Article September 2, 2002 Issue

Street children find a refuge

Cornelia Schacht with contributions from Gennady Shcherbanev

Kids On The Street —runaways, castoffs, just trying to survive. Children carving out their lives in a tough existence where being cared for and cared about seem hopelessly absent. Into this stark picture walk people like Gennady Shcherbanev. Gennady's natural rapport with kids has opened up avenues of service to young people throughout his career. He is currently on the staff of a privately sponsored orphanage in St. Petersburg, Russia, that helps homeless youth. Recently, Gennady talked with Cornelia Schacht, the managing editor of the Russian radio edition of The Herald of Christian Science.

How did you start your work at the orphanage?

The friend who first told me about Christian Science offered me a job at the orphanage. I have a degree in teaching industrial skills to young people, so I'd had some experience in working with teens. But when the job was offered, I was surprised at first, since I had never worked with children who lived on the streets. On the other hand, this was a new experience, a new way to help children who had nothing in their lives.

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