June 29, 2007 — Orphans are one of Russia’s highest-risk groups, far more likely to become alcoholics or drug addicts, end up in prison, or even commitsuicide than to integrate into society. IFC's Moscow office has helped more than 200 members of this highly disadvantaged group beat the odds and gain all the tools needed to live productive, self-sufficient lives.
How?
By applying one of our core values: teamwork.
Orphans are a social tragedy in Russia, and one for which IFC has found a unique and effective response. It involves mobilizing the private sector in a community outreach program called “A Chance to Work,” which is based on the program at Headquarters that creates opportunities for Washington, D.C.’s homeless.
Moscow’s formula is a bit different. It involves taking a bet on promising young graduates from local orphanages, placing them in professional work environments for the first time while providing additional training and education, then seeing how they do when given the opportunity.
Approximately 30 private companies take part in the Moscow program and provide paid internships that help the young adult orphans gain the skills needed to obtain their first real job—and prospects of a better life. It works. Amost all participants have either moved on to permanent jobs or are in college continuing their education.
“This is a program that builds IFC’s image in our community as a socially responsible organization, and also helps people see that our clients and business partners are socially responsible as well,” says CEU Director Jerome Sooklal. “Like IFC’s other activities, it takes a private sector approach to meeting the World Bank Group’s core mission of reducing poverty, with results that are quite tangible and can be measured. It has a very visible influence in improving the quality of life for its chosen target group.”
Managed by the Moscow office with funding from CEU and two Russian clients, the community outreach program recently received approval for an $180,000 FMTAAS grant to continue for the next three years. Russian steel company Evraz has provided additional funding to expand the program to a city in the Urals region.
The project is based on teamwork. It is seen at several levels:
Teamwork between Headquarters and Field Offices—successfully replicating the Legal Department’s ongoing “A Chance to Work” program that has trained more than 100 formerly homeless and other disadvantaged people in Washington, D.C. and helped them find permanent work over the last 11 years.
Teamwork between IFC and the Russian Business Community—in the process, helping spread a sense of corporate social responsibility in Russia.
Teamwork between IFC and NGOs—including the Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund (ROOF) and others that provide intern candidates for the program, then offer them free education and training.
Once IFC accepts them into the program, the orphans (typically aged 18-27) begin paid internships at well-known companies such as Deloitte and Touche, Xerox, Vneshtorgbank, and others, while also taking courses to gain skills in computer use, English, and other practical needs. Most excel in their internships and then obtain permanent positions. But without IFC’s support, their opportunities would be bleak— quite possibly leading to lives of despair, crime, or even worse.
“A Chance to Work is the only chance for me to become a part of a large and friendly team,” says orphanage graduate Katya Evgrafova, who just joined IFC in Moscow as an office assistant. “It’s very important, when people around you respect you for who you are. For some time I was looking for an interesting and challenging job place, but due to certain circumstances I wasn’t successful. The program has helped me to overcome the difficulties and find what I was looking for. Now I can see the perspectives in my future and my life has gained an importance.”
For more information on the Moscow program, contact Kseniya Britikova at kbritikova@ifc.org.
For more information on IFC’s global community outreach activities, see the IFC Footprint Program.
Contributed by Mekhty Alizadeh and Rob Wright 
