The COVID-19 pandemic has driven Friends House Moscow, and the Russian projects it supports, to find new ways to cope with an unprecedented situation.
Stay-at-home measures were in force in Russia from March 25 to late June. Moscow Friends were therefore unable to meet in person, and instead began holding virtual meetings via Skype and Zoom. The “Meditation of Friends” group (modeled on Experiments with Light) did the same. For the first time, Friends living outside Moscow and in other countries were able to join for worship.
Projects also moved online. This enabled the Integration Center for Refugee and Migrant Children to start providing lessons to the children on a one-to-one basis. The center has seen an influx of new volunteers to help with the children as many people now have more time. Another project, the English Club (which helps young people from orphanages or with difficulties to practice speaking English), designed new games that can be played online, with the aim of keeping young people engaged and occupied while confined to home.
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