In August this year, 32 homeless and socially exposed children, at the age 11-16 years old, from the Kruglovo Rehabilitation Centre near Kaliningrad and five teachers spent a week holiday in Kiel.

Thanks to generous sponsors who made this trip to Germany possible, children could be offered a wide variety of things to do and see. The comprehensive programme included, for instance, a barbecue and campfire on the beach and a visit to the German sailing-school ship, 'Gorch Fock'. The girls were delighted with the horses and rabbits at a farm. In addition to pony riding, the children also had the chance to build huts and play badminton, volleyball and basketball. For boys, one of the top attractions was a match against a team from the Kiel District Football Association. The hit, however, was a day trip to the amusement park near Kiel. In the City Hall, the Russian guests were welcomed by the President of the City of Kiel and Members of the City Council.

Kiel and Kaliningrad have enjoyed a close relationship as twin cities since 1992. The highly successful aid campaign under the motto: Russian Partners in Need for the 'Most' (Bridge) home for street children in Kruglovo was launched four years later. Thanks to the great support provided by the people of Kiel, it has been possible to provide EUR 75,000 for the home. With the aid of donations, showers, toilets and washbasins have been fitted and a kitchen installed. In 2001, a school was integrated into the home. Now, the children have eight well-equipped classrooms, a gymnasium and other facilities. The 85 children and young people currently living at the 'Most' home, all of whom have a hard career as street children behind them, live together with their teachers in substitute-family groups.

The 'Kruglovo Street Children's Home' project has been widely acclaimed both in Russia and abroad. In all-Russia competition for programmes to combat and prevent drug addiction, physiological disorders and asocial behaviour among young people, the 'Kruglovo' project emerged as the winner.