Alexey Ananenko: there are many people striving to make life better!

For ten years I have been working in the organization "World without Borders", for 15 years I have been participating in its activities. And I decided to write this "anniversary" text.
My acquaintance with « World without Borders» happened thanks to Vasili Zhukovsky, the head of Petrikov  institution of the closed type at that time. And it was just Vasilii , a person who, in the mid-90s, supported my initiatives in humanizing assistance to adolescents who came into contact with the law.
And my acquaintance resulted in the fact that after a little time I became part of the team of this organization and subsequently headed it. Since then, every year at this time, I remember with joy this day - the beginning of this interesting, productive path, when, in order to realize our desires to help children in difficult life situations, we, together with like-minded people, colleagues, partners, were looking for unusual, but productive ways, we were  trying to implement them and were looking for something new. Over the years, there has been a recognition of the organization and trust in it in the society. We have created such things by which we are recognized, which bring joy to children and which develop their abilities(Festival of creativity of children of the house- boarding institutions for children and young people with disabilities "Dreams come true", Republican sports contest for the same children, a unique inclusive creative action "Great art by the hands of small people" , creative action of KVN "Autumn Marathon", etc.). We helped to introduce a series of innovations that created new opportunities for our children, removed some of their boundaries that were set before them by fate (accompanied  living for children with disabilities , restoration of legal capacity and return to life in the society of young people with disabilities, a model of social adaptation of children in residential institutions, case management and a system of structured assessment of risks and opportunities, the introduction of alternative and additional communication for non-speech children in social service institutions and many others).
We tried to be kinder, more open, to charge others with our optimism - and all this we did  in order to make all those who live in "our" world open and accessible to those guys, helping whom we placed them in another world, a world beyond borders and fences, a world with limitations, and this despite the obstacles that nature had already created for them or it was their behavior and just their life circumstances.
Did we succeed? - Did it!.
Did we reach our goal? - No!
Will we ever get there? - No! After all, you can not reach the horizon. Because as we approach what we see, new horizons and perspectives open up!
Then why are we working? - To make life better and move forward, rejoice and give such opportunities to our children!
Is it difficult to be a part of “ World Without Borders”  team? - Yes! We are all human. And there are lots of people around us. And all people have their own opinions and their own characteristics. Some people wonder why other people want to help others. And for what gingerbread they do something for others.
It is especially difficult when you want to do something unusual and very good!
Especially if you understand that time is passing and the childhood of our children is passing and so is life. And for some of them it is initially less than for many others. And for some the life is full of betrayal and dislike.
Especially when you realize how few we are.( WWB)
Especially when you realize how many of us are those  who want to make life better!
My career has developed quite beautifully: scientific activity, consulting activity in demand in the market, a lot of publications, directorship, work in the national government ... And “ World without borders”! And it was a personal and conscious choice! And I don't regret it at all! Although, probably, somewhere in the depths of my soul I regret that I could do something more in this organization, give more strength to specific children and be useful to them.
But we have everything ahead!
Now life has put us in front of new challenges! And these are very serious problems, which, among other things, raise the question of the existence of the organization itself. But I sincerely hope that both me and my colleagues, like-minded people, will have enough strength, wisdom, skills to overcome them and reach a new level!
And of course, as always, we will be glad to see your new ideas, actions, donations that will help and make life of children a little better!