Mission A Timeline - Past to Present Our beneficiaries

Mission

Downside Up's mission is to improve the quality of life for children with Down syndrome. We do this specifically within the Russian Federation in direct early intervention and education and social services to children and their families. Additionally we assist families from further a-field through electronic, written and verbal communication and support.

Downside Up works to improve the care delivered to children with Down syndrome and special needs through awareness raising and training to professionals and organisations responsible for the care of children with Down syndrome and other special needs.

Downside Up aims to prevent abandonment by providing parents and carers with the information they need to make an informed choice about caring for their child so that each child has the best chance to be cared for in a loving environment where their basic needs will certainly be met and more.

A Timeline - Past to Present

1995 - A group of five trustees (British and French businessmen and their relatives) established the charity after they become aware of the lack of services and poor treatment of children with Down syndrome in Russia. In response to the void of social welfare and educational provision for children with Down syndrome, the Trustees set the aims and mission statement for the charity.

1997 - Downside Up was registered as Russian Charitable fund for children with Down syndrome based in Moscow. Similar to western social service organisations, Downside Up provided early intervention educational programs for children between the ages of birth to five, delivering services to 45-50 Moscow children and families.

1998 - Downside Up's Early Intervention Centre (EIC) was opened on Ozerkovsky Pereulok, 15 in Moscow to service the growing need for support for over 90 families of children with Down syndrome and increased the age to seven years.

2001 - The Early Intervention Centre now offers its programmes to 160 families from Moscow including a number of expatriate families from the Netherlands, Pakistan, India and UK. Downside Up also supports families from the Moscow regions and 65 families from Moldova, Ukraine, Perm region, Bashkortostan, Norilsk, Krasnodar, Stavropol region, Udmurtia, Uzbekistan and others. In addition we directly support a number of professionals and other families who contact us from around the world seeking support and information on Down syndrome both in English and Russian.

2005 - In the beginning of October 2005 the total number of children registered with Downside Up reached 628; 315 of them are from Moscow and Moscow region, 313 - from other regions of Russia and CIS (former Soviet Union) countries. In the last quarter of a year 54 new families joined Downside Up, 38 children started attending schools and left our programmes.

Our beneficiaries

We provide a unique and diverse range of early education and support to children with Down syndrome. This includes physical, social, emotional and cognitive developmental assistance. Our primary beneficiaries are aged between birth to seven years.

As each child is part of a family, we also serve the needs of that family in a supportive and holistic manner. Much attention is given the parents or carers to help and support them in finding confidence and skills in their parenting.

We provide educational, training and consultative services to professionals who care for children with special needs. From kindergartens and schools in Moscow to maternity hospitals and orphanages as well as to colleagues from other regions of Russia, Downside Up provides training and support to those wanting to develop their skills.