The Project "Open a New World"

On June the 13th the opening of the project "Open a New World" took a place in Tomsk. The American Alumni Association organized the project. This project was supported by the "Internet Access and Training Program", which is implemented by the American non-profit organization "Project Harmony" and supported by the Department of Social Security of Tomsk Region.

37 disabled children from Molchanovo, Asino, Ziryanka, Pervomaika, Kargasok, Bakchar, Krivosheino (in general they represent 8 districts of Tomsk Region) came to Tomsk. While children were studying here they also participated in a complex program of cultural events. They worked with a psychologist and took some medical treatment.

A number of Tomsk for-profit firms gave gifts to the children and helped to organize snack breaks for them. We very much appreciate our sponsors: Mityukevich S. I. (OOO TWC), Holin V. A. (OOO Tomskmoloko), Demur V. I. (OOO "Hladokombinat"), Antonov V. N. (OAO "Antonov dvor"), Trofimov S. I. (OOO "Bumis"), Milnikov S. P. (Fond Gumanitarnoi pomoshi) and Sherbakova V. N. (TYZ) for their help. Tomsk Regional Center of the Federation of Internet Education became interested of our initiative and suggested that we should work as partners together.

Classes were taken in the Tomsk Regional Information Center of the Social Security Department of the Tomsk Regional Administration and in the well-equipped offices of the Tomsk Regional Center of the Federation of Internet Education.

Children received training in working with the Internet and e-mail, communicated in chats, and visited a lot of sites in Tomsk and Russia. And most importantly, they opened a new world for themselves and found new friends. "It's a pity that the lessons are over…",- they repeated again and again.

We would like to honor some children as very studious pupils. There are Roman Vishnyakov (from Asino), Denis Zverev and Alexander Titaev (Bakchar), Lyubov Gluhova (from the Pervomaiski District), Olga Lipovka (from the Tomski District), Eugenie Eranakov (from the Krivosheinski District), Alexey Rudyuk (from the Pervomaiski District), Mikhail Portnov (from the Chainski District), Nikolay Vasilevski (Tomsk).

Of course, it was difficult for some children to learn computer science. They came from the secluded districts of the Region, so many of them saw a computer for the first time and of course they have not worked on a computer before. But children usually are very curious and smart and it helped them to overcome difficulties, and those who were really interested in the subject could understand it.

We consider that the seminar was very successful. The children not only studied with an interesting program but also had a very good cultural program. They attended a lot of recreational events, saw a theatre performance at the Theatre for Young Audiences (Teatr Ynogo Zritelya), went for a tour of the city, visited the Tomsk Polytechnic and the Tomsk State Universities.

After the last lesson all participants received certificates of successful completion. They also took home group photos as souvenirs as well as watercolors, copybooks and pens as gifts from sponsors.

On the 16th of July the project "Open a New World" for disabled children was completed. We hope that all the knowledge, which was gained by the children, will do them good. We are sure that it will help them to get self-realization and, may be it will influence their choice of their future profession.

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