Visitors of the "Gallery of Hearts" in Rostov-on-Don start to get interested in adoption

The exhibition "Gallery of Hearts" continues in Rostov-on-Don, featuring art photographs of children from children's homes. The exhibition is held for the purpose of developing the institution of adoptive families. The feedback is already in place - some of its visitors have started to get specifically interested in adoption.

A representative of the sector of coordination of guardianship and patronage activity under the Ministry of General and Professional Education of Rostov region has informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that people who have visited the exhibition "Gallery of Hearts" come to them and ask questions connected with adoption. However, no one has decided on any specific child.

Meanwhile, the exhibition has been moved from the entertainment centre "Golden Babylon" to the lobby of Rostov State Musical Theatre where more people will be able to visit it. In this building, the exhibition will stay till March 25.

"Our aim is to hold the exhibition in places where as many people as possible will see it," says Yana Yakubova, public relations manager of the company "Coca-Cola Hellenic" which is the exhibition co-organizer.

The photo exhibition features about 70 portraits of children from children's homes of Rostov region. All exhibits have been made free of charge by art photographer Alexander Terliaev.

According to official statistics, as of January 1, 2010, more than 13,000 children of Rostov region are orphans or abandoned by parents. Out of this number, 10,318 are taken care of in the families of guardians, care-givers, or adoptive parents, 2903 - at state institutions for child support (orphan asylums, children's homes, boarding schools, social rehabilitation centres, homes for invalids and other institutions belonging to different departments).

In 2009, 368 children were adopted (in 2008 - 385 children).

About three thousand orphans and children abandoned by parents are identified annually in the region (in 2007 - 2937 children, in 2008 - 2942 children, in 2009 - 2863 children). Rostov region is among leaders in the RF regions by the rate of growth of adoption families.