Step Up brings together an amazing group of people – teachers, students and volunteers. Thanks to them the Centre is a place where anyone can find support and self-belief. Here is what our colleagues, students and volunteers think about us.
When I became the director of Step Up, I knew that I wanted to create a place where students can come at any moment, a place where they know that they are welcome and a place where they are heard out and can talk about absolutely anything. Of course it’s hard for teachers when a pupil misses lessons. But I’m not very strict about stopping those who skip classes from coming entirely. An evening here is always more useful than an evening spent in some other place in our big city.
Olga Tikhomirovadirector of Step Up
When I come to Step Up I do not feel as though I’m helping the Centre in some way, but, rather, that I am drawing some kind of strength from it.
Step Up is an amazing place where fantastic people study and teach. You know that you are needed here, and that nothing you do is in vain.
Every charity should have its myth, an over-arching idea. Our organisation’s idea is that, in a perfect world, every child should strive to achieve their goals – and that goal is their quest. All of us here have a common quest: a journey with some kind of magical end point. Not just any old journey, but one that demands regeneration, a commitment to overcoming difficulties, and entailing change. All for an enchanted goal. Knowledge is not an end in itself; it is bewitching, and in searching for it people change in wonderful ways.
Mikhail Sverdlovhead of the Literature Club
The majority of the young people with whom we work have never had anyone take a sincere interest in what’s going on in their lives.
Step Up has become a place where people confide in each other knowing that there is real interest in their lives. I often say that I love my job because its most important aspect is chatting over tea.
Ekaterina KurdyukovaEnglish teacher at Step Up
I always worry when you guys throw lessons. This, unfortunately, happens. It is always hard to think that anyone of our guys joined standard for Russia orphan statistics. Inspire and delight me our guys. I never cease to admire their desire to move up. And we also have a terrific staff!
On the 14th of January, Ritmosfera put on an evening charity event to celebrate Old New Year. While most of our students spent most of the time trying getting to grips with musical instruments for the first time ever, everything went wonderfully!
Ritmosfera Companypartner
At Step Up you can always get involved and receive a ton of positive feedback and treasured memories – that’s why people want to return here. Sooner or later almost everyone who ends up at Step Up brings along his or her colleagues, friends or relatives. I have always thought that this speaks volumes.
We need to talk about culture otherwise our lives are poorer. If we manage to strike up such a cultural conversation, which is not easy, then it’s a success for everyone… …
Culture doesn’t come to everyone, isn’t needed by everyone, not everyone has the ability to appreciate culture. But you need to give people the chance to speak about it, because most institutions don’t give people that chance……
Mikhail Sverdlovhead of the Literature Club
While studying at Step Up, I always enjoy attending Literature Club.
Why do I go?? Well, because it helps me develop, I learn new words and begin to understand the great works of world literature!!
Because I want to be an actor!! It’s important for me. And it’s also interesting to come to such meetings.
Sergei BorisovStep Up student
Step Up isn’t just a place where you learn, but also a home in which goodness, love, understanding, friendship and self-belief are born.
It is the steps upward that lighten our life and strengthen our confidence.
You just need not to be lazy and get on with it.
Polina Bykonyagraduate of Step Up
