Field Staff Spotlight: Katya Celenina

HopeChest programs for older orphans in Russia are helping thousands of young adults make a successful transition into independent life.  For this, we credit our Nadezhda Fund President, Katya Celenina.

Katya has been championing the cause of orphans for 14 years.  She brings a prolific education and hands-on “street card” to her position with HopeChest. After earning a Master’s degree in Education from Moscow State Linguistic University, Katya was invited by Buckner International Children’s Services to study foster are and take on a three-year internship in the Management and Administration of Family Settings for Orphans in the U.S.

She translated, adjusted, and adapted the materials and experience from her studies to Russian realities.  Her inital efforts have grown into today’s programs for older orphans.  In 2000, Katya was invited to enter post-graduate school to work on her PhD in Psychology.

Always developing and sharpening programs, Katya says, “For 2010, we would like to strengthen programs addressing more specific target groups such as young mothers, young families, and new orphanage graduates.”

Katya has three children, and she may be found swimming or cooking different world cuisine in her spare time.