Russian Ball 2018 cheque presentation;
Following the 7th Russian Ball held in January at the Cercle Cité in Luxembourg-ville, the Russian Club of Luxembourg presented a cheque for €23,000 to SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde; this money will again be donated this year to the Pskov Family Support Centre in Russia.
The presentation ceremony was held at the Russian Embassy in the presence of HE Victor Sorokin and Deputy Prime Minister Etienne Schneider. Placed under their high patronage as well as that of the Mayor Lydie Polfer, this great charity event this year was themed "Ballets Russes" in homage to the choreographer Marius Petipa.
As usual, it brought together many personalities from the country and unfolded around music, dance and gastronomy (with the assistance of Kaempff-Kohler and Russian leader Sergey Khutorov). Above all, thanks to its numerous sponsors, partners and its public, it raised €46,000 (from entry tickets, raffle, auction) shared equally between the Russian foundation Podsolnuh-Tournesol and the Luxembourg association SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde, both serving children in vulnerable situations in Russia. For seven years, the organisers of the Russian Ball have raised €326,000 for these causes.
The €23,000 for SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde is dedicated to the SOS Family Support Centre in Pskov. Sophie Glesener of the charity said "Opened five years ago, the social home accompanies young mothers with children facing crisis situations in order to finally find a real life and place in the community. It continues to grow and strengthen its services. The sustainable support of the Russian Ball is in this sense valuable."
Between 2014 and 2017, the Pskov centre housed 29 mothers and 35 children and accompanied 200 children through a family strengthening programme. Since 2017, it also welcomes families with fathers and volunteers come to support the professional team. By 2018, two new homes will need more beneficiaries and the programme will be strengthened by external experts, including psychologists and psychotherapists. The team will also continue its work with the local community to develop external resources mobilised for women and children who have left home to facilitate their social reintegration.
