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Pyatyorka Orphanage renovation
Project description
In 2001, the needs of Pyatyorka Orphanage, located in the Lenin District of Yaroslavl, became the impetus for the foundation of Friends of Russian Orphans. Pyatyorka is on a small piece of land and consists of two large structures and a small outbuilding. One of the large buildings was structurally sound but had been condemned as uninhabitable; the other large building was in danger of also being condemned.
FRO's effort in Pyatyorka consists of two major phases: renovating the condemned building and refurbishing the main building.
Phase 1: Renovate Building #1: The condemned building, built in 1954, is structurally sound, but it had glaring weaknesses in all other aspects of its construction when this project first began. All walls and floors needed repair and finish work. Major sections of the roof were diagnosed as weak and in need of repair. All electrical, plumbing and heating systems needed additional work or replacement. Every window in the building, if not bricked or boarded up, was old, drafty and unsafe. There were no kitchen or medical facilities in the structure at all.
We made plans to renovate the building to provide double bedrooms, as well as decent living, dining and recreational facilities and some workshop-classroom space.
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Phase 2: Refurbish Building #2: After Building #1 was renovated, Building #2 was to be upgraded and reconfigured. At the end of this phase, it was expected that this building would house additional workshop-classrooms, an upgraded infirmary and intake facilities for children who are new to the orphanage system.
The new workshop-classrooms will offer many programs not currently available to the children, such as computing, sewing, carpentry, hairdressing, physical fitness and so on. In addition, a small kitchen will be established to provide opportunity for older children to learn the skills not only of baking bread, but also of marketing, accounting and managing a small business. Similar programs have been quite successful in a small number of Russian orphanages, equipping young people with job skills useful to them when they must leave the orphanage at age 18.
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Rationale
Simply put, without adequate facilities, Pyatyorka may have been forced to cease operations, putting over 40 children at risk. The renovation of the structures gave the orphanage the opportunity not only to provide its charges with safe and healthy living conditions, but also an environment in which the children can have sufficient privacy and a chance to meet their potential.
Project cost
In 2002, Friends of Russian Orphans reached an agreement with Yaroslavl's Department of Education in which the city would cover 55% of the costs to renovate the Building #1 and FRO would cover the remaining 45% (Phase 1). FRO's commitment was $56,000 for this vital phase of the project.
Also, FRO committed to fund the implementation of vocational facilities and programs within Building #2 (Phase 2) at the additional cost of $16,000.
Project status
In December, 2004, the children happily moved into their new quarters in the newly renovated Building #1!
 
Phase 1 work was in progress at Pyatyorka for over two years. The various construction and renovation accomplishments included the following:
- Both floors (new rooms, walls, flooring) were completely redone;
- Most sections of the roof were replaced;
- The Stalin-era mechanical systems (hot and cold water, sewage, ventilation and electric) were exchanged for new and effective components;
- Modern, high-quality insulated window units were installed throughout the building.
 
The task of furnishing and equipping Building #1 is ongoing, but the orphanage staff has already secured help from private sources: new beds, linens, furnishings and equipment for a large computer classroom, lights, toilets and sinks. In addition, a company in Luxembourg has made a generous donation of equipment for the new building's computer center.
 
In the past, all boys lived in one room and all girls in another in the cramped Building #2; now they all have their own double bedrooms in Building #1.
 
Phase 2, the refurbishment of Building #2, is now also complete. A new kitchen, infirmary and workshop rooms are a few of the many highlights of the work done in this structure.
 
In any country, financing and making capital repairs on a building are complex matters that require patience, trustworthy expert guidance, detailed contracts and governmental oversight and support. Our approach at Friends of Russian Orphans was conservative and painstakingly methodical, honoring our primary obligation to our donors to ensure that the funds we gathered for this project were actually used in the orphanage itself.
 
This kind of work takes time -- especially in Russia, where the bureaucracy is still adjusting from the collapse of the Soviet Union over a decade ago. We established a sound organizational and financial infrastructure in Yaroslavl, and we've earned local recognition and respect for our mission and our uncompromising style of doing business. We carefully leveraged our payments for this project to ensure that all parties meet their contractual obligations.
We were also committed to making this project -- and all our facilities projects -- reflect only the highest standard of quality. To support this note, we retained a technical adviser to continually review the quality of the work that was done at the orphanage. Our inspector's reports, as well as our own personal reviews of the site, ensured the renovation work continued to meet our high standards. At one point during the project, we hired a large, highly respected contracting firm to take the place of the original contractor, whose work was slow and often had to be redone to conform to our requirements.
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