The Moscow region is considering launching a program that would match impoverished young families in need of childcare with senior citizens in need of socialization, news website Moskva24 reported Tuesday.
The program, called “grandmother for an hour,” is already operating in the Vladimir region in central Russia. The project organizes single retirees to look after children from low-income families for free while the parents work or run errands.
Irina Fayevskaya, head of the regional ministry for social development of the Moscow region, told Moskva24 that the Odyntsovsky district and the town of Orekhovo-Zuyevo in the Moscow region would be good candidates for a pilot program.
Early childhood experts are skeptical about the project, however.
Boris Altshuler, director of the Rights of the Child NGO, told Moskva24 “Nobody should leave their kid with a stranger. The service must be official, with work contracts.” He added that the government should pay for the retiree's services.
Yevdokia Kholostova, head of the Institute of Additional Professional Education for Social Workers, said that not everyone should be allowed to participate in the program.
“Retired school teachers could be allowed to work with kids. It's also important that the person has a stable psyche and no bad habits,” Kholostova told Moskva24, adding that “grandfather for an hour” should also be an option.
… we have a small favor to ask. As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.
Remind me later.
