Faith does not fall

If it were not for the foster family and not to UPSAL-CIRK, the solar faith would have faded in a neuropsychiatric boarding school

We help the UPSala-Circus help

The most fun game is to catch the tail. Have you played yet? The rules are very simple: you take a handkerchief for juggling, you fix behind a belt and quickly and quickly run. And thirty of your friends, “Lamurchiki”, clapping and hooting, try to catch you. Who caught is now the tail, catch it!

Faith loves this game. And more exercises, even if they are difficult - you need to keep balance all the time.

"Mom-Dad is not"

It was necessary to learn to maintain balance not only faith, but also to her foster family. Alexandra’s mother saw faith on the site Children-RF in her work break. Then Alexander was a social worker in the Uppsala-Circus. Two blood children were already growing in the family, and no one could even think about the adopted child with Down syndrome. To the question “why?”, Which Alexander has been asked for five years now - since they adopted Vera - she replies with a smile: “Verochka was so pretty, I just could not leave her there.” Verochka is really pretty - both in the photo in the expectation questionnaire, and in the photo five years later - on vacation, on a walk, with her sister and brother, on rehearsals in the circus, everywhere with a smile. “Vera is a star, and she knows that,” Alexandra proudly tells about her daughter, because they also have something to be proud of: together they changed the fate of a person.

Vera in the lesson by acrobatics photo: Vladimir Averin for TD Vera is participating in the training photo: Vladimir Averin for TD

Miracles, and only - you say.

And you will be right.

The foster parents of Vera had to act very quickly: the girl was performed for seven years, she should be transferred from a preschool orphanage to a boarding school. Biological parents abandoned faith at birth, the card thought: “Severe mental retardation”, which would most likely deprive her of the possibility of learning, and indeed all the prospects. In the future, a neuropsychiatric boarding school was most likely awaited faith. Each transfer from the institution to the institution would throw the girl back in development, causing stress and aggression.

Now Vera rarely recalls life outside the family, only sometimes, seeing his photos from the orphanage, shakes his head: “There is no mother-dad.” It seems that all seven years Vera lived in a “enchanted” state, expecting to come for her. As a stolen princess, who is kept somewhere, but, as it should be in a fairy tale, they will surely save and take it into a new magical world.

Or maybe Vera just knew that it would be so.

Family and "Pakitan"

First of all, Alexander was enlisted by the support of Larisa Afanasyeva, the founder and director of the Uppsala-Circus. Then classes with special children were just beginning, the group still did not have its own room, but Larisa, learning about faith, said firmly: “Take”. While the adoptive parents executed the documents while the examinations underwent, as a result of which severe mental retardation after the next commission miraculously turned into a lung, while Vera adapted into the family, the circus was preparing for the opening of Pakitan - a creative center, where artists - children with Down syndrome, are engaged in their mode and pace. Sunny "lumors", as they are affectionately called in the circus. Iznotable participants in the performances, charming huts, the best players in the "tail" in the world.

Vera photo: Vladimir Averin for TD

Finally, Pakitan opened. Together with Vera, her school friend Anechka came to the circus. Anechka also has a Down syndrome, they have a real creative tandem with faith: Anya is calm and balanced, and Vera is an energy generator, brisk and clockwork. Together, even the most difficult tasks are perfectly obtained.

By that time, Alexandra had no longer worked in the circus: to combine the upbringing of three children and the work full of surprises is not the simplest story. But even knowing the entire circus “cuisine” from the inside, she could not help but feel a wow effect from classes: Vera became more assembled, responsible, self-confident, the exercises were greatly developed by the vestibular apparatus, which is very important for special children-now Vera is not afraid to lose balance. But the main thing - Vera realized that she was a person, felt her strengths, learned to work in a team.

Vera in the classroom : Vladimir Averin for TD "Lamura" on a bench photo: Vladimir Averin for TD

“A respect for children is the basis of the concept of work in the circus,” says Alexandra. - No one creates the illusion for you that this child is ordinary. There are people who are interested in just such a child - with all its features, for them this is not an annoying interference, but an interesting challenge, a casket with a secret that it is great to solve. The circus enables any child - brisk, slow, thoughtful, restless - to prove himself. And the quality that he used to prevent him from adapting in society, on the contrary, make him strong and in demand. ”

Casket with a secret

How to take a special child is one of the most difficult questions for parents. And it's not even about socialization or inclusion. The child needs a place where he will be interested in where he is respected, where he has friends. Vera would be difficult to fully be friends with ordinary children. She can participate in the game, fulfill some requests, but still it grows and grows more slowly than an ordinary child, she has other skills and interests. That is why the circus created “their” circle, a company of children who know each other well, who are busy with a common cause. The same safe, interesting magical world that they dreamed about.

Vera learns to juggle with scarves photo: Vladimir Averin for TD

“I do not know in St. Petersburg, yes, perhaps in Russia, other associations of this kind,” says Alexandra. - For us, parents, the circus is a point of attraction, “our” space, a circle of friends with common experience, interest and memories. I really hope that outside the circus we will not lose connection with anyone. ”

Do not lose touch, friends and communicate - vital skills, which in Pakitan children are also taught deftly as circus tricks. Vera, who used to be afraid of unfamiliar spaces, this summer, together with his comrades from the circus and for the first time without parents went for two weeks to a creative residence in Nikola-Lenivtsa. It was noisy, fun, actively, difficult, there were no greenhouse conditions for special children. The guys lived in tents, slept in sleeping bags, trained, rehearsed, hiding together from the rain and went to the forest, and in this adventure there was exactly the pleasure and great serious work. Returning from the camp, Vera rushed to hug the sofa with a cry: "Cot!" And then for several more days she funded with emotions, trying to convey her impressions to the household.

Vera with Anechka inseparable friends photo: Vladimir Averin for TD Vera and Anechka run to swim on the river photo: Vladimir Averin for TD

In the Uppsala-Circus, on the slate boards in the office, on posters and the site-everywhere there is a favorite quote from circus: "Take care of the hooligans!" Hooligans are generally the main treasure of the UPSAL-CIR, and Vera, of course, tries to correspond. Children in Pakitan build a small model of society in their team: there are rebels, peacekeepers in the group, there are those who protect everyone. Vera - started a hooligan. And she has an amazing sense of humor. When the belief in the mood, she loves to give accurate characteristics to the household, troll the older sister and - to the great pleasure of dad - turn into a kid for a while: to roll a car in the country, watch football and steam in the bathhouse.

But, in addition to love for lersions, the circus instills harsh discipline. “There was no situation when Vera could not be persuaded, explained,” recalls Alexandra. - She learned to hear, get involved in the process. Given what a master of resistance she is, this is a huge achievement. ”

Alexander is often written with questions about children with Down syndrome. She tries to answer everyone honestly: any experience with such a child is unique, there are no universal recipes and guarantees. But we can say with full confidence that these children have the possibility of an interesting, rich life. Caring for a child with Down syndrome does not require any special skills. Children need care, friendship and love. But, talking about faith, Alexander does not hide pride: “I am pleased to brag about it because she increased our contribution, she really tries to take the maximum from life.”

Vera is hiding from the rain photo: Vladimir Averin for TD Vera photo: Vladimir Averin for TD

In August, faith will prepare for school, go to the cinema for their adored cartoons, walk around St. Petersburg and - necessarily - passing along the Sverdlovsk Embankment, wave his hand towards the circus: “Hello, UPSALA! Hi Pakitan! "

If we learn friendship, sympathy and support as well as the pupils of the circus, in the world will become more incredible real stories. You can help the amazing Uppsala-cycle with a small monthly donation now, and having arrived in St. Petersburg, be sure to come to the performance-to give young actors the most expensive-your smiles and applause.