Community opens heart to Russian orphans
By Shari Kaplan
For many youngsters, summer vacation means bicycling until twilight, slumber parties, TV-watching, swimming, visiting amusement parks and going on family trips.
For the 12 Russian orphans visiting the South Bay from July 7 through 19, summer vacation means a time to venture from their native northern Russia. They will spend nearly two weeks doing what for them are exciting new activities--the same activities many American children take for granted.
The children, who range in age from 6 through 12, will stay with host families in Los Gatos, Saratoga and San Jose. Along with getting a taste of the typical American summer, the children are also participating in the Russian Children Folk Festival, a series of concerts at local venues.
The event is coordinated by the Happy Families International Center Inc., a nonprofit, licensed adoption agency in New York. The agency was originally founded by volunteers in Russia in 1992. HFIC helps Russian orphans find homes in the United States and other countries, and to obtain medical attention outside of Russia when necessary.
Locally, Elena Mosko is the force behind the festival, securing donations, recruiting host families and arranging performance venues. This is HFIC's first such event in California; in previous years, they were on the East Coast only.
The festival's goal is manifold: to give the children a chance to see and live life outside their orphanage; to promote an exchange of culture, information and friendship between Russians and Americans--especially the young; to raise funds for the orphanage and its programs; and to possibly find adoptive homes for some of the children.
"I'm totally intimidated by asking for something for myself, but I've loved asking for things to help others," says Mosko, who lives in Los Gatos with her husband and two young sons.
"In the two months I've been working on this, I've had so many people volunteer, it's amazing. People say, 'Whatever we can do, please let us know.' People have been thanking me for the opportunity to be involved, and I've been saying, 'no, thank you!' "
These helping hands have included the PTA at South Valley Carden School in San Jose, which opened the school's doors for a concert; the staff at the Jewish Community Center in Los Gatos, who squeezed in a date for the children to perform on its busy stage roster; St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Saratoga, which set up a hospitality room for the children and is also hosting a concert; Los Gatos' Wooden Horse toy store, which is donating gifts to the children; and the Stringer family of Saratoga, who are providing the children with swimwear and beach towels.
"I am a Russian native who came to Los Gatos 10 years ago. I always loved to live here; now I know why," Mosko says. "We are known for some of the highest real estate prices, [but] we should be known for some of the biggest hearts."
The concerts feature folk songs and dances performed by the children, which they rehearse with the orphanage's musical director. The youths also don costumes and play musical instruments. The schedule of events is as follows:
* July 9, 1 p.m. at South Valley Carden School, 1921 Clarinda Way, San Jose, concert with a potluck picnic to follow.
* July 11, 7 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos, concert.
* July 14, 4 p.m. at Vasona Lake County Park, Los Gatos, outdoor celebration and picnic with fun and games.
* July 16, 1 p.m. at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 14220 Elva Ave., Saratoga, concert with reception afterward.
There is a nominal admission fee for the events. For information about the festival, to donate time or money, or to find out about adoption programs, call Mosko at 408.402.9697, 408.356.4717, or email ruskaya@yahoo.com.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
