Drawings by children in Lukoyanov, Russia, on display at the Cosmo House (Fall 2006).
“F rom November 2006 to March 2007 the Cosmopolitan Club held an exhibit of children’s art from Lukoyanov. About 40 of the works done by the children were purchased—drawings, Easter eggs, matryoshkas. Thanks to that, the Children’s School of the Arts received 6,184 rubles ($250). This money has not yet been spent. We are saving it to buy an up-to-date computer, on which students can learn graphic design. The Children’s School of the Arts thanks and wishes the Cosmo Club prosperity and fruitful activity and excellent results in your difficult but necessary charitable work.”
Alexander Parkhomenko presents a microwave oven to the technology teacher at the Ul’ianovo school, for lessons in “technology.” This is a convection oven—the only one in the city. In technology classes, students learn to work with their hands. Girls learn to sew, knit, and cook. Boys learn to work with tools—woodworking, metals, etc.
“Ul’ianovo is a village near Lukoyanov, and for village residents, most of whom are farmers, it is important that the girls learn to help at home. In this case, the school gained a unique opportunity to teach girls to cook, to bake pies, cookies, etc. Previously, these lessons were all theoretical, since the school had no oven. Now at school they can actually practice what they learn, thanks to the Cosmopolitan Club. When you walk down the hall of the school while technology class is in session, the aroma is amazing!”
From the teachers and administrators of the Ul’ianovo school: “Please accept our words of gratitude, thankfulness and respect. We wish all participants in the Cosmopolitan Club health, kindness, joy, happiness, and enlightenment.”
Lena Parkhomenko (Alexander’s wife, a school psychologist) presents a set of developmental toys to a teacher at Preschool No. 1. These are some of the newest toys in Russia for developing children’s concentration, memory, reasoning, logic, speech, reading, counting, drawing, etc.
According to the director of Preschool No. 1, “Your gifts of developmental toys, sports equipment, and puppets help us to make the educational process clearer, more worthwhile, and more interesting to the children.”
The youngest children put together a puzzle “mosaic.” The puzzle is one of the developmental toys presented to Preschool No. 1
Musical instruments purchased by the Cosmo Club and presented to Preschool No. 3. The school’s folk orchestra rehearses a new song.
To the gift of musical instruments, the director of Preschool No. 3 responded, “We wish you (the Cosmo Club) health and prosperity, peace and tranquility, kindness and good fortune!”
A fashion show demonstrating the latest collection of the students at the Children’s Center for the Arts. Center teachers work with students from Lukoyanov schools in clothing design. Thanks to the Cosmo Club, the students were able to buy fabric to actually make the clothing they had designed.
“School No. 2 and the Ul’ianovo school together have a ‘fashion theater.’ Under the leadership of experienced clothing designers, the children design their own collections and model them at various events. The children have many ideas and many creative patterns result. With the donation from the Club we bought fabric for them to actually make the clothing they designed. The children themselves made the patterns, and each sewed their own design. This collection will participate in a regional competition. All of the children from the ‘Vireneya’ studio are very grateful for your support of young talent.”
Children at the School of the Arts drawing with markers on the new dry erase board. The children like drawing on the board so much that they stand in line. Work on this board is exciting for both the children and their teachers. They can make really narrow lines, and they erase easily. Amazing!
According to Alexander Parkhomenko, “The biggest and most significant needs were classroom boards. According to teachers, ‘You couldn’t look at the old ones without tears. Forty-year-old linoleum was nailed to the wall and surrounded by a frame. Some pieces had ripped and were taped back on.’ This is what classrooms looked like before Cosmopolitan Club’s gift. In the summer, when three schools received the boards and put them up, the teachers’ excitement was unbounded. The director of the school specifically asked us to thank the club for this wonderful gift. And when the children came to school on Sept. 1, they got to see the usefulness of the new boards. It is really convenient to write and erase with markers, without any effort. What is written on the boards is easy to see even from the back of the room. Children don’t have to stress their eyes to read it. They were the first boards of this kind in Lukoyanov. Since then, a few more have appeared (Your gift served as an example for others.) Now teachers know what kinds of boards are available and try to order them.”
Second graders in School No. 1 standing in front of their new board. This is the latest kind of chalkboard. You can write on it with chalk or markers or hang pictures on it with magnets. The teacher who used this board is very appreciative. Every time Parkhomenko sees the teacher, she tells him how grateful she is to the Cosmopolitan Club. On the board is written (in Russian), “Thank you, Cosmopolitan Club!”
Fourth graders at the elementary school in front of their new chalk/dry erase board.
