We are a Public Association "Ponimanie" from Belarus - a country in the center of Europe but with a society living in the atmosphere of a last European authoritarisme. Public Association "Ponimanie" was founded on the basis of the initiative group and the group of graduates of The Psychological faculty of the Academy of Postgraduate study of Republic of Belarus.

Public Association "Ponimanie" sees its mission in a creation of conditions for upbringing of socially stable and creative personality able to development and self-development. One of the main aims of "Ponimanie" is a psychological prevention work in target groups.

Public association "Ponimanie" was created in May 3, 2000 and officially registered by Justice Department of Minsk City Counsil, Reg. No. 05/0262 dated November 11, 2000. November 21, 2002 "Ponimanie" was reorganized to International Public Association, registered by Ministry of Justice, Reg. No. 01157. Fiscal Identity Number 101877258. Ponimanie is a noncommercial organization, i.e. identical to US organizations included into Chapter 501(3) of the IRC. We are ready to complete and send to you notarial affidavit.

The work of initiative and psychologists' groups began in May 3,2000. In Summer 2000 the members of "Ponimanie" set up a camp for 59 teen-agers at risk of drug abuse. The camp with psychological service had been operating during 24 days in Braslav region with the assistance from The Logistics Department of the Ministry of Interior, Border Troops of Belarus, The Braslav District Administration, The Republican Association of Disables, Radiofact radio, Counterpart Belarus and other organizations and volunteers.

In the years of 2001-2002 "Ponimanie" had been working with the target groups and improved its material and technical capabilities. The US EUCOM Humanitarian Assistance Program provided us with equipment and a van. We organized three training sessions for volunteers and two seminars for NGO and state institutions of Minsk City. There were conducted two training sessions for target groups and the current consulting, correctional and enlightening activity is being carried.

Ponimanie continues its cooperation with UN Child Fund (UNICEF) in 2002. Since 15/04/2002 we've been conducting the project "I Create the Environment", financed by UNICEF and including the project lines "Trust Gives Birth to Responsibility" and "Social Adaptation". Within the scopes of the project there were two shifts in the psychological tent camp for 140 teens, the teen and parent's clubs are functioning. We are conducting the training sessions on correction of children-parents relationships, consultations by psychologists. We held in Braslav region two training seminars for 24 graduates of youth boarding schools. The results will be used for creation of the centers of post boarding adaptation in our country. The project is highlighted by Komsomolskaya Pravda and by specialized publications. The US EUCOM Humanitarian Assistance Program provided us with two free Volkswagen cars.

The financing of the Ponimanie projects is continued in 2003. We have received financial support for the two extended project lines "Trust Gives Birth to Responsibility" and "Social Adaptation" from UNICEF. The Ponimanie is working with 140 teenagers at risk and with more then 60 pupils of five boarding schools. We hope that our work will give us good results and outputs. We plan to make valueable contribution in the situation with Child Rights in our country by our work with children who need it more then others. We established Volunteer School and Ombudsman School in the frame of the Project "We All Together Create Social Environment". Additionally in the cooperation with Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation The Ponimanie created "Oasis of Understanding Milashki(Tutsies)". Milashki is village in Northern Belarus where we purchased old building of ex-school. Now it is a center of development of regional programs of The Ponimanie. We plan to link all our Project Lines through Milashki Oasis of Understanding. Moreover seminars for psychologists and other specialists, NGOs working with children will take place in Milashki Oasis. Our long term plan supposes Ponimanie's active participation in the development of local society in Milashki and Dalyokie of Braslav District.

The Ponimanie needs your support for reconstruction of Milashki(Tutsies) Oasis of Understanding for successfull implementation of projects for belarussian children

Ponimanie has employed 29 specialists and 113 volunteers take part in the projects. Most of the volunteers are the students of the social disciplines in universities and colleges. Ponimanie renders service to more than 400 children, teens and their families, found themselves in difficult situation, caused by objective reasons of the turbulent society in a transitional period of such a country, as well as subjective reasons - incomplete families, alcohol and drug abuse and diseases.