Nearly 1,000 young viewers attended Bolshoi Theater in Moscow on International Children's Day. From all around Russia, children from boarding schools, disabled children, and orphaned children alike, have come to the capital to watch the charity performance “Chipollino”.

Moscow’s other leading theaters also gave showings for disadvantaged children.

The public organization Russian Children's Fund is the curator of the Children’s Day celebrations. They also invited children from neighboring countries to take part in the event.

[Albert Likhanov, Chairman, Russian Children's Fund]: (male, Russian)
"Many children who grow up in orphanages or foster homes are not aware of the existence of other ways of life within society - and now with this show ... they go to the best restaurants of Moscow, and have tours through the city. They will see a new lifestyle - a positive lifestyle. This is an example we need to follow.”

Russian Children’s Fund have recorded the number of disadvantaged children in Russia to have reached 800, 000. From such a vast number, 11,000 lucky children from 20 regions throughout Russia received the chance to visit Moscow on June 1.

Five foreign delegates were also invited. Among them is the delegation member of Russian ex-patriots from Finland.

[Tatiana Sushina, Finnish Public Organization Member]: (female, Russian)
"All our children speak the Finnish language. But they miss a piece of our country. So we bring them here for the second time and introduce them to the Russian culture."

International Children's Day has now been celebrated in Russia for 23 years. This time, the Russian Children's Fund and the Bolshoi Theater have started a good tradition, and the new, top-quality charity performances will remain a gift for future generations.

NTD News, Moscow, Russia.