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house of hope
House of hope
Vladimir, a patient at the House of Hope on the Hill. 'I come from Kalmykia [a Mongol-speaking region in the southern Russia]. I was born in a large family and started drinking very early - drunkeness is rife in Kalmykia - I fought very often, got my nose broken, but was however able to get education in a college. I then moved to Moscow and held many jobs there, was pretty well off but drank heavily and in a while ended up in the street among the homeless. I was saved by a charity and advised to come here.'
Ivan, a patient at the House of Hope on the Hill rehabilitation center for alcohol and drug addicts. 'I am from Ivanovo [a poor industrial town in central Russia]. After earning a degree in electrical engineering, I soon found a good job at a large utility company. For my town, I was paid tremendous money. When traveling on business all over the country, and that was quite often, I drove luxury company cars, drank at pubs with colleagues and had parties after work - locals looked at us like czars. But then, one day, I was brought home with delirium tremens. That was the beginning of the end. I totally lost control of my life. I underwent many detox treatments, paid huge money, in vain. I lost my job, my wife. Now I am here, of course with a new hope for cure. It’'s called so, the House of Hope’.'
Dmitry, a patient at the House of Hope on the Hill. "I am 30 now and I started using drugs at the age of 13. While in the army, I tried heroin and then for the next 10 years, I became a complete addict. Now, it's my 3rd attempt at the House of Hope, hopefully the last one".
Nailya, a patient at the House of Hope - a rehabilitation center for alcohol and drug addicts. "In my family everyone drank. My daughter also drinks although not that often, my son is a drug addict. I'm 57 and while on this AA programme I discover things I should have known when I was 30". On January 20, 2009 Nailya was baptised and took a new name Nadezhda, Russian for Hope.
The canteen with an icon of Christ on the wall at the House of Hope on the Hill rehabilitation center for alcohol and drug addicts. The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) treatment program has a strong spiritual component although it does not endorse any specific faith.
House of Hope and the village Perekula
A Russian Orthodox chapel built on the premises of the House of Hope on the Hill - a rehabilitation center for alcohol and drug addicts. The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) treatment program has a strong spiritual component although it does not endorse any specific faith. While the official Russian Orthodox Church is rather hostile towards the AA, individual Orthodox priests do come to the center to talk to patients and to cater for their religious needs.
Sergei, a chemical dependency consultant at the House of Hope on the Hill rehabilitation center for alcohol and drug addicts. One of the main features of the Alcholics Anonymous treatment program is that many consultants were once themselves addicts and are now helping their peers to cure. Sergei was born in Kazakhstan, then moved to Russia and settled in the Urals. He drank heavily and once ended up in jail. There he contracted tuberculosis and upon release, he was sick and without any hope for a better life, he did not even have the Russian citizenship. By chance, he got to know about this center and went there to give it the last try. It worked out. He says helping others overcome the disease is what really gives a meaning to his life.
A class at the House of Hope on the Hill rehabilitation center for alcohol and drug addicts. The rehabilitation program, which lasts 28 days, mostly includes self-development and self-help exercises as well as lectures (live or via TV) by former addicts, psychologists and chemical dependency consultants.
Viktor, a patient at the House of Hope. "I worked on oil pipelines, drank like all people do, then I did not drink for 8 years, then broke down and began drinking again. I drank beer and soon got a beer dependency".
Landscape surrounding the House of Hope on the Hill.
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