Chapter 17 - Community LifeParticipation in community actitivites is very important for most expatriates in Moscow, allowing them to meet other expats and helpful locals. Get involved as soon as you can, don't hide at the office or at home - go out, meet other people, join an expat group and make new friends! This chapter will provide you with some ideas on the various community activities that are available to you. We also invite you to subscribe to the free Fun Stuff newsletter if you want to be kept informed of various activities in Moscow.First, we provide a short history of the Russian Orthodox Church. This is followed by a list of religious organizations (churches, mosques, synagogues, etc.) that operate in Moscow and that are frequented by expatriates. Join a choir, one of Moscow's many international women's clubs and groups, or another social group! The women's clubs in particular were founded to provide a support network for accompanying female spouses and partners, and some now also extend membership to men. These clubs hold regular coffee mornings and also offer a variety of interest groups ranging from neighborhood walks to art lessons, language classes and cooking demonstrations. Most clubs also participate in charitable activites, information on which can be found in the book's next section on volunteering opportunities. Your time, skills, and talent are wanted! Moscow is home to a large number of charitable organizations which are always happy to welcome volunteers. Through volunteering, you will meet interesting people and make new friends from around the world and from all walks of life. Remember that volunteering is not only for women – men and children can also get involved. Whatever your interest and skills, they will be applied in a useful and meaningful way! Help is needed in such diverses areas as helping out at baby houses or orphanages; street children and homeless people; the elderly; soup kitchens; homeless animals; administration, accounting or bookkeeping; fundraising; editing and translating brochures and leaflets; preserving nature and saving endangered animals; teaching art, languages, life skills or basic medical education; and visiting children and adults in hospitals or hospices. If you have time to spare and would like to spend it doing something meaningful, do get involved – you most certainly won’t regret it! Charities featured in the book include AMUR, Action for Russia's Children (ARC), Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Russia, the Children’s Hospital Fund (at Speransky Children’s Hospital No.9), Diema's Dream, Downside Up, the First Moscow Hospice / Hospice Charity Fund Vera, Greenpeace, Guide Dogs, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the International Women’s Club (IWC) Charities Group, Kidsave International, Kitezh, Maria's Children, METIS, MiraMed, Moscow Animals, the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy (MPC) , Nastenka Foundation (this is the charity that is supported by the AWO), the Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund (ROOF), Taganka Children’s Fund (TCF), the Therapeutic Riding Society, United Way Russia, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The chapter concludes with a new section called Annual Festivals and Celebrations in Moscow, listed by season, some of which we hope you will find interesting and will want to attend. |
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