Improving the quality of life for Russian children with Down syndrome Express News Downside Up April 2010

Downside Up Blog

Dear Friends, 21st March is the World Down Syndrome Day marked across the World. Until recently, in Russia this theme seemed to be relevant exclusively to the families with individuals with Down syndrome. However, the plentitude of events in March 2010 and a great number of participants indicate that things have changed a great deal. EVENTS AND INITIATIVES: exhibition of children’s drawings at the Veles Capital company; resource mobilization training for parents associations in Nizhny Novgorod; another Garage Dobra event in partnership with Tekhnologiya Igr; KPMG’s ingenious volunteering project, an article on the Theatre of the Innocent in the Osnovnoi Instinct magazine, and finally, the on-line RIA Novosti press conference with live broadcast from London. Read more about these and other events: "Sunny kids" have made a film about themselves The rich: fewer and better Haven’t yet had a son or built a house? Plant a tree! An individual, NGOs and the law Kevin calls David his inspiration

Sunny kids have made a film about themselves

"Sunny kids’ dreams" is the name of the film made by the children with Down syndrome with the help of the Group of Magicians studio. Says studio director Andrey Zhdanov: "We wanted to bring home that facing individuals with Down syndrome with a mask of pity and scorn makes no sense. Help them, if you can. If you can’t – step aside and let them live".

The rich: fewer and better

The Philanthropist online magazine: "…the crisis has made wealthy people reconsider values and priorities. Thus, 70% now spend more time with their families and friends, about the same amount cook at home more often than before. Many people travel abroad less (81%), do not use tour operators’ services, and have changed expensive supermarkets for economy class stores. Every tenth person with means aged 25-34 plans to pay more attention to charity related issues, while every twentieth NMA aged 45-54 intends to get involved in sponsorship and charity projects." Read the whole article (in Russian).

Haven’t yet had a son or built a house? Plant a tree!

The office of Downside Up Early Intervention Centre is located in a two-storey building surrounded by a garden. As usual, this spring we will be unable to cope without your help – the garden needs trimming, windows should be cleaned and the children’s toys washed. To get involved, please contact Yana Yakusheva at 8 (499) 367-10-00, yanaya@downsideup.org.

An individual, NGOs and the law

On 19th March the State Duma approved the President’s draft law on support of socially focused noncommercial organisations. It is as yet hard to predict how the new law will affect the day-to-day life of Downside Up, but we hope that it will facilitate the development of partnership approach in solving of acute social problems. Read more (in Russian).

Kevin calls David his inspiration

Kevin is a 22-year-old snowboarder, who has beaten the now legendary Shaun White twice in the last few years. He was a favorite to make a very strong U.S. Olympic team and was considered by many to be one of the few who had a chance to take White’s place on the snowboarding circuit. On News Year’s Eve, Kevin suffered severe brain trauma in Park City Utah, after slamming his head on the edge of the half-pipe. His relationship with his older brother David, who has Down's Syndrome, and is a Special Olympics ski champion, is remarkable to see. Kevin calls David his inspiration. Read all article.