We are used to blaming the problems of young people on school, television, computers…but the foundation is put in in the family.
And if children grow in an atmosphere of love, understanding and joy, they, in turn, will build their families based on the same principles.
And if that’s not the way to maintain the unity of our country, what is?’
Editor’s Note:
Right now, the question and support of the family unit is an incredibly important ethical and political question in Russia, discussed consistently at the government level. On this question, the Church and the government’s goals coincide: the government needs a population increase whereas the church wants the Christian family to raise Russians morally and spiritually. As 2018 approaches, there is a huge amount of news on this question, naturally ignored by the Western media in its anti-Russian hype. We want to keep abreast you of what’s going on. Let us know whether this topic interests you in the comments!
In a world where culture and morality are steadily being erased in favour of a formless global ‘good,’ preserving a cultural, historical and moral identity becomes harder and harder.
What can stand against such odds?
In Russia, the answer has increasingly become a resounding, one-word, considered old-fashioned and useless, by most modern standards, answer: ‘Family.’
Both nationally and regionally, recent Russian policy has been stressing increased supports for creating strong, moral, healthy family units. This project goes hand in hand with the growing anti-abortion movement and improving child support policies.
Putin has recently expressed support for additional family supports, especially for large families (watch for updates on these supports later this week).
Family supports has become such a staple topic of discussion, that the official Russian news website has a page dedicated to family news.
Aside from large-scale national projects, however, independent, regional pro-family organizations are also flourishing all over the country.
The topic “Family in Multinational Russia’ (Modern Russia contains over 190 ethnic nationalities) will be the primary focus of discussion in the upcoming IX International Festival of Family Dynasties called ‘Faith. Hope. Love” held this month in the city of Suzdal.
‘If there is no family, everything will fall apart. That’s why it's necessary to show what a true family is capable of. And the Family is capable of so much,’ says the organizer of the forum, Irina Bogacheva, head of the fund ‘Rebirth and Hope.’
Some other things that this organization has done:
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‘Just in the past year, in our festivals and social projects, over 6700 children and parents participated. They all leave empowered, with a belief in their own strength.’
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In all of Russia, with no outside financial support, the participants of this festival opened 63 family clubs in the country.
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Under this project, moms in Nizhniy Novgorod region organized three parent clubs, uniting over 250 families.
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And that includes 461 adopted children, who are now being raised in these families, not in Orphanages]
- Parents, bring up ‘sunny children’ gather together, and together develop children’s artistic talents
- Others invite to their village homes children with behavioural difficulties and teach them to care for animals and play on folk instruments.
The president of the festival Boris Grachevsky mentioned, that while the country has many funds that aid ill children and adults, there are still too few that support families that want to develop and create.
‘Often, the basic attention can charge families with such energy, that it’s enough for them for the rest of their lives. The effect of this support should not be underestimated.
We are used to blaming the problems of young people on school, television, computers…but the foundation is put in in the family.
And if children grow in an atmosphere of love, understanding and joy, they, in turn, will build their families based on the same principles.
And if that’s not the way to maintain the unity of our country, what is?’
Boris Grachevsky also talked about his new documentary project called ‘Children Writing to God.’ The filming crew plans to go round the whole country and talk with children of different faiths about faith and God. According to him, nobody seriously spoke to the children about spirituality before.
The Moscow City Duma deputy Larisa Kartavtseva reminded that in addition to the festival in Suzdal, a business forum will be held where politicians, Church representatives and businessmen will discuss the problems that parents face every day.
Considering that from the year 2018 the 'Decade of Childhood' starts, one can not doubt that many of the announced proposals will be implemented.