The Kitezh Community Center is an orphanage in rural Russia. The children are given a family, a home and a future. But from the thousands of orphans growing up in modern Russia, only a few are selected to live here.
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© RIA Novosti . Diana Markosian
At the Kitezh Community Center, a dozen or so kids splash each other on a warm summer day.
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© RIA Novosti . Diana Markosian
A boy drenches himself with a water bottle of ice cold water to cool off. For the children at Kitezh, summer is a time to have fun.
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© RIA Novosti . Diana Markosian
Anastasia Lapina, 14, and her sister, Vera, 13, have lived in the orphanage for four years. They moved here after their mother and brother died.
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© RIA Novosti . Diana Markosian
Ivan Kurowski, 9, checks to see if his friends are home. Summer is time for the kids to relax before the new school term and the wood-chopping season begins.
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© RIA Novosti
Before lunch, a group of children break off a piece of a biscuit and split it amongst each other. Usually sweets are only allowed on special occasions.
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© RIA Novosti . Diana Markosian
Over lunch, a little boy quickly devours his soup, and is ready for another round. The volunteers at the orphanage prepare meals for the children and families every day.
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© RIA Novosti . Diana Markosian
There are about 30 children living in Kitezh, each with their own story. There are two centers in the Kaluga region; 15 children live in each.
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© RIA Novosti . Diana Markosian
Only a lucky few orphans in Russia are selected to live at the Kitezh Community Center. When they come to live at the centre they are given a home and a family.
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© RIA Novosti . Diana Markosian
After a day-long water fight, the boys at home number 5 have a disagreement on who should clean up the mess. At Kitezh, the children are treated as young adults. They are taught to be independent and to handle their own disputes.
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© RIA Novosti . Diana Markosian
In the last hours of the day, the kids eat dinner and gather around for a lesson or a film.
