We had time to stop at the hotel, drop off our luggage and make our 11.00am meeting at Dom Rubonka. Dom Rubonka (house of children) is called the ‘little stork .‘ This orphanage houses children age 0-3. There are currently 118 children living at the orphanage. In the past several years the Russian government has placed a high priority on moving children out of the orphanage and into foster care situations. The government pays 8000 Rubles/month ($266) n the surface this seems like a very good idea but they do not have the internal controls to monitor it. This is considered a lot of money a Doctor earns on average in Ulan Ude   12,000 Rubles/month ( $440.) The current system allows for 5 foster children per home and is being abused in multiple ways… Dom Robunka divides the children into groups of 12 depending on age. Dr Nina and Natalia gave us a tour of the facility. We started with the special needs room. The children suffer from primarily mentally debilitating conditions. There are two children living with the group whom the staff believes do not have significant mental deficiencies but rather only physical disabilities.

Sergia and Natasha are the two beautiful angels. Diagnosed with “Deficiencies”

 

The children are all exposed to a lot of early intervention type stimulation to determine if “potential” exists. It is at this young stage that the first separation of the children occurs. 

Few of these special needs children will be allowed to continue on to the regular orphanage system while the majority will be sent to Byangol where it is little less than a death sentence.