TakingITGlobal: Inspira, informeaza, implica

Voluntary charitable social assistance to the elderly and ill people who suffered in the years of political repression; youth’s education and up-bringing in the ideas of non-violence, peace making, respect to human rights, ideals of democracy and humanism.

Since 1995, summer youth voluntary camps were held annually on the site of the GULAG museum “Perm-36”. During that period about 750 Russian and foreign (mostly from Germany) young people – pupils and students of Universities and colleges took part in those camps. Volunteers work in the...
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Since 1995, summer youth voluntary camps were held annually on the site of the GULAG museum “Perm-36”. During that period about 750 Russian and foreign (mostly from Germany) young people – pupils and students of Universities and colleges took part in those camps. Volunteers work in the buildings and structures of the Memorial museum, take part in seminars and discussions on human rights problems, listen to the lectures on the history of political repression in the former USSR.
At the end of 1996 there appeared voluntary groups of social assistance to old and ill people who have suffered from political repression. At present more than 50 pupils and students do this hard job.

The foundation of School of human rights in the 1998 – 1999 academic year was also an important step for us. With the support of the Eurasia Foundation a course of human rights was incorporated into three schools and Perm State Pedagogical University. In the 1999 – 2000, 2000 – 2001 and in the 2001 – 2002 academic years the project School of human rights was financed by National Endowment for Democracy (USA). At present human rights course is conducted in more than 50 comprehensive schools of the region. Our aim is to strive for incorporation of this course into educational curriculum of Perm region.

Since October 1999 Center for the Support of Democratic Youth Initiatives have been carrying out the public campaign aimed at giving to young men the right to alternative civil service (ACS). In October 1999 Center for the Support of Democratic Youth Initiatives started an experiment on working out of the model of alternative civil service. By now we have defended the rights of 35 young men to ACS. The experiment still continues, at present 10 more young people work in various social and medical institutions.

Since October 2001 we have been realizing the project of creation of the travelling exhibitions on the history of political repression in the USSR. The project is supported by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation. In June we prepared the first exhibition titled “The fifth column” devoted to the repression based on nationality. Using visual aids this exhibition demonstrates evident discrepancy between the mesmerizing social slogans and the real practice of genocide based on nationality. In November the new exhibition “Children in the totalitarian society” was created.
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