KITEZH BOOK IN ENGLISH IS LAUNCHED IN BRITAIN

Dimitry Morozov made two professional presentations to separate audiences in London at the beginning of April 2009 to introduce the English version of his book ‘Kitezh: a community approach to raising children in Russia’ followed by two presentations in Scotland, at Findhorn and at the Scotland Russia Institute in Edinburgh. Organised by Ecologia Youth Trust and supported by David Dean OBE, Therapeutic Education Consultant to Kitezh, his talks were well attended and well received in all places. In addition he gave a brief interview on BBC Radio Good Morning Scotland and we look forward to a feature article in The Scotsman shortly.

At his presentation at the BEARR Trust he responded to the many lively questions raised by his audience, amongst whom were members of the Charterhouse Group of Therapeutic Communities in Britain.  As Dimitry Morozov described the way Kitezh works to raise and educate their children he also challenged them to engage with Kitezh's unconventional but highly successful alternative to the state orphanage system. It was clear from the discussions that the Kitezh approach to helping disadvantaged children realise their potential to become active, valuable members of society is as constructively provocative in Britain as it is in Russia.

It was also a pleasure for Dimitry Morozov and Liza Hollingshead from Ecologia Youth Trust to meet former volunteers to Kitezh, Laura, Jim, Alex, Michelle, Jenny, Heather, Natasha and Francesca who volunteered at Kitezh at different times, and showed how their time at Kitezh had changed their life experience.

One of the therapeutic professionals at the lecture commented that the child care practice Morozov describes in his book demonstrates a refreshing directness and integrity of approach to children that it is unusual in Britain.  If we want British children to meet adequately the challenges of the 21st Century we should take this experience seriously.

Another British therapeutic childcare professional wrote:

“I am afraid I have found your book difficult to read; or, rather, difficult to finish. I pick it up, read a page or two, and then find myself in the middle of an intense discussion with myself about my own child-rearing, and about my own experience with children who need a great deal of love and care. I come back to your book thinking I will make better progress, and almost immediately find myself challenged and in the middle of exploring again. It makes me want to Do, and it makes me want to share.”

The book is available from Ecologia Youth Trust www.ecologia.org.uk  Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

And in Moscow from Kitezh Centre Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it