Dimitry Morozov made two professional presentations to separate audiences in London at the beginning of April 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 was featured in The Scotsman.
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.
One of the therapeutic professionals at the lecture commented that the childcare 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.”
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*Names have been changed according to our child protection policy.
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Susie has 30+ experience as a creative copywriter, editor, and proofreader, starting out as a 20-year-old copywriter in the Mad Men world of early 1990s advertising in South Africa. Ever since, she’s had a love affair with creative conceptualisation, thinking outside of the box, writing to a deadline, and being thrown in the deep end!
She took an MSc in Publishing at Edinburgh Napier University as a mature student, in 2015, and continues to keep herself busy working as a copy-editor, proofreader and copywriter in book publishing, corporate communications, and publishing project management.
Apart from her love of working with independent authors, Susie has a fondness for working in the third sector and likes to use her corporate communications and marketing experience to support projects close to her heart. She has lived and worked in the Findhorn area for 25 years, and has been involved in a number of third sector projects and organisations, and family businesses.
Working at Ecologia Youth Trust helps Susie to live in integrity with her values of supporting the next generation to be the best that they can be, and she sees it as a way to give back to Mama Africa, the beloved continent on which she was born.
Ellen joined the Ecologia team in June 2018 as Marketing and Communications Manager. Ellen has lived in Scotland for 6 years and has worked for non-profit and charitable organisations across varied fields. She currently shares her passion for helping young people through Ecologia Youth Trust and she works as a dancer and dance teacher in her spare time.
Robyn is the Associate Director of International Projects, having previously worked within the team as a Project Development and Marketing Officer from April 2019 until May 2021. As Associate Director, Robyn is co-leading the International side of Ecologia with Founder and Director, Liza Hollingshead, bringing a new energy into Ecologia as they look towards the future of the charity.
Liza is the founder of Ecologia and Director of International Projects. She was born and educated in South Africa and worked there as a high school teacher. She moved to live in the Findhorn Community in 1974. She started Ecologia in 1995 after being introduced to Dmitry Morozov, the founder of Kitezh Children’s Community in Russia, and was inspired to support the community in its mission to rescue orphaned children from institutions and give them homes, families and education in a supportive environment.
This led to projects supporting disadvantaged youth and children in South East Asia and in East Africa. TRead more about Liza’s story here.
