We all have been busy this year working with projects in a number of different post-Soviet countries. This year’s newsletter includes some background concerning the activities of Quakers in Russia. We have a long history, and are excited to continue our mission!

This year we are once again writing about our own work and the projects we support. But – in view of the still ongoing war involving Russia and Ukraine – we have removed all reference to the names of individuals, participants in our programmes, and partner organisations. This is to safeguard the people who are […]

This is a little different from our usual sort of newsletter… Normally we showcase our own work and the projects we support. But this time we are not describing these activities in detail. This is to safeguard the people who are working on them. Instead, a map just shows countries where we are currently operating, […]

In “Friends and Comrades: How Quakers helped Russians survive famine and epidemic“, Sergei Nikitin tells the story of how Quakers provided famine relief in southern Russia, during the turmoil of the Russian revolution. The relief effort is credited with saving the lives of 400,000 people. Originally published in the Russian language, the book is now […]

In the 1990s, the iron curtain was giving way or at least becoming permeable in the age of perestroika. After writing letters for 20 years while teaching Russian at two schools in Exeter, Patricia Cockrell was at last successful in setting up an exchange with a school in Moscow. And in 1992 she was awarded […]

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is – sadly – still ongoing, after more than 8 months. We continue to support the Alternatives to Violence (AVP) project in Ukraine which remains active, even though conditions are difficult.  The AVP group in Moscow has also resumed work (with caution!). In addition we now support AVP work in […]

Julie Harlow describes how the daily international online Meeting for Worship, to hold Ukraine in the Light, was started and continues. “Many spoke of the painful confusion they felt in truly grappling with Friends’ peace testimony for the first time. If one prohibits the use of violence, what happens to the Ukrainians? Is it acceptable […]

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has, understandably, had a large effect on our work. This newsletter gives a quick round-up of what has been happening. Work in Russia continues but is being impacted by international sanctions. Meanwhile there is a new project in Estonia to support refugees from Ukraine, and we have also been helping […]

The pandemic continues and one can’t say that life is “back to normal” – but the projects we support are thriving. Some have embraced “hybrid working” (part online, part face to face). And some have expanded their activities – including a 2,000-mile “expansion” halfway across Russia… To view and/or download the newsletter, click on the […]

A video compiled from small clips recorded by the Refugee Centre, showing some of the smaller children playing.