with Father Alexander Men at the end of the 1980s. Presently the group unites more than 50 volunteers, who regularly work in almost all hospital departments, primarily in those where children with the most grave diseases receive their treatment. After preliminary interviews and selection, sometimes after psychological testing as well, all volunteers sign the rules of the group and fill in a special form.

Volunteers help in solution of everyday problems that patients and their parents encounter during and after treatment. They also provide moral support. On the basis of information that is received from volunteers, the leaders of the group can address sponsors, lawyers or psychologists for additional help.

The Help Group pays special attention to children from orphanages who are admitted to the hospital. Since the start of the You Are Not Alone program, a permanent team of volunteers working with orphans has been organized.

And one of the main tasks that volunteers must fulfill is organization of the children's free time. Art therapy, computer and foreign language classes, singing and music not only distract the children from sad thoughts about their illnesses and amuse them amidst the dull hospital life but also enable hundreds of little patients to discover and develop their creative talents.