Published on: 2026-09-13
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Muscovites can make donations to socially significant projects of non-profit organizations (NGOs) through the charitable service on the portal mos.ru. It unites more than 100 verified NGOs in the capital. Additionally, innovative educational and scientific projects are being implemented in the city, which open up new opportunities for the young residents of the capital and help bring science closer to the youth.
Exam preparation and psychologist support
Helping kids from orphanage centers in Moscow with their studies is the goal of the “Stairway Up” program by the charity foundation “Simple Things”. It is designed for students in grades 6–11, who are taught by experienced tutors in Russian, mathematics, physics, chemistry, history, and social studies. For those who have not yet taken the Basic State Exam (OGE) or the Unified State Exam (EGE), the lessons help maintain and develop knowledge, while for seniors they become targeted preparation for university admission.
Thus, this year one of the foundation’s wards passed the Unified State Exam in English with a high score and was admitted on a budget place to the All-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade, while another teenager became a student at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
In addition to academic training, the kids also receive support from the foundation’s psychologists. The specialists help reduce anxiety before exams, work on self-esteem, and conduct career guidance sessions to determine future professions.
Thanks to grant support, in 2025, 35 teenagers joined the program.
Developments for science, education, and medicine
Fund “Global Alliance for the Promotion of Science” supports young scientists and research teams in Moscow. The organization helps promising developments progress from idea to technologies capable of changing modern medicine.
One of these areas became the support for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). The Foundation helped five families at high risk of hereditary diseases undergo the necessary diagnostics. In 2026, this area received systematic development: PGT for monogenic diseases and PGT for structural rearrangements were included in the state program of guaranteed free medical care. In the future, such studies will partially become available under the compulsory medical insurance (OMS). This will help reduce the financial barrier for some families and give them a chance to have a healthy child. At the same time, testing funded by the organization remains relevant, since not all clinical cases will meet the OMS program conditions.
Alongside the development of medical technologies, the foundation strives to make modern science understandable and accessible to a wide audience. This goal is implemented through a podcast #AboutScience — a series of interviews with leading doctors and scientists of the country — and “Medtech. Lecture Hall,” in which experts talk about the main achievements and the future of medicine.
In addition, with the support of a grant from the Mayor of Moscow, the foundation is implementing a project that helps children with special educational needs prepare for the start of schooling and get accustomed to the school environment. The joint work of the foundation, partner NGOs, and city schools will not only support project participants during one of the important stages of growing up but also develop a practical format for using VR technologies in inclusive education.
For many children with health special needs, the first day at school is associated with significant stress: a new place, unfamiliar people, an unusual routine, and the need to quickly learn the rules of conduct. A child can familiarize themselves in advance with typical school situations in a virtual environment and work through them in a calm and safe format. In particular, they can visit a virtual school, get to know the class, teacher, and classmates, practice communication and reactions, and gradually get used to the new environment. The scenarios can be adapted to the characteristics of a specific child, including through the use of artificial intelligence technologies.
The project pays special attention to working with children with special health needs and post-traumatic disorders. For them, a preliminary introduction to the new environment can significantly ease further adaptation. Thanks to the support of the capital, more than 200 children will be able to undergo the VR program free of charge.
To settle in the student environment
At the National Research University “Moscow Power Engineering Institute” (MPEI), a series of events titled “Dedication to Students — 2026” is being held. The program is designed to help thousands of freshmen get accustomed to the university environment, meet their classmates, and learn about the opportunities that student life in the capital offers.
A central place in the dedication is taken by the project “Youth Adaptation Program in the Student Environment ‘Bridge'”. The primary trade union organization of students MPEI is being implemented jointly with the university. The project received grant support from the Mayor of Moscow, which allows for a large-scale program for new students and the creation of the most comfortable conditions for their integration into the university community.
The program began with a series of interactive introductions within study groups. In a game format, freshmen established communication with each other. Each group is assigned mentors, adapters, and professional leaders — experienced students who accompany newcomers throughout the entire adaptation period and help them take their first steps in university life.
The key event of the project was the student organizations fair “Student Marathon.” With its help, freshmen were able to get acquainted with dozens of extracurricular activities — from sports clubs and volunteer centers to scientific societies and creative studios. The fair helped the students find like-minded people and get involved in university life from the very first days.
Dealing with behavioral difficulties
In turn, the charitable foundation “Shalash” helps children and adolescents with challenging behavior. It includes problems well known to parents and teachers: the child has difficulty concentrating on studies, does not follow school rules, shows aggression or withdraws into themselves. Students with such characteristics find it difficult to communicate with adults and peers, learn new things, and realize their potential.
Special courses have been developed in the foundation for such teenagers. Teachers and volunteers help develop emotional intelligence and study skills during classes, teach how to listen to the interlocutor, negotiate and work in a team, as well as take responsibility for their decisions.
A distinct area of the foundation’s work has become supporting adults who work with children exhibiting challenging behavior. Specialists explain what lies behind this and share practical tools that help manage such situations.
In 2026, 127 children participated in the “Shalash” sessions, for whom the foundation became a safe place to learn how to cope with their emotions, discover new things, and make friends. According to the foundation’s surveys, about 70 percent of parents notice positive changes in their children’s behavior after the sessions. The children become better at talking about and expressing their emotions, develop a clearer understanding of their own and others’ boundaries, and find it easier to follow rules and agreements.
You can also support the work of these and other funds through the charitable service on mos.ru. To make a donation, you need to select a support program on the service page and specify the transfer amount. The donation can be sent to the beneficiaries of one, several, or all programs in the category at once: in this case, the amount will be evenly distributed among all the organizations.
The work and functional development of the charitable service on the mos.ru portal are overseen by the metropolitan Department of Information Technology and Committee on Public Relations and Youth Policy with the support of the Public Chamber of Moscow.
The Moscow Mayor’s Grant Competition is the largest city program supporting social initiatives in various fields: from charity and child assistance to sports and ecology. Thanks to the city’s support, non-profit organizations can scale their ideas and help a large number of the capital’s residents. Mayor of Moscow grants have been awarded for NGO projects since 2002. During this time, the city authorities have supported more than 3.8 thousand projects.
To find out how the capital has changed over the past years, what initiatives aimed at making city life even more comfortable are currently being implemented, and what awaits Moscow and its residents in the near future, you can in large-scale special project on the portal mos.ru, dedicated to the development of key sectors of Moscow. These include transport, industry, healthcare, education, sports, and the construction sector.
On the project’s page “Social support and employment of the population” you can learn about opportunities for city residents in need of support. The capital provides comprehensive assistance to families in difficult life situations, as well as to people with disabilities and participants in the special military operation. In centers of Moscow longevity Regular exercise sessions and yoga, lectures, and other events are held. In addition, the capital’s employment service offers retraining and the opportunity to acquire a new in-demand profession.
Quickly learn the main news on the official channels of the city of Moscow in messengers “Max” and “Telegram”.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.