Shelters for prisoners’ children in Kyiv of the late 19th – early 20th century

Abstract

The article reviews the peculiarities of formation and development of shelters for prisoners’ children in Kyiv in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Reconstruction and analysis of the activities and development of regional shelters for children of prisoners is carried out on the basis of archival documents and materials. The historical experience of providing social assistance to children who found themselves in difficult living conditions and could temporarily be under the care of qualified and caring persons is considered. The examples are two shelters for detainees’ children that were established in Kyiv: the shelter for minor children of deported convicts and detainees imprisoned in Kyiv, and the shelter for detainees’ children attached to the Kyiv Provincial Prison. The role of government bodies and individuals in the establishment and maintenance of shelters is specified. Internal regulation and altruistic work of their employees is reconstructed.

For example, in Kyiv in 1898, a shelter for detainees’ children was opened in rented premises not far from the Kyiv Provincial Prison, on a voluntary donation basis and, partly, at public expense. The shelter was destined for children who did not have other relatives at large and were kept in cells together with their parents or relatives. The main purpose of the shelter was to prevent the influence of the prison environment on children, as well as their supervision, upbringing and education. The shelter was run by the Kyiv Ladies’ Department of the Prison Care Society.

In 1911, the Patronage opened a shelter for minor children of deported convicts and detainees imprisoned in Kyiv. The administration of the shelter was charged on the committee consisted of private persons. The monetary funds of the shelter were formed exclusively from voluntary donations. The shelters took care of the children's future: they arranged children’s education, got them a job; moreover, an individual fund for every child existed in one of the shelters, which was credited from contributions and donations with minimum amounts needed for a start of living, before the beginning of individual working activity. The study and use of national regional experience of the past years will contribute in solving further tasks, which currently challenge the charitable societies.