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We are glad to report that the rehabilitation education center Dobro More has successfully started its activities – the recent dream has already come true. From Oct 12 till 22, the first program period – the very first one – has taken place. There where 4 families of care-receivers coming from Murmansk, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Kyev; 12 volunteers and 7 professionals from Russia and Germany have been employed.

First three days have been devoted to intense preparatory training of the volunteers. We have learned much new and needed for our work – from the ways to combat the fear to the skills to improvise one-minute games. The team got well together. In the first day, we have held an open presentation: “Dobromore: the basics of reabilitation program for children and their families”. In the last day of the training, we have painted white Dobro More T-shirts visualizing on the white background our hope, love and aspiration to do good.

On Monday, our care-receivers – the children in need of the rehabilitation, and their family members – have arrived. On Tuesday, October 15, the activities of the first program period have commenced. Montenegro did not disappoint us: its sea, warm sun, unpolluted air, breathtaking landscapes – all that gave us a base to built an atmosphere of feast, rest, recreation.

An intense physiological support and rehabilitation of the care-receivers required a replete and various program of creative, entertaining and physical activities. It has worked. We walked to beach together, swam, made exercises and danced there. There were master-classes in candle decoration and in the art of painting pebbles. We got lessons in archery and fork-darting, while the kids learned dancing, including the dancing in horizontal position 🙂 We fared the seas on paddleboards – SUP surfing it is called – and have met the sunset at Royal Beach in Sveti Stefan… There was a tour to the see sites of Montenegro.

Everybody liked and remembered hippotherapy. Horses are marvelous beings, they are royal, mighty and possess healing powers. Few people would remain unmoved in contact with them. Have you rode a horse standing or without arms? Our kids have. It was possible not only to ride – the horses could be hugged and combed.

Перед отьездом, в воскресенье, состоялся заключительный концерт и Добро-карнавал — мы переоделись в необычные костюмы. На следующий день — прощание. Мы написали добрые пожелания друг другу на футболках DobroMore, очень много фотографировались, смеялись, немного поплакали и подарили добрые подарочки. Эта неделя сплотила нас и подарила каждому новые чувства, мы стали настоящей и дружной семьей. Mы прожили это время в атмосфере взаимной поддержки, полноты сил, рефлексии и радости. Благодаря профессионализму всех волонтеров и доверию со стороны семей, их открытости ко всему новому и желанию учиться – у нас все получилось.

The day before departure, on Sunday, the final concert and the DobroMore Carnival took place: we changed into unusual costumes. The next day was a day of farewell. We wrote good wishes to each other on DobroMore T-shirts, took a lot of pictures, laughed, weeped a little and gave souvenirs. This week brought us together and gave everyone new feelings, we became a real and friendly family. We have spent this time in an atmosphere of mutual support, full resource, reflection and joy. We have accomplished this owing to the professionalism of all the volunteers and the trust of families, their openness to new things and the eagerness to learn.

We are deeply grateful to the management of Splendid Conference & Spa Resort hotel for providing the lodging and meals for the all the participants of the program period, and to the hotel staff for the warm welcome and being responsive to many requests for all 10 days. We are grateful to the devoted volunteers who have been with us all these days, to the curators for their support and professionalism. We thank the families who trusted us and became participants in the first Dobro More social and psychological rehabilitation program. We thank all sponsors and donors for gifts for children and the financial support of the project. Many thanks to all the professionals and psychologists. The first program period turned out to be a huge success, it rehabilitated not only the families of the care-receivers, but everyone who took part in it.

We bring back the happiness!
Yours, Dobro More Team